The Student Services Finance Committee did not approve 2015-’16 fiscal year funding for the MultiCultural Student Coalition Monday, amidst criticism from MCSC representatives that SSFC members are unprepared to decide on eligibility.
Many SSFC members felt MCSC had intentionally violated policy and therefore did not meet all of the eligibility criteria of the General Student Services Fund.
In the 2012 spring semester, SSFC ruled that MCSC failed to follow university and state purchasing policies when it submitted contracts to pay alumni who had trained group members. This resulted in a 52-week funding freeze, but it was approved for minimal funding later in December.
On Monday, several SSFC members said they felt MCSC had been fiscally responsible considering how late the group received its “minimal funding,” but they still did not believe the organization met the criteria because its violation was intentional.
“I don’t see how this is not intentional if you sign a contract,” said SSFC representative Justin Bloesch regarding the contracts MCSC submitted. “It’s a legal document.”
During open forum, MCSC member Niko Magallon asked SSFC members to rate themselves on how they feel professional staff and student leadership have prepared them to make a decision on MCSC’s eligibility.
“The latest two SSFC chairs, in my experience, have given folks on the committee minimal information,” Magallon said.
Magallon added that the information is not always transparent and suggested that SSFC members seek out answers if they feel unprepared or have not been given comprehensive information.
“This will be the third year in a row that we have seen SSFC chairs operate when SSFC members lack equal information,” Magallon said.
MCSC member Libby Wick-Bander also spoke in open forum and said the MCSC has had “extenuating circumstances” for the past two years that have affected the organization’s ability to function as well as it would like.
“I have no doubt in my mind that MCSC can function optimally as an organization and provide services on this campus if we’re not put in the circumstances that we have been for the last … three years,” Wick-Bander said.
Some SSFC members said they felt MCSC’s services did not fit the direct service requirement of the eligibility criteria. SSFC representative Callen Raveret said certain MCSC programs seemed to be tools for event planning and not specific services for students.
MCSC is able to re-apply for GSSF funding eligibility next year.
Following MCSC’s eligibility decision, SSFC held eligibility hearings for Supporting Peers Laidback Listening and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, who will receive their eligibility decisions Thursday.
