After the Wisconsin Law Review and REFORMA, which aims to serve the Latinx community, had their funding revoked, the two organization are suing the Associated Students of Madison Grant Allocation Committee Chair Rachel Widra.
Widra revoked funding for REFORMA and the Wisconsin Law Review because neither group included the ASM logo and disclaimer on all publicly distributed materials and printing.
Here’s what you need to know about the two cases:
Wisconsin Law Review
The Wisconsin Law Review received an event grant from the Associated Students of Madison for $5,130, but it was revoked after the Public Interest Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar created a Facebook event to advertise the Wisconsin Law Review’s event.
In an email, Widra said that the group had violated one of the committee’s rules because the ASM logo and disclaimer weren’t on the Facebook page, even though it is required on all publicly distributed materials and printing.
But the Wisconsin Law Review claims that PILS was not authorized to advertise the Symposium and the group failed to notify them about the event post.
They also argued that the Facebook event advertising the event does not fall under “publicly distributed materials” and that because the event was not created by the organization itself, they should not be held accountable for its failure to include the ASM logo and disclaimer.
The Wisconsin Law Review asks the following of the Student Judiciary:
1. Hold a hearing on the merits of this Complaint and Petition and grant judgment on all counts to the Wisconsin Law Review
2. Order ASM Grant Allocation Committee to reinstate grant funding to the Wisconsin Law Review in the amount of $5,130
3. Grant such further Orders as the Court deems necessary and appropriate.
The Wisconsin Law Review’s hearing has not been scheduled yet.
REFORMA Student Chapter
REFORMA was awarded an ASM event grant to host a guest speaker. Widra revoked the grant, once again using the same reasoning as with the Wisconsin Law Review.
Widra said that REFORMA would need to repay the funds that were spent on the event, but the student organization argued that the ASM logo and disclaimer were on the ASM flyer.
REFORMA claimed Widra “incorrectly cited evidence,” arguing that the event flyer did have the ASM logo and disclaimer on it. The group also said that they had posted the event on the Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN) — which was approved by the university.
REFORMA student chapter asked the Student Judiciary for the following:
1. To hold a hearing on the merits of this Complaint and Petition and grant judgment on all counts
2. To issue a temporary restraining order on the decision to revoke the Event Grant;
3. To determine whether the decision to revoke funds was a Viewpoint Neutral Financial Decision;
4. To determine whether funds should be returned to the GACs chair;
5. To grant such further Orders as the Court deems necessary and appropriate.
The REFORMA hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 P.M.
