SSFC denies Campus Women’s Center appeal

The Student Services Finance Committee denied the Campus Women’s Center the right to an appeal Thursday by a margin of one vote.

The CWC lobbied for an appeal citing “vagueness” in the SSFC’s first decision, in which they were denied funding, and a misinterpretation of their application materials.

The CWC said their “Condom Crawl” activity was in fact a “direct and tailorable student service” and not an “event” as originally classified by the SSFC.  A change in the Condom Crawl’s classification would have put the CWC agenda at the minimum percentage necessary of direct services to be eligible for General Student Service Funds.

Four SSFC members voted ‘yes’ on a resolution stating their committee had not violated any rules in the earlier denial of CWC, with three members voting ‘no’ and two voting ‘present’, essentially denying CWC’s appeal.

Supporting Peers in Laid Back Listening presented their case for an appeal decision on Monday, claiming they were wrongly classified by the SSFC as “crisis management” counseling, but SPILL believes they are classified as “peer support” service. 

According to the SSFC, crisis management is a service already provided by University Health Services.  SSFC guidelines state that groups seeking GSSF appropriations must provide a unique service not already present on campus.  

The SSFC will decide SPILL’s funding at the meeting Monday.

The Madison chapter of Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow also presented their appeal, further clarifying their organization for the SSFC guidelines and explaining the violations they had incurred over the previous year. Their status will be voted on Monday.

According to SSFC Secretary Matthew Manes in an e-mail, the group Student Tenant Resource Center was given a closed session re-hearing, following Monday night’s SSFC meeting, due to a mistake by the SSFC accusing the group of dispensing funds while not being a registered student organization, which was false.

The STRC was also denied funding in the closed session hearing. according to Manes’ e-mail.

UWisLit , an English as a Second Language mentoring program, was also denied funding based on their failure to submit a budget plan.

The SSFC also granted the Multicultural Student Coalition a $259,000 budget in a unanimous vote.

3 comments

Carl Fergus

Fri Oct 2 2009 10:46

Corrections:

1. SSFC did not deny CWC the right to apeal. They did appeal and the appeal itself was denied. They now have the right to appeal to the Student Judiciary.

2. The "Condom Crawl" was unanimously deemed to be a direct service by the SSFC. Not once has that been in question, which means that counting it would not bring CWC to the minimum percentage necessary, as it has already been taken into account.

3. SPILL did not appeal, as they were presenting for the first time.

4. SSFC never classified SPILL as "crisis management," SSFC only asked questions regarding the nature of their services, which they clarified.

4. The fact that crisis management is a service provided by UHS was not stated by SSFC, it was stated by UHS.

5. SSFC will not decide SPILL's funding on Monday, they will decide their eligibility for funding.

6. CFACT also did not appeal Thursday, as they presented for the first time.

7. STRC was not granted a closed-session hearing, SSFC moved into closed session to discuss personnel issues.

8. The closed session did not occur following the SSFC meeting, it occurred during the SSFC meeting

9. STRC was not denied funding in closed session, the motion to reconsider as well as the second denial was made in open session, and on the record.

10. SSFC did not grant any money to MCSC. They granted them eligibility for funding, which will allow them to present a budget for review.

Please print these corrections. Thank you.

Brandon Williams

Fri Oct 2 2009 10:09

To all Cardinal reporters,

I don't understand how you can come to an SSFC meeting and understand everything that occurs without even talking to me. In fact, as is evident by the countless factual errors in this article, it is clear that you do not have an understanding of the facts. Next time, just come ask me if you are confused.

Brandon Williams,
Chair, SSFC

Michael Romenesko

Fri Oct 2 2009 09:54

STRC was not denied eligibility in the closed session. SSFC moved out of closed session and a motion to reconsider was made. It was also denied in its reconsideration.

Also, MCSC was granted eligibility in a unanimous vote. No budgetary decisions were made last night, or any night of this session so far.

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