The Associated Students of Madison Student Council approved a request by Diversity Education Specialists for segregated fee funding Thursday.
DES was originally denied eligibility by the Student Services Finance Committee Sept. 16, citing problems with the organization's application.
DES appealed this decision to ASM's Student Judiciary, who found SSFC members violated viewpoint neutrality. This decision allowed the organization a hearing before Student Council.
During Thursday's hearing, council members raised concerns about the organization's services and how they differ from their parent organization, the Multicultural Student Coalition.
Nearly two hours of questions and debate surrounded the presentation given by DES staff member Michael Franklin.
Franklin said Student Council members made a responsible choice.
\It is truly unfortunate that a few members of Student Council, that also serve on SSFC, have openly committed themselves to using false information and their own uninformed interpretations in a biased attempt to convince and sway committee members into denying a group's existence,"" he said.
ASM Representative Joe Heigel voted against the eligibility.
""The DES position is entirely redundant in service, and its approval is a slap in the face to fiscally responsible and fair governance,"" he said.
ASM Representative David Presberry said he believes the SSFC finding was in poor judgment and was proud of the efforts of DES to make their voice heard.
""I think the granting of eligibility for DES shows the appeals process works and the check on viewpoint neutrality works,"" Presberry said.
Last week, Student Council denied the eligibility of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, which appealed the decision made by SSFC based on the same violations.
Franklin said he believes MEChA had its funding and eligibility wrongfully denied.
""I feel bad that student organizations like MEChA have fallen victims to being denied their existence on campus due to the personal political and discriminating view of a few students, some of whom have already been found guilty of viewpoint neutrality violations,"" he said.
DES will now go before SSFC to set their budget for the 2003-'04 year.
