student finance committee decided to fill the budget requests of six student organizations, in response to a letter from UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley asking the committee to review the budgets Monday night.
Wiley, who oversees the Student Services Finance Committee in determining student-organization budgets, objected to the inclusion of off-campus rent costs and religious events in groups' budgets.
SSFC's Conference Committee decided to fund the rent of five of the six disputed organizations, including Jewish Cultural Collective, Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow, Sex Out Loud and the Tenant Research Center.
We want to keep funding for rent for all of the organizations except [UW Roman Catholic Foundation]. That got stricken,\ Committee Chair Rachelle Stone said.
Five student organizations, not including UWRCF, were present at the meeting to address why the University should continue funding their organizations.
JCC Financial Chair and UW-Madison sophomore Andrew Rubin said the JCC has a close relationship with Hillel. If they lost funding for rent, Hillel would continue to provide them with space and utilities.
However, the other four student organizations present Monday night argued they would not be able to operate next semester if they lost funding for rent.
Representatives from WISPIRG and CFACT said they would not have time or money to find alternative space if their rent costs were cut.
UW-Madison senior Danny Semo said his organization, Sex Out Loud, wants to move from its current location of 122 State St. closer to campus, yet was told no office space is available.
""To not give us space and then to give us a roughly $65,000 budget I consider fiscally irresponsible, and I trust this panel to see that as very problematic,"" Semel said.
Faris Rashid of Tenant Resource Center said it is almost impossible for them to find office space closer to campus and that they have a good rent situation with the student justice center in which they are currently located.
In response to concerns of religious affiliation, Stone said the Committee will send UWRCF's budget back with ""program justification,"" letting Wiley decide ""whether or not UWRCF programming and events are justified.""\
