Associated Students of Madison made several recent decisions regarding complaints filed after the fall 2006 ASM elections and budget decisions for student organizations.
American Indian student organization Wunk Sheek was given $4,750 of their proposed $94,000 budget Nov. 2 by the Student Services Finance Committee, but Monday's meeting saw a two-thirds vote for the group's funding case to be reheard.
The SSFC application reads, ""Organizations are required to meet with an ASM financial staff to review a final version of their budget proposal prior to admission to SSFC. Budget applications will not be accepted if a group fails to meet with ASM staff.""
Wunk Sheek needs to win another two-thirds vote to receive the full funding at Thursday's SSFC meeting.
There was also a complaint filed Monday regarding the way representatives are being elected for the ASM Shared Governance Committee.
According to Josh Tyack, chief justice of the ASM Student Judiciary, Shared Governance Committee Chair Peter McLeod ""decided to change how shared governance was run.""
According to ASM bylaws, the committee ""shall nominate for Student Council approval one candidate for each position. Student Council can decline Shared Governance recommendations by a majority vote, but may not make appointments from the Student Council floor.""
Tyack said McLeod wanted to allow anyone who wants to be on the Shared Governance Committee to be on it.
Debate continues to simmer regarding how representatives are chosen.
In other news, Student Labor Action Coalition petitioners sued the ASM Student Election Commission on the grounds that the ASM election was unfair because SEC allegedly did not provide adequate information regarding absentee ballots for students. It was also said that placement of the polling places was ""inconvenient.""
SLAC claimed this discouraged many students from voting and was responsible for low voter turnout.
ASM Student Judiciary Associate Justice and SEC chair Leah Moe called to dismiss the case completely.
The ASM rules and regulations do not demand an absentee ballot to be present. Moe said the SEC accommodated students who requested absentee ballots.
Moe also said locations and hours of polling places were published weeks in advance, allowing voters ""ample time and warning to arrange their schedules to be able to vote.""
Tyack said the panel decided to hear the case tonight.
Finally, the ASM SJ declared Tuesday night UW-Madison freshman and ASM Representative Bryon Eagon is guilty of violating ASM Fall Election Rule No. 7 by distributing leaflets in Chadbourne .
Despite the fact the SJ found Eagon in violation, it decided his actions were ""non-malicious,"" and he will retain his freshman representative seat.
Eagon must write a letter of apology to Chadbourne residents, House Fellows and employees, acknowledging his violation and explaining his new understanding of housing campaign policy.
