The Roman Catholic Foundation-UW-Madison received a new eligibility hearing with the Associated Students of Madison Student Services Financial Committee Thursday to obtain university funding for the 2008-'10 academic years.
RCF-UW members presented new information about services and educational opportunities they will provide to students that incorporate Roman Catholic elements into service projects on and off campus.
The group detailed programs they seek to fund with university fees including events during Wisconsin Welcome Week, fall and winter retreats and educational mini-courses .
What we focus on is how we, as UW-Madison students, can apply the teaching of the [Roman Catholic Church] to our lives,"" Craig Griffie, RCF-UW vice chair, said in the presentation.
Following a decision in January from the ASM Student Judiciary, RCF-UW provided enough new information in an appeal case to receive a new hearing with SSFC.
""We can take into consideration the past hearings,"" SSFC Vice Chair Katrina Flores, said after the RCF-UW's presentation. ""But personally, I'm looking at tonight as their new presentation because the other one was so long ago.""
RCF-UW and UW-Madison began a battle over funding in 2006 when the group was denied funding from the university for items related to prayer and worship. SSFC denied funding to the group for the 2008-'09 academic year, citing RCF-UW did not meet criteria to receive university funding.
In January, U.S. District Court Judge John Shabaz ruled the policy SSFC used to deny the religious group funding unconstitutional.
""We weren't allowed to apply for those things and now we're able to openly talk about the things we want to do,"" Griffie said.
SSFC will announce their final decision at their meeting Monday.
The ASM Student Activity Center also presented their proposed budget for Spring 2009. Their budget for the first six months of operation included technological costs, student hourly wages, worker training costs, office maintenance fees and telephone costs.
