Although student government leaders said the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) was not eligible to receive funding last year, a student government committee voted Thursday to approve eligibility for the group for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The Student Service Finance Committee approved WISPIRG's eligibilty in a 7-5 vote.
SSFC denied WISPIRG eligibility last year when they ruled the number of the group's direct service beneficiaries did not meet SSFC requirements.
The group appealed SSFC's decision, but was never granted funding for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
Although this year SSFC ultimately granted WISPIRG eligibility, the committee extensively debated the decision.
SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart said the outcome the debate surrounded the definition of the term ""direct service.""
In order to be eligible to receive funding from SSFC, at least 70 percent of the group's direct service beneficiaries must be students.
""I think it was just a back forth battle of people's interpretations of the bylaws,"" said Neibart. ""Some members felt that the opportunity to get involved through campaigns met the service criteria and some did not.""
WISPIRG Chair Matt Kozlowski said if SSFC had denied the group funding this year, WISPIRG would have had difficulty functioning.
""Without eligibility we can't receive funds and it's a central component to what we do,"" Kozlowski said.
But Kozlowski said WISPIRG worked to ensure SSFC understood the core functions of the organization this year by being clear in their eligibility presentation, and thought this contributed to the group's decision.
Neibart said the committee ultimately determined WISPIRG met all of the eligibility criteria.
Kozlowski said the group is pleased with the outcome.
""We're excited to get back to providing the service that we've been doing on campus for the past 25 years,"" said Kozlowski. ""This is a big win.""
