The Department Finance Committee presented their budget at the ASUO Senate meeting Wednesday night, but the governing body voted it down because it didn’t want to fund a Graduate Teaching Fellow position for Conflict Resolution Services.
University Theatre and the Holden Leadership Center would have received a 140 percent increase this year, bringing both of their budgets to $90,000. One of the reasons behind the Holden decision was to help fund the Alternative Spring Break program. With this increase, some of the Spring Break programs would have been able to say they are ASUO- funded.
Meanwhile, the Campus Recycling budget would have been decreased by 64 percent, or $205, 371.
“Basically, we used that money to allocate to the other programs,” DFC Executive Appointee Nathanael Keohane said.
The biggest controversy of the evening came with the requested funding for the Conflict Resolution Services GTF position. ASUO Sen. Jeremy Hedlund showed concern with the increase because he didn’t know how much students use this service.
“I don’t support such an increase for a program that doesn’t have a good service for students,” he said.
He went on to explain that he hasn’t heard students talking much about the department.
“I haven’t heard any students say, ‘I use this service,’” Hedlund said. “Students shouldn’t have to reach out to groups on campus.”
Other senators disagreed with Hedlund’s concerns, saying that they do help students throughout campus.
“Without their services, I probably wouldn’t be here,” ASUO Sen. Lindy Mabuya said. She has personally used the group.
ASUO Sen. and DFC member Lamar Wise explained that the GTF will deal primarily with student-to-student conflict. Although the group does deal with faculty to student conflicts, the job would just be student focused.
“Incidental fees don’t just go to things students use, they go to things that students have control over,” Hedlund said.
Hedlund suggested Student Affairs allocate the money for the GTF instead of the ASUO.
After an extensive debate, the budget was rejected as-is.
Before the budget was discussed, David Swanson, a University freshman, was confirmed to Senate Seat 13. Swanson was the senior class president at his high school and is in the Clark Honors College. He also has attended every ASUO Senate meeting this year, including one in the summer.
“Elected roles should ultimately be in the service of other people,” Swanson said. “It has to do with the idea of giving back. It comes down to student advocacy and empowerment.”
After the confirmation, Fraternity and Sorority Life and LGBTQA teamed up on a special request to bring author and blogger Frank Warren to campus to speak about suicide awareness. Warren is coming in May and will be in the EMU Ballroom to talk about the importance of learning about suicide.
“I have friends who aren’t with us right now, and I wish they had the same support you are offering right now,” ASUO Sen. Vania Loredo said.
ASUO Sen. Tom Schally encouraged the group to move the event to a larger venue in order to accommodate a large student turnout.
“I think this is a really great way to start the discussion about suicide awareness,” ASUO Sen. Lindsay Damiano said.