As it did in years past, the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee voted Tuesday night to not grant the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group an allocation from the student incidental fee with four votes affirming the zero-fund decision and one abstaining vote.
Unlike the previous hearing on Feb. 2, the ACFC Chair Brianna Woodside-Gomez allowed public testimony from anyone in the crowd in an attempt to air comments from the community and the committee’s answers.
During the public testimony time, students who were involved in OSPIRG spoke about their experiences.
Despite this period, Woodside-Gomez and Sen. Ian Fielding, vice chair, argued that the other contracts with previously allocated money are priorities, but their opposition to OSPIRG’s request was based on other points, too.

Although funding alternatives were raised, the members of the committee suggested that they heard from ASUO advisors that those methods would be illegal.
In private meetings Woodside-Gomez said she had held with OSPIRG members, she heard all the arguments, and yet still opposed the group because of a few reasons.
“I believe OSPIRG is hurtful to our community; a student group shouldn’t be a burden to the students they represent,” Woodside-Gomez said.
“I do understand the paid staff does great things; however, I do believe it is too many student dollars going off campus. It does not give a consistent tangible service; it’s not something we’re going to agree on.”
ASUO Legislative Affairs Coordinator Molly Bennison said that after the hearing she thought it was still not fair.
“I wanted to say that today at the hearing, there were a lot more students in support of OSPIRG than in opposition,” Bennison said.
“(ACFC members) made it clear OSPIRG is beneficial and there are potential funding options; budget being voted down again showed it was unfair.”
However, the zero-funding decision by ACFC is not the final word.
Moving forward, appealing to Senate will be OSPIRG’s primary recourse as the ACFC has implied a second time that they are not in support of funding OSPIRG.
 
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