The last week has been an absolute nightmare. ASUO has exploded into a huge political battleground between PFC, Senate, the Executive, with the Veterans and Family Student Association in the middle of it.
It is time for some clarity. On Feb. 11, when all this malarkey began, the VFSA was in its third hearing before PFC. Once again, like our previous PFC hearings, the committee was split on what to do with us. We had presented our case, shown PFC our performance, and given them our numbers that we needed to provide the crucial veterans’ services that we do. Let me re-emphasize that ALL the VFSA did was present our program as best we can, and ask PFC for the amount of money that we felt was needed. Yes, it can be considered special treatment, but we are also not a usual student group, and we provide an invaluable and necessary service to the community. Regardless of our merits and numbers, it was up to PFC what to do with us.
While the hearing went on, PFC was trying to do its job: discussing numbers and merit. The Executive, however, came in, as well as a couple of Senators. The Executive began to put political pressure on the committee, advocating a compromise amount between $3,300 and $6,960. Senators promised PFC that the budget would be passed, since “Senate is no longer fiscally conservative.” We all know what happened afterward: Steven Wilsey left the meeting in frustration, and the motion for the full amount barely passed by one vote. We were not even given a chance to offer a compromise that would make everybody happier.
This is not what the VFSA wanted. We want the money we need to provide our services, but we wanted it to be obtained through the correct process: PFC’s budget process. And we wanted the money to be allocated responsibly, even compromising if necessary. While infuriating and bureaucratic, at least PFC had a good grasp of the numbers. We did not want this to crumble into a political battle with pressure coming from the Executive and Senate one way or another.
We have made our name as a principled and upstanding organization. It is uncharacteristic of us to get involved in political battles like the one that is roiling in the ASUO right now. We did not and never will try to get our way through political games or working the system. We presented our program, and did just as every other program does: try to get the money it needs. What ultimately happened, and what is happening now, is a result of what PFC, its current and former members, the ASUO Executive and the ASUO Senate has decided to do. We hope the community understands that we are just trying to get through the budget process and get out of the hotseat. It is important the community understands.
Sean Jin is Activities Coordinator for the Veterans and Family Student Association