The Meeting
The ASUO Senate, in an unusually contentious manner, voted to approve $15,616 in surplus requests, of which a majority went to the Women’s Center and the Survival Center.
The Decisions
The European Student Association and National Broadcasting Society also requested funds. ESA’s request was approved with just one nay vote, while NBS’ was approved with nine votes in favor, six against and two abstaining.
The Women’s Center made two requests Wednesday night. The first was to fund the “Resisting Militarism Fashion Show” and was unanimously approved at $1,418. The second request, originally for $1,000, was eventually approved for $654 after much deliberation about funding to send two staff members to a national feminist conference.
The Survival Center, along with new Student Sustainability Coordinator Louisa De Heer, presented a request for funds to secure Naomi Klein to speak for an Earth Day event. The request was for more than $10,000, but the time-sensitive nature of booking a big speaker meant they would not be able to wait for the over-realized process.
The presenters said that they would need at least half of their request if they were to start finding other funding sources.
The final request of $8,500 was affirmed with 10 approving and six opposing.
The Discussion
Those in support of more funding for the Women’s Center made the case that the two conference attendees would be able to bring the experience back to campus in other presentations.
“Sometimes it’s a value to send decision makers for future events; there are things you can learn that are important for staff,” Sen. Marissa Garcia said.
Those opposing disagreed with the money paying for only two people to go. The presenters said others were also able to attend, but the two attending were the only ones who wanted to.
Sen. Laura Hinman thought their advertising efforts could have been better.
“I’m not comfortable that it was only spoken about with (Women’s Center) staff or people who do not go to our University,” Hinman said.
Sen. Evan Thomas also had problems with the procedural way the Women’s Center hands out money for conferences. Each year, the group allots an amount to conferences, and if members want to attend a conference, the line item will account for a portion of the fees.
“You should have exhausted the entire line item. Then, if more want to go, they can come back to surplus,” Thomas said, on the possibility that not all members are able to attend a conference.
Next Week
Sen. Brian Powell made a motion to adjourn following the special requests and a short recess, but before the traditional officer and committee updates. The vote to adjourn was approved, so updates and announcements will happen electronically this week.
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