Although we are pleased by the final outcome of Monday night’s lengthy and contentious meetings of the group that disperses student fees, the political tactics involved merit scrutiny. Proceedings wrapped up around 12:30 a.m. today, leaving ASUO President Adam Walsh successful in his attempts to stop the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group from obtaining about $3,000 for a new position that would not have directly benefited University students.
Earlier Monday night, the Programs Finance Committee delivered Walsh a veritable slap in the face, sidestepping his veto of OSPIRG’s budget by lowering the group’s allocation by $1, thus creating a new budget that required the president’s approval.
Walsh on Thursday had vetoed the PFC’s previous allocation of about $115,000 because it included the new position, which would have funded recruitment and created chapters on other campuses.
The seven-member PFC failed to field the two-thirds vote necessary to override the veto Friday, voting 3-3-1. OSPIRG members appealed the budget Monday, and the PFC passed the $1 smaller budget to override the veto and move the funding process along to the Student Senate.
Walsh vetoed the $1-smaller budget, planning to take the fight to the full Senate, which must approve the PFC’s final allocation. However, the PFC held an emergency meeting and decided to give in to Walsh’s position.
At times during the night, it appeared the PFC process was swiftly turning into an ugly battle between executive and legislative branches of student government over the fate of the position. Clearly lowering the budget by $1 was the PFC’s underhanded attempt to shirk its responsibilities, delaying an already painstaking process instead of coming to a consensus on what would best benefit students.
OSPIRG opponents have long argued that it violates regulations for spending student money because portions of OSPIRG’s budget are dispersed throughout the statewide organization.
We believe it is appropriate for students to scrutinize the benefits of groups that spend part of their money off campus for lobbying and other purposes. Student government has long wrestled with this decision, and past Executives and PFCs have set a precedent that using some University students’ funds off campus is acceptable as long as people on campus also benefit.
In this case, the OSPIRG position would have recruited people who are not already paying anything to OSPIRG. Thus our money, and the money of students at other schools, would be used for administrative means to expand the organization.
We applaud the PFC for holding an emergency session and dealing with this situation in a prompt manner after the disappointing results of the first meeting. We also commend Walsh for sticking to his guns on this matter of principle. We hope the Senate will uphold this decision.