Associated Students of Madison's Student Services Finance Committee began amending the Multicultural Student Coalition budget Monday night in a meeting that extended into today's early morning hours.
While committee members around the table praised the presentation and vision of the MCSC budget request, SSFC members ultimately recommended implementing the staff arrangement scheme over a period of several years.
Amendment negotiations resulted in a total of 26 staff members, two of whom will serve as co-chairs. The figure outnumbers this year's staff by 16, but falls short of the budget's proposal of 44.
SSFC member Rob Staude said he was encouraged by the mission and progress MCSC has established in its recent history.
\I think there needs to be this framework that they have set up for us,"" Staude said. ""This is something they're committed to providing this campus, and I believe that we should start out slow.""
SSFC member Carl Camacho, who strongly advocated adopting the MCSC budget proposal, said the budget took the right steps toward improving campus climate.
""If anyone thinks this proposal will fix the problem on this campus, you're dead wrong."" Camacho said. ""They're not saying that in a year we won't have a problem. I don't think that's possible. ... The organization that has proposed this budget isn't just come to us asking for an exorbitant amount of money without structure. ... They went to great extremities to explain how [they] will benefit students.""
Armando Mejia, a diversity education specialist whose DES budget had been scheduled for a decision, said that while the UW System has invested in improving campus diversity, the goals have yet to be met.
""The university spends a lot of money on diversity,"" Mejia said. ""[But] show me where that diversity is.""
Staude reminded committee members to judge the MCSC hearing like any other student organization and make amendments as they deemed necessary.
""We think that by down-cutting a budget we're somehow racist,"" he said. ""If we want to set that precedent that you ask for huge amounts of money [and those amounts are granted]. ... Then we're going to set that precedent. ... Just think.""
Wisconsin Union Directorate President and SSFC member Andrew Wallmeyer said he also remains wary of setting a precedent for significant budget increases.
""I'm concerned about the precedent this will set,"" Wallmeyer said. ""But I think this is an exception we can make.""
Members of the Asian Pacific American Council and Native American student organization Wunk Sheek introduced their budgets to the committee as well. Both were strongly advocated by students in attendance at the meeting.
In an open forum session before the hearings UW-Madison senior Katrina Flores said she would like to see increased funding for MCSC and Wunk Sheek.
""So few people are working so hard to educate the student body"" about the culture of Native Americans, and the issues such students face, she said.
By increasing these budgets, ""those services can be provided tenfold,"" she said.
APAC introduced their budget to council members, which asked for an increase in staff members, from 10 to 26 salaried staff.
UW-Madison freshman Katie Broton said she supported the funding for MCSC in full after experiencing minimal diversity in her Lakeshore residence hall. The only person of color, she said, was a custodian.
""I came to Madison for a few reasons,"" she said. ""It's known for being a diverse and liberal place. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed.\
