The Student Services Finance Committee is in the midst of hearings and decisions regarding the funding of UW-Madison student groups with segregated fees for the 2002-'03 school year.
Many UW-Madison students, however, are unfamiliar with the functions of these groups, including some of the largest and most prominent student organizations on campus.
The Asian and Pacific American Council, representatives of which did not return phone calls, is an organization that, according to the Student Organization Office Web site, 'serves the Asian and Pacific American student population ... providing a legitimate representation, a forum for APA issues and resources which will help foster a diversified, open and united UW campus.'
The Multicultural Student Coalition, another organization whose leaders did not respond to repeated phone calls, states its purpose on the Web site as providing 'administrative and facilitation services as opportunities for students of color and student of color organizations to work together through diversity education to improve campus climate.'
Representatives of the American Indian student group, Wunk Sheek, refused to comment on their organization and its services. As stated on the Web site, however, the group's purpose is to provide a 'service-oriented network, preserving our spiritual view while embracing the ability to expose, educate, and enlighten the campus community of our unique and special cultural identity.'
Adventure Learning Program co-coordinator Tammy Gibbs said her organization offers services to many student groups.
'ALPS provides ground workshops and high ropes courses,' Gibbs said. 'We work with a variety of groups from classes, to groups from the dorms, to fraternities and sororities.'
She emphasized the importance of ALPS as a resource for groups whose members wish to become closer so they work better together.
'[We] work on different needs that the groups have'trust building, team work, etc.,' she said.
Gibbs said ALPS is beginning to serve more students than it is currently able to, and it would like to be available to more students and offer a larger range of workshops.
'We want to be able to provide more quality workshops,' she said. 'We would also like to serve more students. This year we don't have enough money to serve as many students as we did last year.'
Gibbs expressed specific concern that ALPS would not even have the funding to finish the 2002-'03 school year.
'We will probably run out of money by next semester,' Gibbs said.
WSUM, UW-Madison's student radio, is one of the organizations that requested less money than last year, according to General Manager Dave Black.
He emphasized however the expenses involved in running a radio. The main expense is currently the radio tower, he said.
'To run a radio [station] is an expensive proposition,' Black said. 'We do a great job of trying to come in under budget, but we have money for radio tower that SSFC reallocates to use every year until we get it built.'
