The Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan presented a viewpoint neutrality appeal before the Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary Wednesday.
This comes in response to the Student Services Finance Committee's decision Sept. 12 to deem the group ineligible to receive seg-fee funding.
The appeal included an effort to remove three SSFC members from their positions.
UW-Madison senior Joe Laskowski represented MEChA. He maintained that official procedures of the SSFC during the MEChA eligibility hearing were faulty and the SSFC did not follow viewpoint neutrality standards.
According to the SSFC, MEChA was denied funding eligibility because they failed to meet a number of criteria, including accessibility to all students, the ability to provide a specific service to the campus community and violation of ASM financial policies. MEChA argued, however, that they were denied funding because of discrimination.
MEChA's appeal included a request to remove SSFC members and UW-Madison seniors Roman Patzner, Ryan Nichols and Mark Baumgardner. They allege the three were decided before the final eligibility debate occurred.
\These people need to be removed. Right now MEChA would be an eligible organization if it wasn't for infractions in viewpoint neutrality,"" Laskowski said.
Thus, MEChA would like a new hearing before SSFC.
The SSFC's defense, led by UW-Madison law student Angela Frozena, asserted SSFC members correctly assessed all materials presented. Frozena argued that SSFC members consistently do their best to uphold their positions and make all decisions with the utmost integrity.
""These individuals were doing their best to ensure that UW-Madison students were well protected and well represented. We stand by the decisions made,"" Frozena said.
At Wednesday's hearing, Chief Justice and UW-Madison senior Julia Kraschnewski, Associate Justice and UW-Madison senior Asia Mitchell and Vice Chief Justice and UW-Madison sophomore Jordan Green officiated.
The Student Judiciary has five school days to decide. If the appeal fails, MEChA may request the full six-member court hear them.
