The Student Services Finance Committee voted Monday to approve budgets for the UW-Madison student organizations Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group, Greater University Tutoring Services, and Badger Catholic.
After extensive debate, the SSFC voted to cut $ 17,315.47 from WISPIRG's requested budget of $145, 694.51. A large portion of this cut came out of membership fee funding.
The decision elicited varied responses from both WISPRIG and SSFC committee members. SSFC proponents of the cut said they felt uncomfortable allotting such a large portion of student funds to a national organization.
SSFC representative Jake Burrow, however, said he fears that WISPIRG's time will be spent fundraising, rather than providing direct services to students on campus, which he said is the point of funding WISPIRG in the first place.
Evan Hurley, Vice Chair of WISPIRG, said the organization respects SSFC decisions, but hopes that as WISPIRG grows, it can receive a budget that grows as well.
SSFC members also awarded GUTS $159,236.69 of their requested $162,130.71 budget after striking funding for an organizing director and new fellow, and awarding a portion back to their state director position.
Badger Catholic was awarded their request of $ 125,236.69 in full after several failed attempts by SSFC representatives to reduce funding for a web and graphic design position.
F.H. King and ALPs also presented their budget requests at Monday's meeting. Decisions on these requests will be made by the SSFC on Thursday.
