University of Wisconsin-Madison student government approved funding for this fall’s UW Homecoming in a meeting Wednesday after a heated discussion over how much money the event should receive.
The UW Homecoming Committee originally requested a $24,402 grant, but the Associated Students of Madison Student Council amended the request and approved the event’s funding at $20,897.
Stacy Day, President of the UW Homecoming Committee, said she was glad ASM supported her committee and the tradition of UW Homecoming week.
“I think it’s an important week for all our students and it’s reassuring to know that there are students who govern and control our money that support it too,” Day said.
The legislation sparked a heated debate over what level of funding would be appropriate for the event, which received around $15,000 last year.
Day said the committee asked for a significant increase in this year’s funding because Madison Police are requiring an increased safety presence at the Homecoming Parade following last year’s accident, when a Madison woman sustained injuries after falling from a parade float.
Before coming to Student Council for approval, ASM Finance Committee approved the event’s funding at $8,602 in its last meeting Tuesday, which Day said would not have been enough to fund the homecoming parade, the committee’s most popular event.
But Finance Committee Chair Andrew Kidd supported his committee’s original funding decision, saying increased funding would not leave enough money to fund other groups’ events this year.
Despite Kidd’s concerns, a majority of Student Council felt the increased funding was appropriate and voted Wednesday to alter Finance Committee’s decision.
This years UW Homecoming will take place Oct. 21st-27th, and marks the event’s 101st anniversary.
