Student government leaders met Tuesday to discuss next year’s proposed internal budget for the Associated Students of Madison Student Council, including funding for prominent speakers on campus and Homecoming.
Changes to the budget for 2013-’14 include general cuts based on spending trends in previous years and a push to encourage fiscal responsibility, according to ASM Chair Andrew Bulovsky.
The proposed internal budget includes $60,000 that could be used to invite world-class speakers to the university during graduation. Last year, similarly budgeted funds brought astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to speak on campus.
ASM also proposed giving $20,000 to both Homecoming and the All-Campus Party. Although this year’s budget does not include either event, last year ASM spent just under $30,000 cosponsoring the two events.
However, some council members were concerned that by allocating funds in ASM’s internal budget for specific events, the council would be favoring those events and organizations over others that would have to go through the formal process to request funding approval.
According to Press Office Director David Gardner, future discussions among council members on the topic might include the issue of viewpoint neutrality, a law Student Council must follow when allocating funding. He said that could mean ensuring all groups and events go through the same procedures to receive funding from ASM.
The Coordinating Council will vote on approval of the budget at its meeting next Tuesday before the proposal goes to the Student Council for initial consideration on Oct. 31.
