The Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary ruled Tuesday in favor of the Student Services Finance Committee in a dispute over allegations made by the Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow.
In a unanimous decision, SJ ruled CFACT had not given sufficient evidence of an SSFC member violating viewpoint neutrality in an earlier decision in which the committee denied CFACT segregated fee funding eligibility.
According to ASM Press Office Director David Gardner, the burden of proof for a viewpoint neutrality violation lies with the group, and the SJ felt this proof was not brought forward.
The ruling also states that SSFC members will now be required to provide additional information on the criteria used in deciding eligibility for student groups.
“What this ruling will basically do is make us a more transparent organization,” Gardner said. “It will allow groups that feel that they’ve had a viewpoint neutrality violation held against them the opportunity to look at each [SSFC representative’s] voting record and provide more evidence.”
