The Associated Students of Madison denounced internal fiscal irresponsibility, including excessive spending by student leaders for travel and events with low turnout, in an early Wednesday morning press release from ASM interim chair Nick Checker.
In the release, ASM declared a “War on Fiscal Insanity,” citing misuse of student segregated fees such as a student leader using a corporate credit card to pay a $50 tip to a pizza delivery man. The release also cited misuses of funding such as $1000 on “cookies and pop” and a $1200 Appreciation Day dinner.
Checker said such events show a larger cultural problem in ASM, “where a gluttonous sense of elitism and entitlement reduces the student segregated fees into monopoly money.”
“Hopefully going forward, people are more conscious about their fiduciary duties to students to spend money wisely,” Checker said. “This is something we 100 percent control, and yet it’s being abused.”
Andrew Bulovsky, who was the chair of ASM during its former session which ended at midnight Tuesday, called the statement “a rather fair representation of ASM.”
Both Checker and Bulovsky said the budget process could use more oversight, and the culture of ASM should change to emphasize professionalism and fiscal responsibility.
Bulovsky added budgeting is a learning experience for students.
“Part of the process of going through college seems to be not taking care of … money in the most efficient way possible,” he said.
