The Associated Students of Madison Student Council finalized the organization’s internal budget for the 2017 fiscal year, approved at $1,407,215.41.
At Wednesday’s meeting, members decreased the Green Fund budget line from $50,000 to $0. Finance Committee Chair Ariela Rivkin said all fundable applications could be backed by the Finance Committee and other existing grants, which she said meant there was nothing left for the Green Fund to do.
“I think our efforts would be much better focused on working to create a Green Fund where green acts can actually be accomplished,” Rivkin said.
Shared Governance Committee Chair Jessica Franco-Morales moved to add budget lines for several student liaisons from underrepresented groups on campus, including women, students of color, LGBT students and students with disabilities.
Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair Mariam Coker introduced the initiative to the council with Franco-Morales and said that although it is ASM’s job to represent students, she feels representation is not at the level it should be. She said these liaisons would create trust between ASM and other students on campus.
Rivkin, however, said if ASM paid liaisons to advocate for issues they are passionate about, the council would have to explain to other passionate student groups on campus why they are not funded through the internal budget.
Rules Committee Chair Gary Baker responded, saying liaisons would have an important job and the council would have to pay to expect them to do it well.
The council added lines for the liaisons, who will each receive a stipend of $2,000, according to the budget.
Council members also brainstormed ways to engage students in solidifying a shared governance policy on campus, like reaching out to registered student organizations to hear how state statute changes in shared governance have affected them.
ASM Chair Madison Laning expressed the importance of shared governance, encouraging the council to seek student input on the upcoming policy.
“The only reason that we’re able to sit here and vote on this budget tonight is because of shared governance,” Laning said. “So it would be really great if we could keep it on this university.”
