Spring Break
Flip Side funding appeal denied
Finance Commission cites multiple reasons for decision
Alison Pelleymounter
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Campus News
After more than an hour of debate, the Student Senate Finance Commission voted Wednesday night to deny funding for The Flip Side through student segregated fees. Ten Flip Side supporters attended the open meeting.
The Flip Side, "an alternative news media outlet on the UW-Eau Claire campus," according to its constitution, appealed the vote the Finance Commission held in November that denied the publication its request of $5,000 in student funding. Members of the organization appeared before the commission again last week to state their case for financial backing.
The vote to allocate no money to the organization was affirmed at the meeting by seven in favor and zero opposed with two abstentions.
Editor in Chief of The Flip Side Brian Vander Kamp said he doesn't place blame on the commission members who voted against funding the publication.
"I would've voted differently, but I feel they voted honestly," he said, adding he hopes the entire Senate will vote for the funding after his organization appeals the decision for a final time in February.
At the final appeal before all members of Student Senate, the funding will require a majority vote.
Finance Commission members cited numerous reasons for denying the budget request Wednesday, including the newness of the organization, professionalism and the ideological basis of material printed.
Finance Commission Director Matt Wisnefske told commission members that many student organizations on campus didn't receive student funding until they were well established. He cited the Student Radio Initiative and None of The Above as examples.
Commission member and former publisher of The Flip Side Andrew Werthmann said even without student funding, the periodical will continue to be published.
"The Flip Side will be around as long as the people who work on The Flip Side have the spirit to keep going," he said. "I do think the staff has the ability to keep going no matter what."
The Flip Side, "an alternative news media outlet on the UW-Eau Claire campus," according to its constitution, appealed the vote the Finance Commission held in November that denied the publication its request of $5,000 in student funding. Members of the organization appeared before the commission again last week to state their case for financial backing.
The vote to allocate no money to the organization was affirmed at the meeting by seven in favor and zero opposed with two abstentions.
Editor in Chief of The Flip Side Brian Vander Kamp said he doesn't place blame on the commission members who voted against funding the publication.
"I would've voted differently, but I feel they voted honestly," he said, adding he hopes the entire Senate will vote for the funding after his organization appeals the decision for a final time in February.
At the final appeal before all members of Student Senate, the funding will require a majority vote.
Finance Commission members cited numerous reasons for denying the budget request Wednesday, including the newness of the organization, professionalism and the ideological basis of material printed.
Finance Commission Director Matt Wisnefske told commission members that many student organizations on campus didn't receive student funding until they were well established. He cited the Student Radio Initiative and None of The Above as examples.
Commission member and former publisher of The Flip Side Andrew Werthmann said even without student funding, the periodical will continue to be published.
"The Flip Side will be around as long as the people who work on The Flip Side have the spirit to keep going," he said. "I do think the staff has the ability to keep going no matter what."