Groups offered aid amid financial crisis
Senate extends application deadline for WAGE, others, extra time does not guarantee help
McLean Bennett
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: News
The Women and Gender Equity Center, staring down the barrel of an impending financial crisis this year, got a bit of a lifeline thrown its way on Monday.
The center could see its money pot dry up soon after WAGE missed a deadline last semester to turn in paperwork to receive funding through Student Senate. A pair of other financially strapped entities - Counseling Services and the Center for Alcohol Studies and Education - also missed the application cut-off date and are in danger of either losing funding or remaining underfunded.
Senate voted 18-4 to extend the deadline to Oct. 1 - essentially giving the groups a second chance to turn in paperwork to the Senate Finance Commission.
But the decision to shift the deadline is no guarantee that any of the three entities will actually receive funding through Senate next year. All three must get approval from the Finance Commission and then compete against other organizations for segregated fees in late October.
"With the passing of this we're not allowing or guaranteeing the funding of these programs," Senate Treasurer Mike Umhoefer said. "We're allowing the Finance Commission to look at these programs for the next fiscal year."
Some senators voiced concern that a deadline shift could set a bad precedent for other organizations seeking funding in the future.
"I think these are really great programs," said Senator Abou Amara, who voted against moving the deadline, "but we have to think about the principle. There has to be some accountability."
Senator Jake Johnson, who also dissented, said he didn't understand why Senate was "bailing out organizations."
This isn't the first time WAGE has come against financial crisis, said Tom Holton, director of the Finance Commission.
The center, which was established several years ago, initially was funded by differential tuition dollars, he said. When that funding expired, however, the center had to scramble to find a new source of money to survive.
The center could see its money pot dry up soon after WAGE missed a deadline last semester to turn in paperwork to receive funding through Student Senate. A pair of other financially strapped entities - Counseling Services and the Center for Alcohol Studies and Education - also missed the application cut-off date and are in danger of either losing funding or remaining underfunded.
Senate voted 18-4 to extend the deadline to Oct. 1 - essentially giving the groups a second chance to turn in paperwork to the Senate Finance Commission.
But the decision to shift the deadline is no guarantee that any of the three entities will actually receive funding through Senate next year. All three must get approval from the Finance Commission and then compete against other organizations for segregated fees in late October.
"With the passing of this we're not allowing or guaranteeing the funding of these programs," Senate Treasurer Mike Umhoefer said. "We're allowing the Finance Commission to look at these programs for the next fiscal year."
Some senators voiced concern that a deadline shift could set a bad precedent for other organizations seeking funding in the future.
"I think these are really great programs," said Senator Abou Amara, who voted against moving the deadline, "but we have to think about the principle. There has to be some accountability."
Senator Jake Johnson, who also dissented, said he didn't understand why Senate was "bailing out organizations."
This isn't the first time WAGE has come against financial crisis, said Tom Holton, director of the Finance Commission.
The center, which was established several years ago, initially was funded by differential tuition dollars, he said. When that funding expired, however, the center had to scramble to find a new source of money to survive.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Ray
posted 9/25/08 @ 7:15 AM CST
Dangerous precedents are afoot. Be careful......
Dave
posted 9/25/08 @ 7:16 AM CST
I'm beginning to understand now that Student Senate is the training ground for new socialists to learn how to spend other people's money on things which not many would support if they weren't forced to. (Continued…)
hartwiera
Emily H
posted 9/26/08 @ 10:58 AM CST
Typos in both the head and the subhead! You should really fix this on the online edition, at the very least, to maintain credibility.
Alex W
posted 9/26/08 @ 6:11 PM CST
Why should I read a newspaper that has three amateur typos in the first three headlines on the front page? "Nineth"? "aimd"? "gaurantee"? Are you outsourcing to fifth graders? Even basic spell-check would catch those!
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