2008 Woodie Awards
New funding policy raises concerns
ASG denies Habitat for Humanity monetary support for week-long trips
Dave Matthews
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: Campus
Since it was drafted this summer, Associated Student Government's (ASG) new funding process has had zero complaints-passing the senate unanimously Sept. 18.
Zero complaints, that is, until Tuesday, when four student organizations appealed the amount of money given to them during ASG's first funding cycle, demanding more.
According to the new rules, organizations can seek event funding from ASG's funding committee twice during the school year, once per semester. In order to grant requests, the committee looks at three factors in a request: whether the event is on campus, whether the event is educational and if the event is open to all Miami students.
The most heated debate came from Miami's Habitat for Humanity, who was given no funding from ASG for two week-long trips during winter break to Montgomery, Ala. and the greater Miami, Fla. area to build homes for those impacted by hurricanes.
"In my four years here, Habitat for Humanity has always received a portion from ASG for our winter and spring break service trips," said Brian Wellman, Habitat for Humanity president. "And we have received funds from ASG for the past 18 years."
The funding committee, led by Vice President of Management Brian Wood, argued that when ASG's funding process was overhauled nearly a month ago, they agreed to not fund any trips that occur over spring and summer breaks because they simply ate up too much of ASG's budget.
"This was done to benefit as many students as possible," Wood said.
Wellman in turn argued that the Habitat for Humanity service trips have educational value in teaching participants social responsibility and any Miami student is allowed to sign up for Habitat for Humanity. However the funding committee responded by saying that winter break trips don't fall under their definition of "educational" and "open to all students."
"When we say open to all students, we mean that on the day of the event, if (a student) knows about it and wants to go, (the student) can go to it," said Andrew Ferguson, committee member.
Zero complaints, that is, until Tuesday, when four student organizations appealed the amount of money given to them during ASG's first funding cycle, demanding more.
According to the new rules, organizations can seek event funding from ASG's funding committee twice during the school year, once per semester. In order to grant requests, the committee looks at three factors in a request: whether the event is on campus, whether the event is educational and if the event is open to all Miami students.
The most heated debate came from Miami's Habitat for Humanity, who was given no funding from ASG for two week-long trips during winter break to Montgomery, Ala. and the greater Miami, Fla. area to build homes for those impacted by hurricanes.
"In my four years here, Habitat for Humanity has always received a portion from ASG for our winter and spring break service trips," said Brian Wellman, Habitat for Humanity president. "And we have received funds from ASG for the past 18 years."
The funding committee, led by Vice President of Management Brian Wood, argued that when ASG's funding process was overhauled nearly a month ago, they agreed to not fund any trips that occur over spring and summer breaks because they simply ate up too much of ASG's budget.
"This was done to benefit as many students as possible," Wood said.
Wellman in turn argued that the Habitat for Humanity service trips have educational value in teaching participants social responsibility and any Miami student is allowed to sign up for Habitat for Humanity. However the funding committee responded by saying that winter break trips don't fall under their definition of "educational" and "open to all students."
"When we say open to all students, we mean that on the day of the event, if (a student) knows about it and wants to go, (the student) can go to it," said Andrew Ferguson, committee member.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dee
posted 10/12/07 @ 9:37 AM EST
A very well written article.
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