The budget was due awhile ago â?¦ but I hope the chancellor really considers the recommendations we have made.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Association Senate Finance Committee proceeded with the finalization of the 2007-2008 budget on Friday, despite scrambling to meet the required seven members for quorum, and some confusion as to the necessity of the meeting.

Five members of the SFC gathered at noon, and contacted two additional senators to avoid canceling the meeting.

The Student Association made no monetary assistance recommendations for five campus groups so the SFC needed to make the offers before forwarding the budget to Chancellor Carlos Santiago.

The Panther Dance team was the only group denied eligibility for financial assistance. The logic stood that the dance team could receive funding from athletics.

SFC gave an allotment of financial aid to the Womens Resource Center; the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender Resource Center (LGBT); the Leading and Inspiring New and Knowledgeable Students (LINKS); and the Center of Volunteerism and Student Leadership (CVSL).

SA Vice President Jon Tingley is glad to be able to forward the budget to the chancellor.

The budget was due awhile ago â?¦ but I hope the chancellor really considers the recommendations we have made, he said.

The LBGT Centers budget will remain the same as 2006-2007, which is $2.80 per student. Keeping the LBGT Center was critical for the senators present. Sen. Dan Bahr expressed concern on funding the LBGT Center since every student he talked to believed the center is a valuable resource for usually disenfranchised voices.

The Womens Resource Center and LINKS funding decreased for the next school year. The Womens Resource Center went from $4.60 to $3.90 per student, with the suggestion to cut one assistant. LINKS will be now receiving $3.35 per student instead of $3.45 per student.

SFC recommended cutting one assistant. In addition, SFCs concern is to maintain the current level of student employment on campus to provide opportunities for students to get involved.

CVSLs funding remained the same for the next year at $1.05; with the stipulation that CVSL cannot add any more professional positions at the center and will keep the amount of student jobs and salaries at minimum pay as the year before.

The senators also debated combining centers together next year to help save on costs. They agreed that the possible consolidation of LINKS and CVSL would make sense because both centers have similar goals.

The SFC also approved an SA non-allocated funding advisor for next years budget process. The senators strongly established the need to keep the planning process in the hands of the students.

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