Student Association trip costs $12,738.57
1 trip participant not an SA official, most elected officials members of SUFC
By Jonathan Anderson and Ryan Cardarella
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Nikki Pfeifer, a participant in a Student Association (SA) trip to New York City that cost $12,738.57, is not an SA official.
Seventeen people went to New York City in late February to attend a student government conference in Manhattan. Two separate SA delegations went, one with 11 members from the executive and legislative branches, and the second with six members of the judicial branch.
Pfeifer, who traveled with the executive and legislative delegation, is not employed by the SA and does not hold an official title. The SA Web site, which lists SA officials and staff members, does not include Pfeifer’s name.
In early March, SA Vice President Amanda Voigtlander refused to disclose the names of the trip participants. As of press time, she has yet to do so. She did say, however, that all trip participants were senators and executive branch directors. In a follow-up interview, the Post asked Voigtlander to clarify about Pfeifer. Voigtlander backed down from her original statement, saying that in addition to senators and executive branch directors, Pfeifer also attended. Voigtlander said Pfeifer was an office manager.
Yet senate agendas and minutes show no record of Pfeifer ever being appointed an office manager for the SA. All office managers must be appointed by the SA senate.
Voigtlander told the Post that Pfeifer was originally hired as an office manager for the summer of 2007.
“She was an office manager all summer long, and then she went to Ecuador for a semester,” said Voigtlander. “We didn’t fire her or anything like that.”
The minutes from the June 3, 2007 senate meeting do reflect presidential appointments for summer office managers, but Pfeifer’s name isn’t in the minutes.
A SA employee who worked in the SA office during the summer told the Post that he cannot recall anyone named Nikki Pfeifer working as an office manager during that time.
At the Sept. 9, 2007 senate meeting, SA President Rob Grover submitted his list of office manager appointments for the year.
“These are the remaining office managers and directors that are chosen for this year,” said Grover. “They are all good candidates.”
Pfeifer’s name is nowhere on the agenda or minutes of the Sept. 9 senate meeting.
Grover has refused to answer questions about Pfeifer and the trip.
Pfeifer did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Reasons for the trip
Voigtlander said executive and legislative branch members attended because they were interested in learning more about the elections process.
“A lot of the stuff that they had on their description of what they were going to be doing there pertained to elections and stuff,” said Voigtlander. “It was something we were really interested in.”
While Voigtlander could not pinpoint a specific impact the conference itself will have made on the upcoming SA election, she said plans are in the works for changes next year.
“We’re looking into a lot of stuff for next year,” said Voigtlander. “It’s hard to change an election two weeks before it’s starting.”
According to Michael Roberts, chief justice of the Student Court, the judicial branch attended the conference because it dealt with student leadership.
“I felt a leadership conference couldn’t hurt,” said Roberts. “It couldn’t hurt to see what other schools are doing. It was actually rather informative.”
Despite none of the seminars being about student courts or judicial processes, Roberts defended the trip, saying that the conference made an impact.
“I think judicial processes encompass all this stuff,” said Roberts. “Just because there’s no judicial heading on anything doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to a judicial branch.”
Lodging
The executive branch members stayed at the Millennium Hilton, a luxury hotel in downtown New York City, where the total hotel bill was $2,286.40. According to the hotel’s Web site, all guest rooms include a 42-inch flat screen television, a marble bathroom and a mini bar, among other amenities.
According to Voigtlander, the delegation chose the Millennium Hilton because it was the closest hotel to the conference.
“It was the closest hotel,” said Voigtlander. “And compared to other hotels it was pretty reasonably priced.”
But distance was no obstacle for the judicial branch delegation, which stayed at the less expensive Pan American Hotel in Queens, where the total hotel bill amounted to $863.37.
“We stayed in Queens, not the greatest neighborhood,” said Roberts. “It was actually cheaper.”
Transportation
Transportation costs varied significantly between the two delegations. While both groups flew directly to the conference via Midwest Airlines, the executive branch incurred large ground transportation costs.
The executive branch delegation decided to reserve private vans for transportation between LaGuardia Airport and their downtown hotel, a cost that totaled $421.00.
Voigtlander said that before the group left for New York City, she compared the costs of taxis to the vans.
“We would have had to take like two or three taxis, and it would have been, it would have been like three taxis, it would have been a lot more expensive than taking the shuttle,” said Voigtlander.
Meanwhile, the judicial branch utilized public transportation, a cost-efficient option that Voigtlander admits she didn’t research before booking the private vans.
According to Roberts, the judicial branch delegation rode the subway to and from the conference in Manhattan, a decision that cost UWM students nothing, because all judicial branch members personally absorbed the subway fee.
The ride to the hotel was also complimentary, said Roberts, because their hotel provided a free shuttle service to and from the airport.
Airfare $4,865.80
Hotel $3,149.77
Conference Registration $4,302.00
Ground transportation $421.00
Total $12,738.57
Conference fees
While the 10-hour conference cost $4,302 in registration fees, both delegations said every trip participant contributed money toward the expenses. Voigtlander told the Post that all executive and legislative branch participants contributed $100 each. All judicial branch travelers also personally paid, but according to Roberts, the contribution was different for each person.
Release of names
Both delegations were asked for the names of the participants, and both said they would not release the names without consent from each trip member. While the judicial branch released the names within 24 hours of the request, the executive/legislative branch delegation has yet to release a single name.
However, the Post has independently obtained photos from the conference that detail the trip participants from the executive and legislative branches.
The trip members were:
- Rob Grover: President of the SA
- Amanda Voigtlander: Vice President of the SA
- Tyler Draheim: Speaker of the Senate and presidential candidate under SUFC
- Dan Bahr: Independent Elections Commissioner
- Josh Dirkse: Chief of Staff
- Nicole Morales: Director of Inclusion
- Casey Glader: Secretary
- Emily Grotz: Treasurer
- Brandon Decker, Director of Shared Governance
- Tyler Kristopeit, Legislative Affairs Director
- Nikki Pfeifer, Not employed by SA
- Michael Roberts, Chief Justice
- Marty McNutt, Clerk of Court
- Jacob Martin, Asst. Chief Justice
- William Anderson, Associate Justice
- Hannah Reed, Associate Justice
- Amanda Plochocki, Associate Justice
SA candidates weigh in
While SUFC has long-touted its stance on fiscal responsibility, controversially cutting funds to several resource centers, some have questioned why the trip was so expensive.
Scott Dettman, presidential candidate under ASAP, said the SA should be frugal when it comes to spending student money.
“When you’re using the students’ money, when you’re using segregated fees in the executive branch budget, I think you have to be basically as frugal as possible,” said Dettman. “It sounds like they kind of took a vacation on the students’ pocket book.”
But Tyler Draheim, presidential candidate under SUFC and one of trip participants, said he felt the trip was worth the cost.
“It was a great trip,” said Draheim. “We decided from the trip we really wanted to get involved with the ASGA. I think it was well worth it.”
Draheim wants to see UWM discontinue its membership with United Council, the state student government association. According to Draheim, leaving United Council and joining the American Student Government Association (ASGA) would save money.
“If we wouldn’t have gone on the trip, wouldn’t have experienced ASGA, we would have kept shelling money out for UC,” said Draheim. “Hopefully, come this election we’re going to see if we can pull out of UC and focus on ASGA.”
Meanwhile, Dettman questions SUFC’s criticism of United Council.
“The UC is a fantastic organization and they do a lot for us on campus,” said Dettman.
“The current student government is trying very hard to eradicate the presence of UC from this campus and I think that would be a terrible thing to happen.”
> Comments
SUFC uses Student's MONEY on Apr 14, 2008 at 12:43 AM:
SUFC uses our money to learn how to run an election. My money.
Idiots on Apr 14, 2008 at 01:14 AM:
You finally figured out that all the people who attended the trip could be found in the SA NEWSLETTER that was sent to the ENTIRE student body. That's some great investigative journalism coming from our campus media outlets...
Post Reader on Apr 14, 2008 at 01:33 AM:
How big is the student governments's travel budget this year? i remember being a senator last year and ok'ing a travel budget. Is that still there??? How much is it?
BIASED on Apr 14, 2008 at 01:53 AM:
C'mon!!!!!! You're telling me that this isn't an election-week hit piece. This article has no credibility.
Pissed off UWM Student on Apr 14, 2008 at 02:08 AM:
Perhaps SUFC should learn to "Research" Public Transportation and budget Hotels.
The Slanderous Post on Apr 14, 2008 at 04:24 AM:
Can you say election eve bias?????
RE Slanderous Post on Apr 14, 2008 at 08:15 AM:
We have several days to election.
Lying SUFC on Apr 14, 2008 at 08:33 AM:
Had SUFC released this information earlier, it would have appeared earlier than election week. That was SUFC's choice.
SUFC caught lying again.
Pissed off UWM Student on Apr 14, 2008 at 09:58 AM:
How is this at all slanderous???
<<lander
A type of defamation. Slander is an untruthful oral (spoken) statement about a person that harms the person's reputation or standing in the community. Because slander is a tort (a civil wrong), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement. If the statement is made via broadcast media -- for example, over the radio or on TV -- it is considered libel, rather than slander, because the statement has the potential to reach a very wide audience. >>
AJ Piwarun on Apr 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM:
So you mean to tell me the people that went on the New York trip were actually in photos on the SA monthly newsletter, that 29,000 students recieve? Wow, some "investigative journalism" Jonathan. Keep up the great work.
Anonymous on Apr 14, 2008 at 12:38 PM:
Who gives a crap if they were in the monthly newsletter?
Quit attempting to discredit the Post. They caught you with your pants down.
Interesting... on Apr 14, 2008 at 03:58 PM:
I read the post last week, and I thought the article about the New York trip was absolutely pointless.... I wasted my time reading it only to find out there would possibly be more information to come... then I read this weeks paper and it is very obvious that Mr Anderson and Mr Cardarella are only trying to dig up anything they can on one particular party to try and sway things amongst the student body as much as possible... too bad we have a student paper that is obvioulsy very biased
Chris Walker on Apr 14, 2008 at 04:10 PM:
Pointing out that the SA is spending student money in a not-so-conservative way is very meaningful. It's not digging up dirt; it's a concern that students ought to have, especially when these members are trying to cut money in other areas of student life.
Jake Wallace on Apr 14, 2008 at 05:42 PM:
As someone currently visiting NYC and staying at the Holiday Inn La Guardia near Shea Stadium, I find each and every justification given for spending this ridiculous amount of money simply laughable on their merits. A weekly unlimited MTA subway pass costs $25. This hotel was booked through Hotwire at a very discounted rate, and the subway time to Manhattan from Queens is about 20 minutes. The assertion that Queens is "not the greatest neighborhood" sounds like the whining of a spoiled brat who's never ventured more than 20 feet from mommy or daddy. Queens is a vibrant, ethnically diverse and safe neighborhood with much to offer and with easy access to the rest of New York. I have forwarded this story to Bruce Murphy at the Milwaukee Magazine, as well as to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and upon my return to Wisconsin, I will be consulting my colleagues with how to pursue this legally at the state level.
ThankYou on Apr 14, 2008 at 07:22 PM:
Thank you Post!! Finally, an article that accurately portrays the corrupt slime that occupy our current gov't. SUFC is just like the current GOP; quick to pass judgement but loose in the following of their own edicts. All talk no walk. Thank you!!
Even if it is political bias or election eve bias... on Apr 14, 2008 at 09:09 PM:
...I think the event should be taken seriously. What happened is fact - and when SA officials (and notably the executive branch) uses its student body's money for luxury hotels, for a conference with no related topics that the trip-goers were said to be going for, and when the Vice Pres. of SA lies about and denies what should be public info----> that's slanderous and insulting to their student community that they should be SERVING. It does make UWM look bad.
? on Apr 15, 2008 at 06:09 AM:
i'd rather they used it for something worth while than have some numb nuts steal it all for himself.
Katie Jesse on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:19 AM:
So you're saying that because they didn't create a false company and have the head of SHAC write them a check then it's ok? I agree with Chris Walker's earlier statement. If we care about this school it is our job as students to be critical of those in power. Just as American's it is our job to be critical of those in office. Otherwise we might as well just be a dictatorship.
Re: Katie Jesse on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:26 AM:
"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier."
Viva Bush on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:53 AM:
Amen Brother.
it's easy to just make unilateral decisions. Apparently you missed out on how to understand a joke Ms. Jesse.
"Who gives a crap if they were in the monthly newsletter?
Quit attempting to discredit the Post. They caught you with your pants down."
Because that monthly newsletter goes out to all the students in the student body and already told them about the trip.
VP Voigtlander was also interviewed well over a month ago...
How convenient the timeframe this is being published in.
Newsletter on Apr 15, 2008 at 07:45 PM:
Yeah I didn't receive the newsletter. I've received them before.
? on Apr 15, 2008 at 07:48 PM:
that Bush comment is taken so far out of context that it isn't even funny...
In fact, the original comment was supposed to be wait for it a joke.
And he's right. You know how easy it would be if Bush never had to worry about elections or polls? Talk about easy street...
AJ Piwarun on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:10 PM:
I find it funny how people still think there was a cover up. As someone that didn't go on the trip, but is still a member of SA, I think trips like those should be attended by anyone wanting to be part of student government.
I honestly think people are still missing the point of this piece of "shock journalism". The true meaning of this is a hit piece- let's stop messing around here and actually call a spade a spade.
Unfortunately for the Post, their credibility has suffered substantially this past year. From the fabricated SRG documents brought to the Post by Scott Dettman, Nick Reindl, and one other, to this, it's obvious that Jonathan Anderson will go down in the books as one of the worst student journalists to ever write at UWM (and yes, I'm including The Leader- which I think is still around, but I'm not sure because it is now as irrelevant as it ever has been).
You can criticize current Senators and myself all you want for the Sedition Act, but you know what? We admitted we were wrong and that it was a breach of free speech. By admitting we were wrong, we at least showed that we aren't shameless ideologues to be used as puppets by one political party like some writers of the Post.
This is honestly quite disgusting, but I'm not entirely surprised. Maybe in a few years when the Post selects a new Editor, our school's premier newspaper will actually report instead of bloviate.
Defending Sedition ACT on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:47 PM:
"we at least showed that we aren't shameless ideologues to be used as puppets" That's your remark for voting in favor of the Sedition Act. Give me a break. When it comes to SRG pal, the week later you admitted to this truth. Wake up.
Jon Tingley on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:04 AM:
Okay, so they went on a trip. that alone is not uncommon for student governments to do, it's part of the leadership experience, but sending 17 people is ridiculous. Trips like these are typically only offered to the top 3-5 officials depending on where it is, and cost..17 people?! damn. ASAP anyone?
Jon Tingley on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:05 AM:
and wait..what?! the Independent Election Commissioner went on a trip paid for by the current administration? Is there a campaign violation for that shit?
Legal Action Needed on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM:
Can anyone say MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS? Is Nikki Pfeifer paying students back for her luxury vacation on student's funds. This is unbelievable!
Let's Be Fair on Apr 16, 2008 at 01:12 PM:
Don't pick on Nikki.Maybe she saved students money by staying in her boyfriend's luxury NY room.
get a life on Apr 16, 2008 at 02:11 PM:
this is all very interesting... but you all really need to get a life
Dan Are You For Real?? on Apr 16, 2008 at 02:35 PM:
Nice picture of Dan Bahr enjoying his NY vacation on the students’ funds with his pals from SUFC. I’m sure he’s getting a lot out of the “stuff” at the conference. The poor guy has to rest up for his difficult task and I should say "unbiased" task of eliminating the competition from the ballot so his SUFC pals can continue their dictatorship.
$ly$py on Apr 16, 2008 at 03:36 PM:
Well, you maybe surprised to find out that myself (and a few nameless others) are running for senator positions in SUFC...but we support ASAP ideals and plan to uphold them!
From the $ly$py
Don't Believe It on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:07 PM:
The word from SUFC closed doors(from a real spy)is that $ly$py is SUFC's strategy to gain support from ASAP supporters since SUFC had Bahr kick ASAP off the ballot. Their corruption continues. VOTE INDEPENDENT!
Kyle Palmer on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:13 PM:
The SA has always been a load of crap. And will always continue to be so.
Fake politics, for fake people.
Re: Kyle Palmer on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:18 PM:
I think you applied to be a director of the SA once, a few years ago. Could it be because you were not hired????
$ly$py on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:28 PM:
Wow...simply wow. I suppose I shall just remain quiet. SUFC will win and then myself and friends shall give our persuasiveness and ideals a go on SUFC.
Cheerio "Don't Believe it" Cheerio
$ly$py
hey spy on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:48 PM:
$ly $py is a faud! Don't vote SUFC vote independent if spy was really a holder of ASAP values spy would have ran with ASAP why did you post the same thing on every page spy, thanks for working with the party that has brought shame to uwm. How do you sleep at night SUFC?
The Revolucion on Apr 16, 2008 at 07:55 PM:
Maybe it's time we simply contact our state government and ask them to abolish the state law granting the SA so much power over our money. Of course something like this comes out near election time--because this is the only time students get any ability to hold the government accountable. Fortunately for them, they've got Mr. Independent Election Commissioner Dan Bahr, the most fascist dick-tator ever to ensure the results are delivered to them.
Concerned Student on Apr 16, 2008 at 09:57 PM:
SUFC is a fraud. It's ironic that AJ Piwarun posted here because he was also part of a different trip that should and will be looked into.
From March 6-8, AJ Piwarun, Tyler Draheim, Amanda Voigtlander, and a non-SA friend "attended" the Colorado Language Arts Society Regional Spring Conference: Literacy Now! They "attended" this conference as members of The Association of Interdisciplinary Studies, which is a student organization started by Mr. Draheim on 9/19/07 at the Senate Appropriations Committee Meeting.
If these members of SA actually attended the conference there would be no problem, however this trip was instead used as an early spring break by these crooks. It will be interesting to see if any of these SA members can provide proof that they attended the conference, since my source tells me that they didn't even register for the conference. Instead they spent their time(and our funds) partying, visiting a zoo, and gambling at a casino.
At the Sunday November 4th Large Grants Senate Appropriations Committee Meeting The Association of Interdisciplinary Studies received $1965.96 for this trip based upon a hotel reservation. This student organization created by Draheim also received $3636.13 more in funds for two trips that may also have been of fraudulent intent.
This is the type of stuff that SUFC does with student funds. Not only should these students not be part of SA, but they also should be expelled from this university and face criminal charges. When pressed about the subject the only reasoning that was given was that, "they gave a lot of money to the school so they deserved it." God help us if this is the type of people who are allowed to run the SA, let alone attend this university.
UWM Alum on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:51 PM:
Wow. These are harsh accusations. I really hope that you all remember that these are people you're dealing with, not just "SA Officials". Do they scrutinize other organizations after they attend conferences? Not when I was there and probably not now. I really hope that people can be more adult and look past the SA elections. There are a lot bigger issues in the world.
Re: UWM Alum on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:04 PM:
UWM Alum-
A constant theme of yours always seems to be that those critical of the SA are taking these issues "too seriously" and that there are "bigger issues in the world."
I'm sorry that you have so much time on your hands to post comments on a college newspaper web site.
You seem to care a bit too much as well.
UWM Alumette on Apr 16, 2008 at 11:27 PM:
It is very easy to sling the mud at election time. The expenses may seem high to a midwestern college kid but the fact of the matter is traveling to Manhatten for anything is bank breaking. For an inexperienced kid booking a trip like this, I think she did ok for the number of kids attending. My last business trip alone ran over $4,000 and I wasn't living the high life. In addition, if you have never attended a conference like this it is not all fun and games. This is no vacation. It's work and it is tiring. So you get to walk around the big city and have a nice dinner. WooHoo. Don't be so quick to pass judgement without walking the walk. Good Luck in your elections. May the best "man" win.
Angry With SUFC on Apr 17, 2008 at 06:39 AM:
To you Alum that are critical of students voicing concern for paying for our SA's and their girlfriends vacations, we do have free speech and it is OUR money. Students are angry and have a right to be. I believe everything happens for a reason. If SUFC would have granted UWM students a fair election and went away with their tails between their legs, we wouldn't have all this valuable information on how inappropriately funds are being spent. There is no doubt there will be a criminal investigation because we will see that it happens. Even if students aren't granted a fair election, we will receive justice in some manner. Thank you concerned student for providing further details of the SA's activities. Hopefully the POST will have an article on the Colorado trip so further details can be shared with all UWM students and the State District Attorney's Office.
The Real UWM Alum on Apr 17, 2008 at 07:02 AM:
I just want to say--that was not me up there--the person who has previously posted...Don't assume that just because someone uses a name, it is the same person. I would write under "Rob Grover" or "Amanda Voigtlander"
Re: UWM Alumette on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:27 AM:
"For an inexperienced kid booking a trip like this, I think she did ok for the number of kids attending."
These aren't kids. These are adults and if they are so inexperienced they shouldn't be PLAYING with student's money! What's the excuse for the CO trip? Oops, it was just inexperience and I thought I would make students pay for a trip to a conference I'm not going to attend and will take along a non-SA member since I have access to their funds. After all I deserve a spring break and Oops! I accidentally wandered into the casino due to my inexperience. OOPS!
Org Spending on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:53 AM:
"critical of students voicing concern for paying for our SA's and their girlfriends vacations, we do have free speech and it is OUR money"
So a group of students went on a trip... I'm amazed that it didn't cost MORE! Airfare for 17 people? Flying places is NOT cheap, and being someone who flies just about every other weekend, I know that. My airfare runs between 450-500 every time I fly, so I think they really did do a good job with booking their flights.
I think there would be a lot of students outraged if they knew the things that happened to their seg fees; whether it is to support a resource center that they'll never use but MUST support anyway, or if it's money that channels into SAC to pay for speakers who come to campus and speak about things they would never go listen to, there is spending that people will disagree with across the board.
Although I disagree as well with Nikki going on the trip, student spending is nothing new, it is certainly not exclusive to SUFC, and they are not the last administration that will ever take a trip like this.
Try checking the records from the last several administrations... I'm sure you'll see recurring trends of trips like these, and adjusting for inflation, I'm sure SUFC probably managed to do a pretty good job of being fiscally conservative with how they budgeted and spent. Their airfare alone will speaks to that in my opinion. where they could have budgeted 8-10K for airfare alone, ESPECIALLY on Midwest Airlines they came out with 4k.
As to the Colorado trip, I don't know much of anything about it, but they may have absorbed the registration fees themselves, which would be why you'd have a difficult time finding record of that. I know other student orgs have been expected to do so in the past, and that's good if they did, because then they wouldn't have to take MORE of students' money for registration!
I would like to see the SAC allocation for that trip with regards to the allocation of "loose spending money" answer? you won't find one. Even if they did party and have some fun while they were out there, they were not using the students' money to do so. Amanda Voigtlander didn't go buy a beer and say charge it to John Doe Student at UWM. SAC rules are strict like that for a reason.
Your source probably also knows where to find a platform for SRG, right?
Also I think you're missing the point that this "non-SA friend" didn't have to be a member of SA to go on that trip. Eligibility simply requires that you be a UWM student, which I am willing to bet that individual was, just as nikki was with this trip. Although Nikki shouldn't have gone on this one, she is a UWM student and eligible to attend that.
Ticked Off on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:02 AM:
Students have every right to know where SA funds are being spent and people are getting upset over trips such as these because the SA has continually denied MANY other student organizations access to such funds for similar events that actually DO have something to do with their organizations and betting the campus life.
I was a part of the Campus Activities Board for the couple years of it's development and in case you haven't noticed it NO LONGER EXISTS beause the SA decided it was no longer eligable for student funds despite the fact that it was bringing some very positive activities FOR THE STUDENTS! We had a couple sold out concerts and comedian performances, but it apparently wasn't enough.
Now, I'm not trying to say that CAB was the best thing on campus, because there are numerous other orgs and departments that did a world of good on campus and they too were cut drastically in funding or eliminated altogether...so when the SA denies a group funding for events or departments ON CAMPUS and then spends $12K on a TRIP FOR SA ONLY of course people are going to be pissed...especially after the other funding fraud from previous SA officials came to light.
It's sad that UWM cannot step in to right these situations and it's nice to see that more students are starting to be exposed to all of this, but some drastic changes NEED to take place. Too few students have too much power.
Come on, A.J.... let's hear it! on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:00 AM:
A.J.: You've been so quick to talk about how pointless this story is because it published the already-released names of the trip participants. Why have you yet to address the entire point of this article: that SA stayed at a luxury hotel and brought Nikki Pfeifer along with. Come on, A.J., we all want to know: who is Nikki and why did she get to come? You haven't answered this yet... why?
A previous poster said this:
"Also I think you're missing the point that this "non-SA friend" didn't have to be a member of SA to go on that trip. Eligibility simply requires that you be a UWM student, which I am willing to bet that individual was, just as nikki was with this trip. Although Nikki shouldn't have gone on this one, she is a UWM student and eligible to attend that."
If you only needed to be a UWM student to go on this trip and not a member of SA, then where was my invite?
Dear Org Spending... on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:23 AM:
"As to the Colorado trip, I don't know much of anything about it, but they may have absorbed the registration fees themselves, which would be why you'd have a difficult time finding record of that. I know other student orgs have been expected to do so in the past, and that's good if they did, because then they wouldn't have to take MORE of students' money for registration!
I would like to see the SAC allocation for that trip with regards to the allocation of "loose spending money" answer? you won't find one. Even if they did party and have some fun while they were out there, they were not using the students' money to do so. Amanda Voigtlander didn't go buy a beer and say charge it to John Doe Student at UWM. SAC rules are strict like that for a reason."
If you look under section 59 in the Large Grant meeting notes from November 3rd and 4th it shows that the group specifically asked for funding to attend the conference and did not attend!
"59. Association of Interdisciplinary Studies Travel – Conference Literacy now for youth. different methods for youth outreach. Asking for Saturday luncheon and sat non member rate. Documents for hotel Motion for 1965.96 blanket by G second by k"
And for a few of the other trips this organization went on... here is more money they are asking for.
Travel – Conference Knowledge Globalization – UN is represented. Addresses the way knowledge and technology travels. Normally is more expensive. Didn’t want to rent a car 1643.81 blanket by G second by K
Travel – Behavioral and Social Sciences Presentations of those working on graduate degrees and Ph.D’s and those looking into entering these studies. Cover ppl and their interactions in their environment.
Motion for 1616 blanket by G no second motion fails Motion for 1992.26 blanket by K second by S
duh on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:47 AM:
"1 trip participant not an SA official, most elected officials members of SUFC"
Hmm... gee, didn't they win the election last year? wouldn't it make sense that they are members of SUFC? this is no shocker here...
Correction duh! on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:54 AM:
They didn't win the election last year. SUFC stole the election last year. That is the only way they can stay in office. Every year it's a new game plan.
ACLU = JOKE on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:56 AM:
ACLU = JOKE
suggestion on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:16 PM:
there should be a list of those who hold office but did not go on any trips
Server on Apr 19, 2008 at 12:03 AM:
I can attest to Tyler Draheim stiffing me on the bill at Ma Fisher's. It's just riddiculous. What's even worse is the fact that as he was running out of the restaurant, he ran over an old lady with his geo metro.
Amaithi Lennox on Apr 19, 2008 at 10:36 AM:
Hello, I am attempting to organize a protest of the current SA regime, please look for me on facebook and I will send you the information on there. Thank you!
BAR on Apr 20, 2008 at 02:05 PM:
I understand the need for continuing development of our student leadership...but $12,000.00 of our money? What a joke. These students are all ready for the big time, aren't they?
I'd suggest remembering their names so you don't accidentally vote for them down the line...
More Investigation Needed on Apr 20, 2008 at 03:07 PM:
The Journal reported, "The University Student Court met late Wednesday night to consider complaints from the ASAP party. The court ruled that there was no evidence Bahr was appointed in a biased fashion." What? Are you kidding? Did these members of the student court also go on the NY trip with their SUFC pals? Is there even a possibility the student court would take a stance that is not in favor with their SUFC pals? Why would the student court go to NY for this conference? How do these 17 people sleep at night?
Former SA Senator on Apr 20, 2008 at 04:35 PM:
I see nothing has changed in the two years since I was on the SA Senate.
The only thing I regret about my SA experience was that I didn't resign sooner than I did. From the student court deciding the election for the 05-06 school year, to the speaker of the senate hacking another student's email account and sending hate mail, to the repeated theft of student money, year after year, it's as if they were trying to model themselves after the real government or something. Probably the only thing that hasn't happened is some kind of sex scandal.
Back when I was there, you had a handful of folks that treated the SA as a kind of "student club" rather than a legitimate exercise in student self-governance. You had a bunch of folks that seemingly never went to class, but just hung around the SA office all day, and other "career students," that would obviously never hold a real job ever in their lives, but instead just ran for SA office year after year. Then you have these fake political parties that are born and die every other year (remember RAVE? MKE? USV? Do any of them exist anymore?).
I say dissolve the whole thing, and replace it with a Model UN club or something.
Kurt Buchholz on Apr 20, 2008 at 05:05 PM:
Do SA senators get paid? I voted, but it shows how much I know about how SA works.
UWM Student on Apr 20, 2008 at 05:24 PM:
The Speaker, Deputy Speaker of the Senate, and the United Council Representative have line items. The webmaster, SAC-Chair, and SAC Vice-Chair are also paid, but may or may not be senators.
All other senators are not paid. Food is provided at senate meetings though.
Re: Former SA Senator on Apr 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM:
Replace it with a model UN club? You are an idiot.
Kurt Buchholz on Apr 20, 2008 at 05:53 PM:
Since they are so concerned with saving the students money, did the SUFC officers in the legislative branch and the executive branch refuse their salaries for the last year? I highly doubt that.