Overturn veto on band emergency money falls one senate vote short
11/29/2009
By Laura Podgornik
Staff Writer
Although eight were needed, only seven of twelve senators voted in favor of overturning a veto by Student Body President Logan Campa at a University of Wisconsin-Superior Student Senate meeting this past Monday. Campa elected to veto SF 1109-01 – a request for emergency funding made by the Symphonic and Jazz Bands to make a tour of Costa Rica more affordable for band students.
Director of Bands Dr. Pamela Bustos says the money was requested due to a last-minute change of destination and rise in the cost of the trip. Bustos says it’s important that the majority of the band members are able to attend the trip because of the uniqueness of the Symphonic and Jazz bands.
“This is the ultimate case of bad timing. I have been working with people in Colombia for the past twelve years and have been waiting for the right time to go. I had been planning the trip to Colombia for three years, and had it approved by all upper administration in February 2009,” said Bustos.
Bustos was disappointed to learn that in July 2009, UWS began utilizing a new review process for student trips, and Colombia was no longer an option for the group. The United States Department of State recently updated the Travel Warning for the country of Colombia on November 10, 2009. This warning replaced the Travel Warning for Colombia of March 25, 2009.
“I was encouraged to find a new place quick. I did it because I didn’t want the cancellation of the Colombia trip to mean a generation of students wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend a study abroad trip,” said Bustos.
In the music department, all music ensembles are on a four year rotation, meaning each organization goes on a trip once every four years.
Although Bustos regretted her decision to do so, she had the revised trip planned by mid-September 2009 to the more expensive destination of Costa Rica. Jazz program Director Dr. Greg Moore says the new trip is two-thirds more than the cost of the original trip.
Band member Katie Fults served as a personal example when she spoke at the November 23 meeting.
“I found out in March 2009 that I was going on the Colombia trip with the band. I worked all summer and saved for the trip. Now, I don’t have enough money for the Costa Rica trip,” said Fults.
On November 9, University Student Senate approved legislation that would provide $200 per student, in total $13,000. This amount doubled the suggested allocation made by the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee (SUFAC) of $6,500, or $100 per student.
President Campa sent out a three-page veto message that same day to both the University Student Senate and the Symphonic and Jazz bands. In the veto message, Campa questioned the amount of fundraising done by the Music Department while also naming “source of revenue which we are providing and the issue of recurring requests” as reasons for disapproval of the appeal.
Campa went on to say that since he became involved with the Student Government Association in fall 2007, the Music Department has made requests for emergency funding every year.
Band member Cori Forcey argued this fact at the Student Senate meeting stating that different sets of students belonging to different organizations have made emergency requests on behalf of the Music Department in past three years, but the band has not made any.
In response, Campa said that SUFAC doesn’t look at separate organizations within departments but rather departments as a whole.
Band students also responded to the question of fundraising with plans to hold a bake sale on December 2.
“I believe there is a lack of understanding about our fundraising. SUFAC and SGA are used to seeing student organization fundraising which is different than foundation fundraising,” said Bustos.
Bustos says the bands have been fundraising with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Foundation, Inc. for the past eight years. According to the Director of Bands, this fundraising includes, “providing music for foundation events, soliciting donors by phone, inserts in concert programs and ticket revenue from concerts.”
Both Bustos and Moore agree that the reason behind the trips is to support learning beyond the classroom.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes with students in 2005 that this trip changes people’s life perspectives,” said Moore.
Bustos says the Symphonic and Jazz bands have the right to resubmit the request and are considering doing so.
Although Campa vetoed the current request, there is potential for students to receive some support.
At the close of his veto statement he stated, “I supported the legislation passed by SUFAC allocating $100/ student for a total of $6,500.”
Bustos was encouraged by the fact that the bands had the support of seven senators present at the November 23 meeting. She hopes to shed a new light on the request.
“We don’t want this trip to be about money,” she said. “We want to give equal opportunity for every student to have an international experience.”
Director of Bands Dr. Pamela Bustos says the money was requested due to a last-minute change of destination and rise in the cost of the trip. Bustos says it’s important that the majority of the band members are able to attend the trip because of the uniqueness of the Symphonic and Jazz bands.
“This is the ultimate case of bad timing. I have been working with people in Colombia for the past twelve years and have been waiting for the right time to go. I had been planning the trip to Colombia for three years, and had it approved by all upper administration in February 2009,” said Bustos.
Bustos was disappointed to learn that in July 2009, UWS began utilizing a new review process for student trips, and Colombia was no longer an option for the group. The United States Department of State recently updated the Travel Warning for the country of Colombia on November 10, 2009. This warning replaced the Travel Warning for Colombia of March 25, 2009.
“I was encouraged to find a new place quick. I did it because I didn’t want the cancellation of the Colombia trip to mean a generation of students wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend a study abroad trip,” said Bustos.
In the music department, all music ensembles are on a four year rotation, meaning each organization goes on a trip once every four years.
Although Bustos regretted her decision to do so, she had the revised trip planned by mid-September 2009 to the more expensive destination of Costa Rica. Jazz program Director Dr. Greg Moore says the new trip is two-thirds more than the cost of the original trip.
Band member Katie Fults served as a personal example when she spoke at the November 23 meeting.
“I found out in March 2009 that I was going on the Colombia trip with the band. I worked all summer and saved for the trip. Now, I don’t have enough money for the Costa Rica trip,” said Fults.
On November 9, University Student Senate approved legislation that would provide $200 per student, in total $13,000. This amount doubled the suggested allocation made by the Segregated University Fee Allocation Committee (SUFAC) of $6,500, or $100 per student.
President Campa sent out a three-page veto message that same day to both the University Student Senate and the Symphonic and Jazz bands. In the veto message, Campa questioned the amount of fundraising done by the Music Department while also naming “source of revenue which we are providing and the issue of recurring requests” as reasons for disapproval of the appeal.
Campa went on to say that since he became involved with the Student Government Association in fall 2007, the Music Department has made requests for emergency funding every year.
Band member Cori Forcey argued this fact at the Student Senate meeting stating that different sets of students belonging to different organizations have made emergency requests on behalf of the Music Department in past three years, but the band has not made any.
In response, Campa said that SUFAC doesn’t look at separate organizations within departments but rather departments as a whole.
Band students also responded to the question of fundraising with plans to hold a bake sale on December 2.
“I believe there is a lack of understanding about our fundraising. SUFAC and SGA are used to seeing student organization fundraising which is different than foundation fundraising,” said Bustos.
Bustos says the bands have been fundraising with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Foundation, Inc. for the past eight years. According to the Director of Bands, this fundraising includes, “providing music for foundation events, soliciting donors by phone, inserts in concert programs and ticket revenue from concerts.”
Both Bustos and Moore agree that the reason behind the trips is to support learning beyond the classroom.
“I’ve seen with my own eyes with students in 2005 that this trip changes people’s life perspectives,” said Moore.
Bustos says the Symphonic and Jazz bands have the right to resubmit the request and are considering doing so.
Although Campa vetoed the current request, there is potential for students to receive some support.
At the close of his veto statement he stated, “I supported the legislation passed by SUFAC allocating $100/ student for a total of $6,500.”
Bustos was encouraged by the fact that the bands had the support of seven senators present at the November 23 meeting. She hopes to shed a new light on the request.
“We don’t want this trip to be about money,” she said. “We want to give equal opportunity for every student to have an international experience.”
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