The Associated Students of the University of Wyoming senate voted at the Tuesday meeting to increase the funding amount to the campus organization S.P.E.A.K. Out.
S.P.E.A.K. Out, which stands for Students for Policy Equality Advancement and Knowledge, requested $5,021 on Monday for the Wyoming Equality Rocks event. The board cut the event’s funding down to $723.75 due to disagreements over the educational value of the Baltimore-based band “Wyoming Exploded.”
S.P.E.A.K. Out representatives addressed the senate, highlighting the educational and enrichment value for hosting this particular band. The band’s drummer is a native of Rock Springs and has worked with artists like Brandy and India.Arie.
The group’s representatives said that while the group is a good example of where Wyoming people excel, the band is really there to draw people into the educational activities of the night. Some senators agreed with that strategy, comparing using a band to draw people as little different from using food for the same purpose.
Sen. Kat Hasley amended the reduced recommendation to $2,523.75.
“We’ve funded other bands in the past just because they are the band to have for that event,” Hasley said.
“I don’t think it’s ASUW’s job to tell RSOs what components of their event is educational when their event is educational,” Sen. Alex Brink said. “I don’t think it’s our place to tell them where they can allocate funding on a line-by-line basis if it’s not in the finance policy, which it’s not.”
RSO Funding Board Chair Hunter Christensen explained the board’s decision.
“We don’t tell people what they should do with their money. There was a mistake made during the meeting by a non-senator on the committee that was resolved after the meeting,” Christensen said.
Christensen also argued that a dance can be done for much cheaper than the group was planning.
“I don’t think we necessarily need to pay $2,000 extra for something they can do for free. Use ASTEC,” he said.
The senate voted to award $2,523.75 to Wyoming Equality Day.
Correction: The quotes attributed to Justin Palm at the RSO Funding Board meeting Monday afternoon should have been attributed to Dustin Bales. Justin Palm did not attend the meeting.
