Ripon College Days

In eight Student Senate sessions this semester, senators have voted to spend more than $15,000 in one-funds.

Currently the one-fund sits at $38,033.93, down from more than $50,000 at the beginning of this term. While senators have been presented with several smaller figure requests, a large number of requests have been for thousands of dollars. And, of these requests, senators have only voted against requests on two occasions.

"In comparison to my previous two years on Senate it seems that there has not been a greater amount of one-funds, but that groups coming to Senate are asking for a greater amount of money," says junior Stephanie Klomsten, senator.

Student Senate President junior Chris Reed-Waddell concurs.

"We're operating with less money than we did last year. However, we've had a handful of larger one-funds as opposed to a multitude of smaller ones," he says. "I checked what the one-fund was at this time last year, and we're operating with about five to ten thousand dollars less than we had last year at this time."

Student Senator Treasurer sophomore Matt Bush says he's somewhat concerned about the deflation of the one-fund account.

"I worry about the pace that senators spend, but also it's up to the senators where they want to spend the money," he says. "I've already cautioned them about being sure they have money left for the rest of the year, and they seem to be listening to it."

Included in successful substantial one-fund requests this term are a $1,000 request by SMAC to bring a band as part of Homecoming activities; over $1,000 for the Ripon College Choraliers to purchase a keyboard; $6,000 requested by College Democrats to bring Operation Truth, a panel of speakers on the war in Iraq, and $3,075 for the Network to bring a speaker to address gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

Senators also voted to donate $1,039 from the one-fund to Dillard University, Ripon's sister college in New Orleans that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The only two requests failing to garner Senate approval were a $290.25 request by the Ripon College Choraliers for polo shirts and a $2,000 request brought by Ripon Right to Life and co-sponsored by College Republicans. The request would have brought a pro-life feminist speaker to campus, but failed in a seven to 12 vote.

"How I voted was based on my constituents' beliefs and their concerns about how the program Right to Life wanted to bring to campus would affect the student body as a whole," says Klomsten, who declined to indicate how she voted.

Ripon Right to Life President junior SinŽad Devlin expresses concern regarding Senates disapproval of the request.

"I was surprised and confused because the conversation on the floor right before they moved to vote was quite positive," she says. "I realize that it is difficult sometimes to place yourself in a completely objective state of mind, especially when dealing with an issue like abortion. I know that $2,000 is a pricey tag for a speaker, but I believe our request justified the price."

Student Senate President junior Chris Reed-Waddell believes senators are capable of pushing aside personal views.

"When you look at the record of senators moving beyond their personal beliefs in a number of other one-funds, I really don't think that personal bias toward ideology comes into play," he says.

Instead, he cites concerns over the speaker's ethos, the level of student interest and quality of the event as reasons why he believes the request failed.

"I don't think Senate would be adverse to reconsider the matter if a clearer and more precise one-fund were presented to us," he says.

In light of the denial of the Right to Life request and approval of the Network request at the following session, Reed-Waddell says senators are looking for a "consistent way to judge [one-funds]." He notes specific factors senators will look for include the organization's accountability to the student body, quality of the presentation to Senate, knowledge of the material presented, cost-benefit analysis to determine how many will benefit from the event or purchase and the organization's CSO and Senate appearances attendance record.

"Right now I think the senators are trying to come up with a way of prioritizing one-funds, particularly large ones, so we don't have to have a moratorium on things like speakers and musicians," he says. "As more strain is put on the one-fund the tougher the decisions will become."

Strain will be particularly apparent if organizations continue to request large sums, of which there are at least two requests expected to arise by the end of the semester.

President of College Republicans sophomore Axel Owen says his organization has some ideas that will require substantial one-fund requests. A panel on accuracy in the media cost around $1,000, he says, and the organization plans to one-fund for a high-profile keynote speaker.

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