Student Government: Atheist Student Alliance funding disputed
Candace Kaw, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
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Bill 48-055 requested $1171.30 for the club and was sponsored by Sen. Dan Shelnutt of the Interim Funding and Transfers Committee. Of that money, $775 was requested for food for meet-and-greets, Bull Market booths, meetings and guest lectures.
Sen. Charles Sherrard, who is majoring in political science, voted against the bill.
"I disapprove. These kinds of organizations are dangerous for our society," Sherrard said.
Ralph Reid, the Rules, Judicial and Legislative Affairs Committee chair, disagreed with the bill because he felt the amounts given to different clubs were unfair.
"I don't think we are funding them equally," Reid said.
Other senators who supported the bill thought the club had a right to support its beliefs, and that money from student activities fees was rightly used for student clubs, regardless of their popularity.
"Though I may not agree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it," said Sen. Ryan Iacovacci, paraphrasing Voltaire.
"Tension is necessary, tension is what breeds creativity," Iacovacci said. "If there is one side of the coin, then you get control. If there is tension, it breeds democracy."
Senate President Pro Tempore Nicole Randazzo also supported the bill.
"This is the students' money, so give it back to the students."
Sen. Keenan Arodak said SG should approve the funding request because disapproving it because of the group's beliefs is illegal.
"We as Student Government members cannot vote this down just because it is the Atheist (Student) Alliance and (because) we disagree with its philosophy," he said. "This is not only a state and local law, but it also has been ratified by the Supreme Court of the United States."
Added Sen. Benjamin Brown: "Regardless whether you believe in their views, I still think it's good to have a diversity of opinions."
Though the bill was debated vehemently in the Senate, it eventually passed with overwhelming support, taking in a 13-4-2 vote.
Other clubs whose funding requests were approved Tuesday included:
-USF Photo Club, $1,060.00
-Geography Club at USF, $502.97
-Voices for Planned Parenthood at USF, $614.80
-Obstetrics Interest Group, $999.58
-Orthopedic Interest Group, $147.87
Additional reporting by Amy Mariani.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 31
James E. Gambrell
posted 3/19/08 @ 12:10 PM EST
There should be no funding for any religious group or anti-group, athesists, scienthesist nor for any particular defenders or proponents of any philosopy. (Continued…)
Vivian Mills
posted 3/19/08 @ 9:38 PM EST
How sad it is to see that a senator of the Student Government of such a great institution as USF would make a comment that clearly intents to create sectarian intolerance. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/19/08 @ 10:09 PM EST
A 13-4-2 vote? Why are *19* self-righteous students making financial decisions for a student body of 38,000+? This is outrageous, SG should have no authority
John Kieffer
posted 3/20/08 @ 12:14 AM EST
I'll make this brief. I am a member of USF's Atheist Student Alliance. On 3/19/08, The Oracle reported that during Student Government official funding discussions about our organization's interim budget request, several Student Government Senators stated that our "group was immoral" and, quoting Senator Charles Sherrard, that "these kinds of organizations are dangerous for our society. (Continued…)
William Martin
posted 3/20/08 @ 10:49 AM EST
Generalization is a terrible disease.
How can a group be dangerous to society, when the only thing they have in common is that they don't believe in a creator/God/gods. (Continued…)
Ryan Paulson
posted 3/20/08 @ 11:01 AM EST
Because Peter, the Atheist Student Alliance meetings are also on Tuesday of that time frame. As much as this is a pressing issue to us, we're not going to postpone or cancel "our" meetings because certain SG senators, like sherrard, can't behave like adults. (Continued…)
Rob Curry
posted 3/20/08 @ 11:56 AM EST
Maybe the real danger "these types of organizations" pose is not to society, but only to our own complacency.
I'd like to hear what exactly Sen. Charles Sherrard meant by his statement, just as I hope people I meet and interact with are willing to make the same honest effort to reach out, to listen, maybe even to understand me in turn. (Continued…)
Ryan Paulson
posted 3/20/08 @ 2:17 PM EST
From our website's homepage (AtheistStudentAlliance.org)
"What are our goals? Why does Atheism matter to us?
-Because many atheists encounter prejudice, misunderstandings and stereotypes, and we feel it is vital to be known instead for who we really are. (Continued…)
Derek Guenther
posted 3/20/08 @ 2:51 PM EST
Well good for them. Now if only our real government would have the same level of understanding and open-mindedness.
James Geiger
posted 3/21/08 @ 3:41 AM EST
I was in the gallery Tuesday night. Although I was appalled by the senator's remarks, we still need to respect his beliefs.
I do agree that senate is NOT the place for personal feelings, and those type of comments should have stayed to himself. (Continued…)
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