Where does all the money go?

Political- and religiously-affiliated IU student groups are being excluded by the University from obtaining Student Organizational Accounts (SOA), an action that has been deemed unconstitutional by the Synergy ticket.\nSOAs are monetary services provided by the University for student groups. Having an account is the only determining factor as to whether groups qualify to receive Student Organization Funds (SOF) that are essentially comprised of the mandatory $53.61 activity fee each student pays every semester.\n"The Synergy Administration is going to see to it that all student groups are treated fairly," said junior Brian Daviduke, the Synergy ticket candidate for president in the upcoming IU Student Association election. "Currently, several student groups are not allowed an SOA card (and) thus are not allowed the same privileges as other groups. This is simply not fair. So we are going to correct the problem and align IU with the U.S. constitution." \nAs it currently stands, all student groups can apply for an SOA, which enables student groups to reserve rooms, use University facilities for free and gain access to a tax-free bank account. In addition, an SOA number ensures that a student group is eligible for funds through the the Commitment to Assist Student Initiatives (CASI). \nCASI funds are a type of SOF derived from the mandatory student activity fee students pay each semester. Each semester $2 in fees per person is routed directly to CASI. Student organizations are eligible for CASI funding only if they have an SOA number and are not a part of a political campaign or partisan activity. Other requirements include that the organizations do not attempt to influence legislation, are not involved in sectarian religious activities and do not purchase alcohol with the funds.\nBut, as ruled in the Supreme Court case of The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin v. Southworth March 22, 2000, "When a university requires its students to pay fees to support the extracurricular speech of other students, all in the interest of open discussion, it may not prefer some viewpoints over others."\nBut junior Jeff Wuslich, the Steel ticket candidate for president of IUSA, said he feels SOAs aren't necessary to be a part of the student body.\n"Student groups don't need an SOA card to make a difference and be involved on campus," he said.\nJunior Mark Olley, treasurer of College Democrats, disagreed and said his group has applied for an SOA number in the past but was denied because it was politically affiliated, although the eligibility and guidelines for an SOA account don't list political or religious affiliation as determining factors.\nOlley also pointed out that the SOA guidelines are contradictory.\n"The Residence Halls Association (RHA) and IUSA get SOA numbers and CASI money, even though RHA supports groups like Campus Crusade for Christ and IUSA campaigns politically," he said.\nThis is where the Grass Roots Initiative Fund (GRIF) comes into play. Composed of IU credit card revenue interest totalling close to $10,000 annually, GRIF is funding that's specifically intended to help political and religious student groups that are not CASI eligible.\n"The system works well and has been used for several years," Wuslich said.\nAs far as the SOA debate goes, Wuslich is in favor of the current system and finds it "very socialistic."\n"I don't have a problem with it now," Wuslich said. "I don't think your money should go to a student group you don't support. \n"If we give all groups accounts, a new system will have to be developed. We are here to get an education, not to support political or religious causes."\nThe Kirkwood ticket, like Synergy, feels that every student group should be allowed an SOA number but shouldn't automatically be granted CASI money. \nSynergy's claim that the current system is unconstitutional, however, is one Kirkwood doesn't agree with. \n"We do not see this as a constitutional issue," said junior Judd Arnold, the Kirkwood ticket candidate for vice president of administration.\n"It is student, not governmental, money," he said. "This issue is a matter of principal. \n"No one has the right to use that money to promote a cause that a student finds offensive or\nhighly objectionable."\nArnold also suggested that the Internal Revenue Service be contacted, as it has the last word concerning who has tax-exempt status.\n"It's very hard to say who should get it or who shouldn't," said sophomore Bill Gray, the Kirkwood ticket candidate for president of IUSA.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said unconstitutionality of the deployment of SOA funds has certainly never been determined, but it has been looked into in the past and can be looked into in the future. He added that the University of Wisconsin case concerned the distribution of funds, and therefore did not directly apply to distribution of SOA numbers. \n"I am sure if Dean McKaig had any real concerns about the constitutionality he would bring it to us," University Counsel Sharon Groeger said. "In the past we have reviewed the policy and found it to be acceptable"