Equal access for campus groups

The IU Student Association passed a bill Monday that would allow all student organizations to apply for a Student Organizational Account, which would give all groups equal access to monetary services provided by the University.\nThe standing policy, approved by the IU board of trustees in 1978, excluded political and religiously-affiliated student groups from receiving an SOA.\n"I was talking to the president of the Muslim Student Union who said he didn't feel like a real student because he couldn't get a phone in his office because that falls under telecommunications," IUSA Vice President Judd Arnold said following the meeting Monday.\nArnold, the sponsor of the bill, said the policy will not give money toward organizations, but will provide equal access to University services like rooms in the Indiana Memorial Union, access to motor pools and telecommunication services. It would also give organizations some tax-free exemptions on their group-related purchases.\nThe bill will have to be presented in front of the board of trustees to change the current standing policy. \nAssistant Dean of Students Jim Gibson said the reason the policy was put into effect in the first place was to avoid giving student money to certain groups that some students may not support. IUSA's bill will encourage the board to change the policy, which would allow groups SOA cards, but not money directly from the University.\n"With any decision, with any policy as an administration, you have to be able to review it," Gibson said, referring to the 1978 policy. "Especially when student groups raise the issue."\nThe change in policy would not allow political or religiously affiliated groups access to funds through the Commitment to Assist Student Initiatives, which is direct money given to organizations out of an almost $140,000 pot. A group of nine students decide and approve what organizations should get what money from CASI.\nGibson said the funding for SOAs come from the student activity fee collected every semester by the Office of the Bursar. On average, a student pays $2.12 every semester for SOAs.\nKatie Sammons, the student contact for the Campus Baptist Ministries, said it would be nice for organizations to be able to use services like the IMU for weekly meetings. She said although she doesn't agree with student money going towards all groups, she believes political and religious groups have as much right to meet in places like the IMU as any other organization.\n"I don't think it's right to charge the students for this sort of thing," Sammons said. "I believe in the gospel, but I understand some people don't. I can understand why people wouldn't be supporting (my view)."\nHer organization, which meets weekly in the McNutt Quad formal lounge, does not currently receive benefits from an SOA account because of their religious affiliation.\nIUSA Senator Dietrich Willke, who supported the bill, said having an SOA card allows organizations to do much more than they would be able to without one. He said organizations are treated better and are on more equal footing when they have a SOA account.\nRecently, the topic of mandatory student fees contributing to political or religious organizations has become a growing issue. \nAt the University of Wisconsin-Madison, mandatory student activity fees used for student organizations that engage in political or ideological activities was judged as violating the First Amendment after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case in 1998. This change in IU's policy wouldn't necessarily violate the U.S. Constitution because the University is indirectly helping student organizations.\n"I think there are probably some legal issues that certainly I'm not qualified to answer completely," Gibson said. \nTrustee Sacha Willsey said she was unsure how IUSA's bill will be received by the board.\n"I know (the board) always listens to what the students want," Willsey said. "That's the main concern."\nGibson said he would be surprised if the board gave a simple yes-or-no vote on the matter.\n"We need to make sure our student organizations are treated as fairly and equitably as possible," Gibson said. "I think this is the kind of work student government should do and does do that really looks out in the best interest of students"