Spring Break
USG overturns veto of Paintball Team's funding
Perry Robbin
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) overturned comptroller Jason Ortiz's veto of about $12,000 in funding for the UConn's paintball club Wednesday night in a meeting lasting over three hours.
"Welcome to USG, everybody," Chief of Staff Matthew Burrill said after the deliberations entered their second hour.
The vote on the paintball funding was contentious and close. The senators in favor of overturning the veto - therefore giving the paintball club its funding - won the vote 30 to 12, only 6 percent over the necessary two-thirds majority.
The UConn paintball club is undefeated this year and ranked No. 1 in their conference by the National Collegiate Paintball Association (NCPA). Additionally, they have won three out of the last four national championships. Ken Rusterholz, who is chief operating officer of the club, asserted that the club's prestige and ability to compete would be damaged by a cut in funding.
The positive publicity and recognition brought to UConn by having a very successful team was another reason the club used to argue for an overturn of the veto.
Conversely, Ortiz contended that the expenditure was too high for a club that holds its activities off campus and whose competition team is not open to the students at large.
Ortiz opened the discussion by saying that, while he knew the decision was controversial, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.
"The veto is an effort to restore the credibility of USG," Ortiz said.
The debate was lengthy and intense. USG members, paintball club members, members of other clubs and other students asked questions and gave their opinions on the issue. Views ranged from denying the funding or cutting the amount requested to giving the club the full amount.
The idea that Ortiz was making value judgments about the group specifically, a concept outside his jurisdiction, was presented by multiple people who supported overturning the veto. USG President Meredith Zaritheny was one of those people.
"Welcome to USG, everybody," Chief of Staff Matthew Burrill said after the deliberations entered their second hour.
The vote on the paintball funding was contentious and close. The senators in favor of overturning the veto - therefore giving the paintball club its funding - won the vote 30 to 12, only 6 percent over the necessary two-thirds majority.
The UConn paintball club is undefeated this year and ranked No. 1 in their conference by the National Collegiate Paintball Association (NCPA). Additionally, they have won three out of the last four national championships. Ken Rusterholz, who is chief operating officer of the club, asserted that the club's prestige and ability to compete would be damaged by a cut in funding.
The positive publicity and recognition brought to UConn by having a very successful team was another reason the club used to argue for an overturn of the veto.
Conversely, Ortiz contended that the expenditure was too high for a club that holds its activities off campus and whose competition team is not open to the students at large.
Ortiz opened the discussion by saying that, while he knew the decision was controversial, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.
"The veto is an effort to restore the credibility of USG," Ortiz said.
The debate was lengthy and intense. USG members, paintball club members, members of other clubs and other students asked questions and gave their opinions on the issue. Views ranged from denying the funding or cutting the amount requested to giving the club the full amount.
The idea that Ortiz was making value judgments about the group specifically, a concept outside his jurisdiction, was presented by multiple people who supported overturning the veto. USG President Meredith Zaritheny was one of those people.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
John
posted 2/19/09 @ 12:21 PM EST
I was in USG in 2005, and this stupid paintball fiasco was around and heated back then....and it seems like it is still a fiasco even in 2009.
I was shocked back then at the amount of funding this team received (more than $20,000) while other organizations were denied. (Continued…)
sean
posted 2/19/09 @ 4:11 PM EST
Many club sports are denied funding amounting to less than a quarter of this request. While this team may be ranked #1 national and be featured on the cover of paintball magazines and paintball DVD's, this exposure is contained to the paintball community at large. (Continued…)
Orlando
posted 2/19/09 @ 4:48 PM EST
I am really debating if i want to cause trouble over this with the administration...it is really disturbing...that is too much money for that and it sounds like the whole process did not follow any sort of rule or protocol guidelines. (Continued…)
husky mom
posted 2/19/09 @ 8:53 PM EST
Hello.....Paintball??? I support recreation, but does paintball bring any money back to the university? This seems exorbitant when tuition is on the rise and positions are being cut (Dean of Students). (Continued…)
lol paintball FTW
posted 2/21/09 @ 1:42 AM EST
Ok ladies, dont be mad because ur "magic the gathering" club didnt get there $7.00 funding to buy new packs of cards. The uconn paintball team is a legit group. (Continued…)
I are cool
posted 2/21/09 @ 12:02 PM EST
seriously, what other sport besides basketball at Uconn does anything? These guys are as legit as it gets and they are more then worth the money, they win and actually bring recognition to Uconn. (Continued…)
Vicki
posted 2/21/09 @ 10:54 PM EST
I understand everyone's concern about the misuse of the university's funds. it is a very valid concern, as every student in state pays about $16000 a year to be there. (Continued…)
Lives Local
posted 2/23/09 @ 3:48 PM EST
Instead of just thinking about how the money affects the team and University, how about how it affects the local businesses and economy. That $10,000 does a lot more than keep the team in paint. (Continued…)
David
posted 2/27/09 @ 4:05 PM EST
That 12,000$ is a bargain. If the school wanted to make it a official sport they would be spending ALOT more. Think of the cost to make fields, buy the equipment and consumables in order to practice and play, pay for transportation when the team plays away. (Continued…)
Ethan
posted 4/21/09 @ 3:24 PM EST
My advice to all of you go to Matt's Outback for a day then see what you have to say. Paintball is a lot of fun but certainly isn't cheap.
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