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USG approves $10,000 for ConnMen CD
John Kennedy
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
In a five-hour meeting last night, the Undergraduate Student Government granted the Conn-Men, an a cappella group on campus, nearly $11,000 to make a CD.
USG also approved funding for a concert sponsored by Idealists United, while denying funding for a concert sponsored by Asylum for the Arts
The Conn-Men received $10,700 from a nearly unanimous vote, with the exception of a few who dissented and abstained, to fund the recording, editing, mixing and mastering of their first professional CD.
USG Multicultural and Diversity Center Senator Mary Lorenz wanted the group to explore other, less expensive options by asking a neutral party to assess the expenses. Lorenz was told by the two Conn-Men representatives that there was not enough time to do so, and that they had already picked the cheapest, most timely option.
In a debate that had some senators looking like infatuated fans, punctuated by the group singing Seal's "Future Love Paradise", Thomas O'Neill, Alumni, said the CD was a great way to elevate UConn's a cappella community.
Megan Piscopiello, Alumni Residence Hall senator, disagreed and said if every group striving for the best comes forward, there won't be any money left in the USG coffers.
Two representatives from Idealists United presented a case to USG, asking for just over $38,000 to fund a concert headlined by Dead Prez, a Fair Trade fashion show, workshops, and a speaker, as part of Human Rights Awareness Week.
The decision to award the money, which amounts to 9 percent of the semester's budget, and 6 percent of the year's, according to Vice President Robert Puff, was hotly contested.
ACES Senator Duncan Craig said those who voted against the funding would be letting down the students they represent, because the event touches on "lots of things our generation cares about."
Commuter Senator Neil Smith opposed on the grounds that the events should have been handled by SUBOG, the proposal was being made less than 30 days in advance, and constituted 93 percent of the funding given out during Funding Session 6.
USG also approved funding for a concert sponsored by Idealists United, while denying funding for a concert sponsored by Asylum for the Arts
The Conn-Men received $10,700 from a nearly unanimous vote, with the exception of a few who dissented and abstained, to fund the recording, editing, mixing and mastering of their first professional CD.
USG Multicultural and Diversity Center Senator Mary Lorenz wanted the group to explore other, less expensive options by asking a neutral party to assess the expenses. Lorenz was told by the two Conn-Men representatives that there was not enough time to do so, and that they had already picked the cheapest, most timely option.
In a debate that had some senators looking like infatuated fans, punctuated by the group singing Seal's "Future Love Paradise", Thomas O'Neill, Alumni, said the CD was a great way to elevate UConn's a cappella community.
Megan Piscopiello, Alumni Residence Hall senator, disagreed and said if every group striving for the best comes forward, there won't be any money left in the USG coffers.
Two representatives from Idealists United presented a case to USG, asking for just over $38,000 to fund a concert headlined by Dead Prez, a Fair Trade fashion show, workshops, and a speaker, as part of Human Rights Awareness Week.
The decision to award the money, which amounts to 9 percent of the semester's budget, and 6 percent of the year's, according to Vice President Robert Puff, was hotly contested.
ACES Senator Duncan Craig said those who voted against the funding would be letting down the students they represent, because the event touches on "lots of things our generation cares about."
Commuter Senator Neil Smith opposed on the grounds that the events should have been handled by SUBOG, the proposal was being made less than 30 days in advance, and constituted 93 percent of the funding given out during Funding Session 6.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
John
posted 4/02/09 @ 12:13 PM EST
so basically USG has become the funding club...thats all it seems like they do.
Concerning the conn-men thing.
1) why do they need a CD? is it to pass out to students for free? What if there is profit to be made. (Continued…)
Michael Hogan
posted 4/02/09 @ 1:54 PM EST
So now Mary Lorenz is now FOR fiscal responsibility. Bravo, you politically vapid child.
Ortiz should try to impeach her.
charlie murphy
posted 4/02/09 @ 1:56 PM EST
john, maybe you are not aware, but USG's primary function is to delegate 1.5 million dollars each year to student groups. This makes USG a legitimate legislative entity, unlike the majority of the student government's across the country. (Continued…)
Supporter of Charlie Murphy
posted 4/02/09 @ 6:03 PM EST
Well said Charlie.
I think it's funny that the DC titles this about Conn Men getting funded and not Idealist United which got funded triple Conn Men's amount. (Continued…)
against this funding
posted 4/02/09 @ 6:36 PM EST
Idealist United is run by Amanda Stauble who is with Ortiz to run for next years President of this group. does it seem like they really stand up for us when they are putting forward this crazy 38,000 dollar concert?
if anything they should be the ones we question where was the comptroller in all of this?
Against Racism
posted 4/07/09 @ 2:20 PM EST
It strikes me as odd that a group like Idealists United would invite a hate-spewing, violence-promoting, militant hip-hop group like Dead Prez.
No one can deny that "Hip-Hop" is a catchy song, but calling for civil war based on the color of one's skin seems counterproductive for normalizing race relations. (Continued…)
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