UNControllables denied money by full Student Congress

Of the six bills discussed and debated in front of full Student Congress on Tuesday, the only one that did not pass was a funding request from the UNControllables, a student anarchy group.

The UNControllables wanted $11,675 to host a National Conference on Organized Resistance on campus.

After approximately 30 minutes of debate, with various questions from congress members including Cole Simons and Priyesh Krishnan, the bill was not passed with seven voters abstaining and only a few voting in favor.

There were two amendments made to the bill, including the reduction of printing and publicity and office supplies money — additions that still were not enough to pass the bill. 

Earlier in the annual budget cycle, UNControllables requested $16,000 and received $4,000 that they did not fully spend.

The representatives of UNControllables, Mitch Xia and James Wingard, went before Student Congress to advocate for the $11,675 for the national conference.

“We are not only bringing together collective struggles but arming students with knowledge,” Xia said of the inclusiveness of the conference.

The group was planning to make the conference an annual event. Wingard said the large amount of money being requested was for startup costs, meaning, in future, the group would not need as much.

Travis Broadhurst questioned a graphic the group used, which involved a bolt of lightning striking the Old Well. Congress then discussed freedom of speech and viewpoint neutrality, meaning members of congress do not vote based on personal preferences.

“I would like to move to reconsider the vote on this past one with the clarification, because we are viewpoint neutral. I want to ensure that this vote was based not on their decision to not support anarchy but because they feel the bill is either too expensive or there is another reason for their abstention,” Simons said.

The other bills, most asking for at least $1,500 less than the UNControllables, were passed with few or no amendments.

All 15 bills and resolutions on the consent calendar were passed without discussion on the floor.

After bills were discussed on the floor of full congress, the chairs for the four select committees introduced by Simons were elected along with members of that committee.

Mitchell Jester was elected chairman for the committee on health, Broadhurst was elected chairman for the committee on academics, Georgia Cameron was elected chairwoman for the committee on campus climate and Phillip Jester was elected chairman for the committee on campus development.

In an email before the meeting Tuesday, Speaker David Joyner provisionally appointed Gentry Fitch to be Student Congress’ delegate to the Association of Student Governments. Joyner said Fitch was recommended by Tanner Glenn, who previously held the position.

A provisional appointee means Fitch can sit in the Association of Student Government meetings until he goes through the two-week process of being voted on by committees and the full Student Congress, Joyner said.

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