The money the SGA once paid itself with could be used to help sexual assault victims.
Student Government Association President Aaron Kraus presented his plan to save the victim advocate position yesterday to SGA members, hoping the legislature will ignore the Finance Committee’s recommendations.
The plan calls for $18,000 of the $23,000 of the interest accrued from the organization’s budget to fund the position next year.
Kraus does not intend to fund the position permanently, just long enough to find an outside funding source. If passed, the plan puts the decision to fund the position for a second year in the Finance Committee’s hands.
The Finance Committee previously voted against funding the victim advocate because it thought the SGA would be spending student activity fees illegally under state accounting laws, said Vice President of Finance Alden Gross.
“It is very legal, L-E-G-A-L, for us to fund the victim advocate,” Kraus told the legislature. “There is no state law barring anything, especially due to the fact that the SGA has money that is not student activity funds.”
Nancy Hensler-McGinnis, the campus victim advocate since 2002, said the University Health Center expects SGA funds and has already found a replacement for when she leaves June 1.
“It is unbelievably important for the Student Government Association to fund something so essential to not only women on our campus, but guys use this as well,” said Kraus, who said he knows someone who was sexually abused and visited Hensler-McGinnis for help. “If the SGA doesn’t put forth the money, there will be no position. That is the reality.”
Academic-at-large legislator Kip Edwards questioned if university administrators could fund the victim advocate.
“The university should sponsor a university position — it shouldn’t be left up to students,” Edwards said. “Maybe if Dr. [university President Dan] Mote wants to stop having his lunches with students, that would raise enough money.”
Vice President of Campus Affairs Josh Berman submitted the plan with Kraus.
“If you need her at three o’clock in the morning, you can call her — part of the plan is to make that more publicized,” Berman said. Information would be distributed to students during freshmen orientation.
The Jewish Social Action Committee and Amnesty International raised about $6,000 in March for the position; Kraus’ plan would have the SGA pay the rest.
A three-year grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention provided the initial funding in fall 2002 for Hensler-McGinnis’ position, 75 percent in 2003 and half this academic year.
A grant from the Violence Against Women Act gave Hensler-McGinnis full funding in 2003, and proceeds from campus performances of The Vagina Monologues filled this year’s void.
Hensler-McGinnis has helped at least 200 victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment.
“This SGA has an opportunity to save a very important service for this university,” Kraus said.
