The House of Appropriations Committee (HAC) welcomed back the Rowdy Wranglers club for a second chance at presenting Bill 19-09 during their meeting on Oct. 14.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) student and Rowdy Wranglers club leader, Gregg Payseno, presented Bill 19-09 once again. Relatively new to his leadership role, Payseno met with Chief Financial Officer Jacob Martin after last week’s HAC meeting to refinance and better organize his presentation for the House.
“I want to thank you all for coming back. Sorry I was disorganized. I kind of had a week to learn everything I needed to know. I took some time out and got a lot better understanding of what I can do with the stuff I have,” Payseno said.
The revised Bill 19-09 broke down the Rowdy Wranglers club’s need for $3,500 in materials and scholarships to continue the program. Payseno said Rowdy Wranglers plans to pull $1,000 out of their reserves to cover the cost of the bull’s new halter, food and housing costs, as well as members’ hats, shirts and gas. This left the club in need of $2,500 for member scholarships.
Until Rowdy Wranglers can become an organization, President Timothy Foster told the club to go to HAC for scholarship funding. So, Payseno requested $2,500 come out of the Student Controlled Resource Fund (SCRF) to pay for the four member scholarships. With this new asking price, House Representative Daniel Haas amended Bill 19-09 to be solely for scholarships.
“I appreciate the clarification, but unfortunately, all that got taken out is what I am actually in favor for,” House Representative and Editor in Chief for The Criterion Chris DeLeon said. “It just means that students are paying for scholarships and I do not feel comfortable about that. I do think they deserve it and it is not even enough. But I do not want it sound like I am against scholarships. Like those at CU get a full ride for running with the buffalo. The difference is that CU doesn’t have student fees paying for those scholarships, they have donors and trustees behind them. Those burdens should be handled by those who can afford it, not students who are going in debt.”
“I think we are getting too hung up on scholarships, it is a stipend, but we cannot call it that. Part of paying your fees is getting able to watch a bull run on a field. And I think that the fees making sure people are safe and having a good time is more important than those in ASG who lots of people do not know,” Haas said.
Bill 19-09 was passed with six votes in favor and three votes to abstain.
“Words have meanings, and if we ignore the meaning of words simply because of something being important and we feel like exceptions should be made, then we are in danger of setting a precedent. Obviously I do believe that this is something that should happen for [the Rowdy Wranglers club]. I just feel like the source should be different and that’s why I abstained,” DeLeon said.
The HAC will transfer $2,500 out of SCRF and into the Rowdy Wranglers scholarships fund. Next year, Payseno will completely take over Rowdy Wranglers and find different ways to fund the club’s member scholarships.
