The House of Appropriations Committee (HAC) discussed a controversial bill regarding the caretakers of Rowdy, Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) bull mascot, during their meeting on Oct. 7.
Bill 19-09 was presented by CMU student Gregg Payseno, one of the leaders of the Rowdy Wranglers club. The Bill asked HAC to provide $4,050 for scholarships, equipment and a new cattle halter to fit Rowdy after he gained 150 pounds over the season.
However, the numbers presented to the HAC were not coherent with the numbers on the bill. After all questions were answered, Chief Financial Officer Jacob Martin clarified that the club’s actual asking price was $4,063.06.
Since this is a substantial amount of money, Representative BriAnne Marr asked Payseno to clarify what is time sensitive.
“The halter. I mean, there’s only two of us that have shirts… So, shirts for the other two people for sure, the lock and key, food and housing costs and probably the gas because that comes out of my personal pocket so far. Other than that, there is nothing that is overly pressing,” Payseno said.
“I am a little hesitant on passing this bill. Obviously, the amount we are passing doesn’t represent exactly what they need, and obviously it seems like there is a lack of communication and a lack of understanding and that scares me a little too because this is just so much money,” Marr said.
Representative and Editor in Chief of The Criterion, Chris DeLeon, noticed there has been no push for fundraising, and Payseno said he hopes next year more money will be implemented. Payseno said he would like to use the back of Rowdy’s trailer to advertise.
“Everyone really loves the bull. We almost have to push people away just to get into the game,” Payseno said.
There was disagreement in the HAC over the $3,000 requested for four Rowdy Wranglers member scholarships. Payseno explained that scholarships are given to the two leads and two members for their time, knowledge and instincts required to handle a bull.
“Time is naturally going to be a part of [the organization] when you sign up for it. I understand the necessities for all the materials, but the lack of fundraising and scholarships make me hesitant,” House Representative and Business Manager at The Criterion Brooklynn Guinto said.
House Representative Mahalet Mamo said the club is new and they should be given a little bit of grace. Effort, time and putting their lives at risk is worth it to give the Rowdy Wranglers scholarships. Mamo made the motion to table Bill 19-09 for a week, and the representatives all agreed.
“If we treated Rowdy like any other club, we would not have the Rowdy Wranglers,” President Beau Flores said.
In other news, Bill 19-10 was an allocation request from the Club Advisory Board (CAB) to take money out of their reserves and use it to further involvement on campus.
The Director of CAB, Faith Wood, presented Bill 19-10 for funding new involvement logs that clubs must take part in. CAB plans to donate to other on-campus organizations as well as give $50 each semester to the 70 clubs on campus to start their fundraising events.
“We just try to make sure that every student finds their place or home in the form of a club that’s meant for them. We’re here to provide that information,” Wood said.
Bill 19-10 passed, and CAB was granted permission to take money out of their own reserves. If certain clubs do not spend the $50 given to them from CAB, the money will go back into the board’s reserves.
