ASUS debate on funding creative writing contest
Unable to come to a decision as to whether or not to provide funding for the creative writing contest, Associated Students of Utah State University tabled discussion of the contest at the ASUSU meeting on Tuesday, until next week’s meeting.
Cut from ASUSU’s line-item funding two years ago due to some “unfortunate oversight,” director of the creative writing contest Marina Hall said the contest is struggling to survive.
“My concern is that I’m able to provide this opportunity to students of Utah State University to have this contest. It would be tragic if it had to die due to some silly oversight two years ago,” Hall said.
The discussion among ASUSU council revolved not around the worthiness of the contest, but on how the council was approached for funding.
Hall inquired of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences senator Bethany Allen if ASUSU would co-sponsor the contest this year. The Honors Program will be sponsoring the publicity and publication cost for the booklet which will result from the winning entries, and ASUSU was asked if they would donate $975 as reward money to the winners of the contest, Hall said.
Student advocate Steve Kindred said he felt the council was “almost being manipulated by certain people for us to push this through, or else.”
Kindred said there were other avenues which should be paying for the creative writing contest other than students’ fees.
Extension Vice President Tad Thornton disagreed.
“We need something academic that ASUSU supports,” he said. “We fund so much. I would like to see us fund something that has to do with academics.”
Kristen Stokes, family life senator, said funding the contest this year would set the precedent for future years. She believed there are more worthy causes for which the money could be spent.
“I feel all of us have a responsibility, a stewardship over the money and I don’t think this is a wise way to spend this money. I think it needs to be discussed further,” she said.
“This is a good cause,” said Public Relations Vice President Nollie Haws. “Students need the opportunity to do this.”
Allen agreed.
“This [contest] has a history. My proponent is that we do this to serve the students,” Allen said.
Discussion as to whether or not the creative writing contest will be co-sponsored by ASUSU will continue at the next ASUSU meeting on Tuesday.