News
Photo courtesy of Karlene Ferrante
Dog park commitee member Karlene Ferrante’s dog Sasha would benefit from a local dog park.
SGA debates dog park funding
The Pointer
mbiem244@uwsp.edu
The Stevens Point Dog Park committee request for funding from Student Government Association sparked controversy at the SGA’s senate meeting on Thursday.
The funding request was first presented to the SGA finance committee at the Oct. 27 meeting. Matt Guidry, student life issues director, presented the funding request on behalf of the Stevens Point Dog Park. Originally, the request was for $10,000, but the amount was lowered to $2,500.
According to the dog park committee’s funding request, the committee needs $25,790 for fencing so the 30-acre park, which will be located at 601 Mason Street, can open. Currently, $13,000 has been raised.
The rationale behind the dog park committee’s funding request is that students will find multiple benefits from the park. In addition to providing a safe, healthy place for students who own dogs to exercise their pets, the park would provide another place of recreation for students without dogs.
“While Schmeekle is close to campus, students may not make time in their busy schedule to use that recreation area. Dogs help owners to prioritize exercise and the new dog park will make such exercise easier.” The funding proposal stated, even though dogs are not allowed in Schmeekle Reserve.
Other proposed benefits to students include increased socialization with community members and the opportunity to meet fellow dog lovers.
“Many students actually have come forward talking about how they miss their dog and how they would actually take other people’s dogs there, like their neighbors’… A lot of community members don’t feel that the college or the students, particularly, are part of the community… I think this is a really big way to show we’re a part of that community,” said Guidry.
However, whether or not the SGA should or could donate to the park fund proved to be a controversial issue. Questions of constitutionality and practicality were raised at the senate meeting.
Justin Glodowski, senator, mentioned in the meeting that SGA is not allowed by the University System to “give gifts, donations or contributions” and that this regulation should be investigated before the senate approves the funding.
Another constitutional conflict, according to Pat Testin, senator, is a procedural issue.
“From what I understand, any time the SGA is going to dole out money, especially to the community, the president has to propose it to us, and then he has to go to finance [committee]. So the fact that the president wasn’t involved, from what I understand, makes it unconstitutional,” said Testin
Several senators raised concerns about how the park would benefit the majority of the student body, especially in relation to the location of the park. The site of the dog park is more than a mile from campus.
Suggestions were also made that students would be more supportive of the money’s use if it were part of a student organization.
“I am not opposed to having a dog park in the community, but I am opposed to the student reserve money going to that,” said Matthew Steiger, senator. “I think that this group should take a different route, maybe getting donations from students instead of just throwing them money out of our reserve. If individual students really think they’re going to benefit from it, they can donate their own money and not the budget reserve.”
The SGA concluded their discussion on the matter by sending the funding request back to the finance committee for proper presentation on behalf of Asbach. The finance committee will meet again on November 10, at 7 p.m. in room 223 of the Dreyfus University Center.
Asbach is not required to present. It is unknown if he will at this time.
