TCU Daily Skiff - Pi Kap grant survives

	*Wednesday, March 03, 2004*

Pi Kap grant survives
A bill granting $4,000 to four students going on the “Journey of Hope” cycling trip made it through a repeal vote last night.

By Matt Turner
Staff Reporter

Four members of Pi Kappa Phi are $4,000 closer to biking across the country for their philanthropy this summer.

The House of Student Representatives originally passed the bill to grant them the money two weeks ago, but concern about the precedence the bill would set for future funding led to a repeal vote. Members voted the repeal down, 29-19.

There was also concern about granting the money directly to PUSH America, Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy and the organization hosting the cycling trip, instead of the fraternity itself, because it might be a considered a charitable donation by students and could complicate tax deductions for the university, Treasurer David Watson said.

The Student Government Association usually doesn’t give money to charity, said Sebastian Moleski, Vice President of Programming Council.

There are about 200 campus organizations and the House may not be able to offer them funds if they give such a large amount of money to one cause, said A.J. Jongewaard, University Affairs Chairman.

“We have to be careful and look at the budget and what is feasible,” Jongewaard said.

Representative Trevor Heaney said if they allow this bill every other organization on campus will expect the same kind of funding.

Each person must raise a minimum of $5,000 to participate and the TCU students have set a goal of $7,000, said Andrew Hepworth, Pi Kappa Phi’s representative. The money goes to PUSH America, an organization that works with disabled youth for KinderFrogs. The majority of food, lodging and medical expenses are funded by sponsors.

Representative Thomas Guidry said repealing the bill would worsen the student government’s image and that the bill should be kept since it had already passed.

“You will compromise the voice and reputation of the House if you rescind this,” Watson said at the meeting.

Several opponents of rescinding the original bill cited the exposure TCU would get by having a team on the trip and said it goes along with TCU’s mission statement of supporting ethical leaders.

There is still $1,700 left in the “special projects” budget for this semester, Watson said.

A bill to grant funds for CEO TV will be on the House floor next week. Watson said it is “one of the biggest bills ever to come through House.”

Ty Halasz/Staff Photographer

Sophomore political science major Andrew Hepworth, along with others, will receive aid from SGA to bike across the country this summer.

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