USG approves $10,000 for ConnMen CD

In a five-hour meeting last night, the Undergraduate Student Government granted the Conn-Men, an a cappella group on campus, nearly $11,000 to make a CD.

USG also approved funding for a concert sponsored by Idealists United, while denying funding for a concert sponsored by Asylum for the Arts

The Conn-Men received $10,700 from a nearly unanimous vote, with the exception of a few who dissented and abstained, to fund the recording, editing, mixing and mastering of their first professional CD.

USG Multicultural and Diversity Center Senator Mary Lorenz wanted the group to explore other, less expensive options by asking a neutral party to assess the expenses. Lorenz was told by the two Conn-Men representatives that there was not enough time to do so, and that they had already picked the cheapest, most timely option.

In a debate that had some senators looking like infatuated fans, punctuated by the group singing Seal's "Future Love Paradise", Thomas O'Neill, Alumni, said the CD was a great way to elevate UConn's a cappella community.

Megan Piscopiello, Alumni Residence Hall senator, disagreed and said if every group striving for the best comes forward, there won't be any money left in the USG coffers.

Two representatives from Idealists United presented a case to USG, asking for just over $38,000 to fund a concert headlined by Dead Prez, a Fair Trade fashion show, workshops, and a speaker, as part of Human Rights Awareness Week.

The decision to award the money, which amounts to 9 percent of the semester's budget, and 6 percent of the year's, according to Vice President Robert Puff, was hotly contested.

ACES Senator Duncan Craig said those who voted against the funding would be letting down the students they represent, because the event touches on "lots of things our generation cares about."

Commuter Senator Neil Smith opposed on the grounds that the events should have been handled by SUBOG, the proposal was being made less than 30 days in advance, and constituted 93 percent of the funding given out during Funding Session 6.

Lorenz said the cost for Dead Prez was very unnecessary, and proposed cutting $12,941.90, which would essentially eliminate the headlining band from the concert. The motion failed.

Asylum for the Arts, which requested just under $17,000 to cover performances and advertising for an outdoor concert featuring Saul Williams, despite a fiery, though somewhat unprepared and often desperate presentation by David Mondin, the organization's chief officer, was denied all funding.

Mondin, arguing that 50 Cent was being given much more money to perform on Spring Weekend, asked USG to consider the unique nature of his group's proposal, insisting that even though he had no concrete plans, his personal guarantees would get it done.

"What about counterculture, what about art?" Mondin pleaded. "Please don't let this die right here."

Allison Footit, Fine Arts, said she wished the event could be funded completely, but needed more than just Mondin's word to guarantee the event would actually occur.

Lorenz added that it is irresponsible to vote down groups with well-prepared proposals and pass funding for an unprepared group.

"Once you open the door to one group coming forward with something partially done," said Jared Ashmore, Funding Board Chair, "you have no grounds for denying any other (unprepared) group coming forward from doing that."