by Wendy J. Allyn

Members of an Undergraduate Student Government task force say disclosure of their recommendation regarding an $18,000 membership with a student lobbying group will take place tonight at a special senate meeting.

USG’s membership with the United States Student Association has prompted debate among USG senators since students voted by referendum last spring to join the lobbying group.

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Some senators have said because the students voted to join USSA, the senate should comply with its constituents. Others said they feel students may have been uninformed about USSA when the vote took place.

A task force of seven senators was established to review the referendum, the proposed $18,000 contract and the organization to ensure the benefits offered by USSA will be worth the cost to SIUC students.

USSA task force chairman Robert Irby said much of the information the task force has gathered will be presented tonight.

We’re going to have evidence to support our recommendation, Irby said. The evidence will be the facts we’ve based our recommendation on financial records, agendas, platforms, letters from the board of directors and USSA members, and the contract itself.

Irby said there has been speculation about the task force’s recommendation, and he is expecting questions and debate after disclosure of the decision.

He said the meeting will be a good time for senators and students to express their concerns and opinions.

There’s going to be some people there who aren’t necessarily in favor of our recommendation, so there might be some debate going on, he said. We’re hoping constituents will show up to voice their opinion.

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Scott Pfeiffer, USG chief of staff, said he has received little feedback regarding USSA from students.

I don’t think a huge amount of students know what the debate is all about, unfortunately, he said.

USG Sen. Eric Bottom, a member of the task force, said students he has spoken to do not want the referendum to be enacted because they feel there are other uses for the money.

The referendum called for a 50-cent fee increase per student to cover the $18,000 cost of membership. Students have paid a 50-cent fee in the past for the Illinois Student Association, which is now defunct.

Bottom said the ISA funds have been transferred to the Student Organization Activity Fee account, which provides money for Registered Student Organizations.

Instead of raising a student fee, Bottom said USG decided to use the funds previously designated for the ISA, which would limit funds for RSOs.

If it (joining USSA) is passed and there is no subsequent fee increase, RSOs would have $16,000 or $17,000 less each year, he said.

Bottom said students should have been given more details about how much membership would cost and how it would be funded before the spring referendum took place.

Pfeiffer said the task force members have studied the situation thoroughly, and he is confident their recommendation will be in the best interest of SIUC students. After the recommendation tonight, senators can expect legislation regarding USSA on the agenda for Wednesday’s senate meeting, he said.

All recommendations made by the task force will be subject to senate approval at upcoming USG meetings.

The task force will make its announcement in Activity Room B of the Student Center at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to all students.