Online Forty Niner: v8n1: La Raza receives A.S.I. funding

The delay was caused by the group's failure to file their grant application on time, resulting in the Associated Students Senate approving A.S.I's budget for the upcoming school year without including La Raza according previous Daily Forty Niner reports.

The organization immediately filed an appeal, which caused last year's A.S.I president, Toby Sexton, to consider vetoing the budget, said Sal Ayon, A.S.I treasurer and La Raza member.

However, Sexton quickly reconsidered after realizing that it would be unfair to every other student association who did get their grant applications in on time, Ayon said.

"I think Toby realized that it would seem unfair if he would have went ahead and vetoed the budget," said new A.S.I treasurer and La Raza member, Sal Ayon. "If he would have, it would set a precedent for other organizations to get their applications in late."

Ayon, who took office in June, called for two special Board of Control meetings which prompted the board to award the funds and put an end to the matter, he said.

The meetings, which took place July 17 and August 7, resulted in the board awarding La Raza $4775, Ayon said.

The group plans on using some of the funds on three upcoming events taking place this fall: Latino Heritage month in September, Dia De Los Muertos in November and the Latino High School Outreach Program, he added.

Sexton had empathized with La Raza's mistake, citing that the budget's omission of the group did not agree with his philosophy of looking at the external circumstances that students face, according to a May issue of the Daily Forty Niner.

Sexton's intent to veto the bill shocked many, including Senator-at-Large Michael Braga who said in May, "I will not have La Raza bully us around, and I will not have the president bully us around," according the article.

"There was no bullying around. It was business as usual," responded Ayon. "La Raza's got their money now and everyone is happy."

"All that happened was La Raza was denied their money, so they appealed, which any organization has the right to do" continued Ayon, "I think it just alarmed some, because the president was in their corner."

La Raza's belated victory was part of a long struggle that began in the final weeks of last year's A.S.I. administration. After failing to get their grant application in on time, the 2000-2001 A.S.I budget was passed without allowing La Raza any funds for the upcoming school year, their subsequent appeal was denied, Ayon said. It had looked like things would take a turn for the better when Senator Jose Ayala, college of Liberal Arts, introduced a motion to transfer $2500 from the Entertainment commission to La Raza, but that motion failed in a 14-4-1 vote, he added.

The two Board of Control meetings finally resolved the issue.

"I am happy with the progress of the Board of Control" Ayon said. "I see good things in the future for the A.S.I. Corporation."