Curator criticizes use of fees

By Jedd Rosche

Published March 24, 2006

ROLLA — UM system Board of Curators member David Wasinger raised concerns at the board's Thursday meeting about the way system schools spend student fees.

Wasinger also asked what groups MU officially recognizes and demanded a list of the student organizations that were denied recognition.

"I would like a breakdown of how all our student fees are spent," Wasinger said.

University-recognized student groups are eligible to receive student funds and can use the University of Missouri name.

The curator said a presentation by controversial artist Andres Serrano was an example of a questionable use of student fees.

Serrano, best known for his photograph of a crucifix floating in a glass of urine, spoke at MU in September.

During a discussion on student fees, representatives from the departments of student life on each UM system campus presented information on how student organizations are formed and monitored.

After the presentation, Wasinger questioned the use of student funds and used Serrano's visit to highlight what he said he believes is a poor use of those funds.

One of Serrano's photographs, "Piss Discus," featuring a plastic figurine of a discus thrower submerged in a jar of the artist's urine, was on display at MU's Museum of Art and Archaeology.

"If that is a masterpiece, I've got a two-year-old who makes masterpieces everyday," Wasinger said.

The departments of art history and archaeology, sociology and women studies programs were among the academic departments that sponsored Serrano's visit. More than 100 people attended the event.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs, who did not respond directly to Wasinger's questions about Serrano's visit, said staff members from her department closely monitored how the university spends student fees. She also said decisions to deny student organizations official recognition were usually made by her staff.

"They wouldn't reach my desk," she said.

UM system President Elson Floyd, who attended the meeting, said that ultimately the people paying student activity fees would decide how their money would be allocated.

"Students decide how their student fees are allocated," Floyd said.

He did not comment on the Serrano visit.

At the previous Board of Curators meeting, Wasinger criticized University of Missouri-St. Louis administrators for the behavior of participants in a drag show last fall.

UMSL Chancellor Thomas George apologized for students' behavior at the event.

Maria Curtis, the student representative to the Board of Curators, defended MU's process for using student activity fees. She said a committee of 12 students and a faculty member decides how to spend student fees.

"There are 509 human-resource hours being used between February and May just for deciding the allocation of student fees," Curtis said. "I have every confidence in this group, that they're doing a very thorough job."

Neither Wasinger nor Scroggs were available for comment after the meeting.

No actions were decided on Thursday.

The Board of Curators meeting will conclude today with board votes on tuition and the implementation of some new student fees.

The board will meet again in May at UMSL.

See page 3 for additional coverage from the Curators' meeting.