Warning: I’m still a little bitter over the UW decision that, after funding for 10 years, the Tenant Resource Center “isn’t a student organization” and pulling $55,000 of funding, forcing us to set up another organization, doubling the overhead costs, duplicating services and worrying about quality control. AND they gave them MORE money than TRC got! It wasn’t a cost savings, it cost the students MORE! However, we did the right thing and put in the effort because its a huge population that needs the services so we set in motion a plan to jump through all the ridiculous hoops. Without any money for the Tenant Resource Center and its efforts to make sure students get served.
So, one of the issues was that our (TRC) office was off campus and UW System had passed policies saying that we couldn’t be reimbursed for our off-campus rent. So, as the new Student Tenant Union looks for space . . . they get this gem of an email.
Hope this finds you well. Unfortunately the Student Organization Office does not provide office space for RSOs, as it is in short supply on this campus. We do, however, provide student organizations with the option of having a mailbox in our offices. If you are interested please let me know and I can forward you the application. The mailboxes will eventually be relocated to the SAC once it opens.
Also, if you are interested in information about reserving space on campus for meetings, etc. please review the section of the Student Organization Handbook linked below.
http://soo.studentorg.wisc.edu/handbook/07-08/reserving_space.html
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
How the hell do you do housing counseling from a mailbox? And where do you put the phone line? Do you get a room and move all over campus all the time? I tell you, this whole situation is just asinine. We have a completely competent and functioning organization doing this exact same thing in town, why re-create the wheel? Great town-gown relations! I tell you, I’m so frustrated by the situation I just stepped back and let the students do the work, but I hope they have a better plan than having a mailbox!
