The ASUO Constitution Court has declared the funding of $45,000 to OSPIRG violates ASUO rules. In its decision the court directs officers of the Senate and Executive to recover the funds given to the Climate Justice League for OSPIRG.
UO student Jacob ‘Jake’ Gram filed a motion for clarification to the Constitution Court May 28 immediately after the ASUO Senate gave $45,000 to OSPIRG to pay expenses previously incurred by OSPIRG.
Under senate rule 12.2(I), “At no time may incidental fee monies be donated to a charitable cause.”
The Constitution Court considers OSPIRG a charitable organization for the purpose of the senate rules.
The ruling stated that an outlay of incidental fee monies by the Senate is a donation when the student body receives nothing in return.
The opinion, written by Associate Justice Chaney, joined by Associate Justice Huegel and Associate Justice Bush states that the student body receives nothing in return of the $45,000 payment, therefore making the money a donation.
Chief Justice Allison Apana dissented without opinion.
The decision also referenced Senator Andrew Lubash’s motion for clarification. In the motion Lubash said that the decision could jeopardize other student programs and upset several decades of precedent.
The decision states that the senate can continue to fund 501(c)3 nonprofits but as transactions and not donations.