Camp Wildcat members attended the Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate meeting on Wednesday to fight for their funding request to be given a second look, after only three-fourths of it was approved at Monday’s ASUA Appropriations Board meeting.

The club requested about $2,400 from the Associated Students of the University of Arizona’s club funding budget, but the Senate appropriations committee only gave the club $1,890.

About a dozen members of the club came to protest at Wednesday’s senate meeting.

Camp Wildcat, a non-profit, student-run organization, benefits disadvantaged youth and UA students looking for leadership opportunities.

Casey Edwards, Camp Wildcat chair, said the decision to allot the club three-fourths of its proposed budget was made quickly, and she didn’t have time to make her points heard in Monday’s meeting.

“”When we sat down after I had given my speech, the decision that the appropriations committee came to was made very quickly,”” Edwards said.

Senator Emily Fritze, a member of the appropriations committee, said the club had plenty of time to speak and stood by the amount the committee allotted Camp Wildcat.

“”I think more of the reason you’re here is because you didn’t get what you wanted, not because you weren’t heard, that’s my opinion,”” Senator Bryan Baker said to the club members.

Edwards said the amount Camp Wildcat asked ASUA for was appropriate.

“”We do our best to only ask for the minimum that we can,”” Edwards said. “”We have tried in every way this semester to be a fiscally responsible organization.””

With a 2-4 vote, the senate denied Camp Wildcat’s request to petition the appropriations committee again for the remainder of the money.

“”I’m pleased with the decision of the board,”” Executive Vice President Jessica Anderson said.

Senators reflect on protest experience

Many ASUA senators dashed off the buses from the protest at the Arizona State Capitol Wednesday and right into their weekly senate meeting.

Discussion about the protest dominated much of the meeting, as senators reflected on the trip they served a vital role in organizing.

“”It was amazing,”” said Senator Bryan Baker, who attended the protest. “”Our voice was definitely heard.””

President Tommy Bruce said around 1,100 UA students participated in the protest at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

Around 600 students rode to the protest in buses organized by ASUA and 500 drove to Phoenix in their own carpools, said Bruce, who protested alongside his peers.

“”I don’t know how we couldn’t be heard,”” Executive Vice President Jessica Anderson said. “”That has to be the biggest student turnout that any educational campus issue has ever seen, at least in my four years.””

The senators talked about the camaraderie the three Arizona state schools formed through their opposition to the legislative budget cuts.

“”I think my favorite thing about it was the unity between the three campuses,”” Anderson said. “”It was a sea of black shirts and picket signs; it was not UA students, NAU students and ASU students.””

About 2,500 students from all three state universities assembled in Wesley Bolin Plaza and then walked to the capitol, Bruce said.

“”Definitely something I’ll be remembering for the rest of my life, especially when I think about my time here at the U of A,”” Senator Andre Rubio said.

The senators hope the effects of the protest won’t just be felt in the memories of students and fellow protestors.

“”It was really thrilling to hear, just leaving the capitol, that the governor was already trying to push a vote in response to those issues,”” Anderson said. “”We certainly like to think that was because of the passion shown today.””