A Jewish student organization’s request for funds turned into a passionate debate that provoked arguments and offensive remarks at Wednesday night’s Government of the Student Body Senate meeting.

The Senate held its annual special allocations meeting which allows the senators to give additional funding to student organizations that have requested it. Twenty groups requested special funding, and the Senate voted to approve 14 of them as recommended by the GSB Finance Committee. Six groups, including ISU Hillel, were pulled aside for debate.

ISU Hillel is a Jewish organization on campus that requested, among other items, $150 to purchase “Haggadahs” – books that are read during the traditional Jewish Passover celebration. The possible religious nature of the books caused several senators to voice their disapproval of funding the group.

“I think it sets a terrible precedent,” said Tomasz Dworzanski, senior in finance.

He voiced his concern that GSB should not begin a tradition of funding items used by religious groups for specifically religious purposes.

Jonathan Mullin, graduate student in chemistry, agreed.

“To give them money to buy a religious book is a very scary thing. It’s a slippery slope,” Mullin said.

Dworzanski said since it was his belief that Passover “involves an all-you-can-eat meal, [ISU Hillel] couldn’t possibly read an entire book in one night while they’re eating.”

Jeff Rothblum, senior in aerospace engineering, was outraged by Dworzanski’s remarks.

“I’m incredibly offended,” Rothblum said. “I take very personal offense to that.”

Rachel Allen, senior in political science, is a member of ISU Hillel as well as a GSB senator. She protested against the alleged injustice of GSB funding some religious groups but possibly not funding ISU Hillel.

“I think it’s ridiculous to fund Christian Bible packets but not Jewish Haggadahs,” Allen said.

One senator apparently crossed the line with his remarks. Jason O’Leary, junior in mechanical engineering, was concerned the members of the group might already own copies of the Haggadah, making the proposed funds superfluous.

“If they’ve been Jew for a long time, they should probably already own one. I guess maybe people turn Jew; I don’t know,” he said.

O’Leary was reprimanded by GSB Vice President Sara Faber, senior in public service and administration in agriculture, and told to keep his remarks respectful.

Trouble arose when Jonathan Richardson, senior in chemical engineering, called for a vote that only allowed total funding or zero-funding the group.

Faber ruled the motion out of order, and the Senate eventually voted to approve the funding.

The meeting continued after publication time.