Controversy surrounding behaviors such as whipping, flogging and handcuffing will come to a head Wednesday night, as the Government of the Student Body will decide whether to fund the campus group Cuffs.

GSB will decide whether to approve requested funding of groups for the spring, including Cuffs, a campus organization established to educate the community about bondage, domination, sadism and masochism.

The group discusses topics such as how to meet a play partner safely, flogging techniques, negotiating a scene and sexual assault prevention.

The GSB Finance Committee last week recommended the senate fund all 18 groups that applied for Special Allocations, including Cuffs.

This is the fourth time since its creation Cuffs has asked for funding from GSB. The club was created in August 2000 and requested funding in the fall of that year during Special Allocations, but was denied because it held both private and public meetings, violating the GSB bylaw stating all groups funded by GSB must provide services to all students.

The group changed its meeting format to all public meetings and later received funding.

Two senators, GSB Off-Campus Senator Casey Harvey and Speaker of the Senate Tony Luken, have said they are skeptical of funding Cuffs because of questions regarding the group’s benefit to students and ability to provide a consistent service to the university. They have also said they are concerned about negative press the group has received, which they said hurts the university.

“We’ve been through this before, and these arguments people are making to not fund Cuffs are the same ones that have been overridden in the past,” said GSB Vice Speaker of the Senate William Rock.

“We’ve funded them before — it’s the same group we funded two years ago. Actually, now, they’re a better group. I don’t see why there should be so much controversy.”

He said the negative press the group receives needs to be considered, but because the university hasn’t responded, there’s no reason to defend the university and GSB’s approval of the group’s existence.

“I don’t think anything wrong has happened here; I don’t think anything has changed,” Rock said.

Rock said Cuffs should receive funding because the $94 they are asking for is being used for printing and advertising, all of which meets GSB bylaw funding criteria.

Rock said he believes a majority of senators, as well as students, want to see the group funded. He said the campus has become more aware of the group and the benefits it provides to the community.

“They provide a safe environment where students can learn about and discuss alternative sexuality — that’s a huge benefit.” Rock said. “The issue has been sensationalized outside the university community.”

He said if GSB doesn’t fund Cuffs, students may not be aware of its existence and the opportunities the group can provide students.

“Students might not want to take advantage of that opportunity and some might, and we need to leave that opportunity open,” Rock said.

Cuffs President Harlan “Duane” Long was unavailable for comment, but the group’s adviser, William Robinson, professor in philosophy, said he believes Cuffs should receive funding because it advocates safety and all activities are consensual and mutual.

“What objections should there be?” Robinson said. “These are consensual practices that are not an illness. They aren’t harming others. It’s purely consensual and safe. I don’t see the problem.”

GSB will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.