After a lengthy debate Wednesday night, the Government of the Student Body passed the fall specials bill that allocated nearly $12,000 to 23 Iowa State student groups.

The senate debated individually the allocations for each group applying for funding and ended in agreement with the finance committee’s original recommendations.

The fall specials bill was ruled out of order two weeks ago because it allocated funding to Campus Crusade for Christ, a group with religious affiliation.

The out of order ruling was reconsidered at last week’s meeting, and the fall specials bill was again put on the agenda.

In a piece of emergency legislation, GSB struck the portion of its bylaws prohibiting it from funding religious organizations.

The decision to fund religious groups was based on the U.S. Supreme Court case Rosenberger v. Rectors and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

The case stated that public universities could not discriminate against a group because of its religious affiliation.

Rob Wiese, GSB president, encouraged the senate to pass the bylaw change.

“We can’t go against the Supreme Court, we’re not that powerful,” he said.

Bryan Burkhardt, engineering, also urged the senate to strike that portion of their by-laws.

“University legal counsel has advised this is something we need to do,” Burkhardt said. “We as a body and the U.S. as a body cannot show preference to one person or another whether they show religious preference or they don’t.”

Travis Parker, off-campus, objected to the by-law change, expressing concern the senate would be obligated to fund any religious group that asked for funding to avoid discrimination charges.

“The [U.S.] Constitution in my opinion doesn’t let us discriminate against anyone. In that logic, we’d have to let anyone who walks in the door have money,” Parker said.

Several senators also debated that Campus Crusade for Christ did not qualify for fall specials funding because they were not requesting money for an unforeseen circumstance.

Jeremy Williams, director of finance, said Campus Crusade’s funding was allocated for general operating expenses, office supplies and printing.

The organization had never applied for GSB funding and was not aware it qualified until recently, finance committee members said.

Chris Wisher, TRA, argued Campus Crusade had a right to apply for funding.

“If this were the Campus Crusade for Satanism or the Campus Crusade for Atheists, they would have the same right to apply for funding as Campus Crusade for Christ,” Wisher said.

The recommendation of the finance committee to fund Campus Crusade for Christ was passed by a vote of 21 to 9.

Campus Crusade for Christ was allotted $407.20.

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In other news:

• Funding was allocated for the Off-Campus Council elections to be held next Wednesday. Adam Obrecht, coordinator of OCC, said candidates will be accepted through today.

OCC will have an eight-member council, with four members elected now and four in the spring, Obrecht said.

The districts up for election next week are northeast Ames, southeast Ames, the east commuter district and one at-large seat.

Off-campus students interested in more information may contact Damon Betcher, interim vice-president of OCC, or email [email protected].