UCCS: Refusal to approve gay event funding biased

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs officials on Thursday said that embattled student-body president David Williams did not act objectively in refusing to approve funding for a gay, lesbian and transgender student group event.

Williams said he plans to appeal the decision to the Board of Regents, the governing body over the University of Colorado system.

In November, the student Judicial Board found that Williams was not in violation of the school's mandate that student leaders be objective in making activity fee distribution decisions.

Spectrum, a campus gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender student group, had applied for $2,100 for its National Coming Out Day observance in October.

Williams argued that even though he did not give his approval, he also did not veto the budget request because he believes Spectrum is entitled to funding through the student government association. Because he didn't veto the request, it passed after five school days under the student constitution.

Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the university's finding of Williams' lack of objectivity in the matter.

In their decision, officials upheld the Judicial Board's decision that Williams discriminated against Spectrum in abstaining.

Shockley-Zalabak also announced Thursday a "five-point remediation plan" to prevent future disagreements, which includes a review of the student constitution and an audit of student government funding decisions in the last three years.

Williams could face impeachment or recall, a petition for which is already circulating on campus.