Fee fight at MontPIRG forum

The big question at a MontPRIG forum Tuesday was whether the non profit needed a student fee to operate.

The forum about the group's future drew a crowd of about 40 people. While the subject of funding was not the main topic of the presentation by student and faculty supporters, it dominated the debate that began once the forum opened for audience comments.

Travis Suzuki, a second - term senator for the Associated Students of the University of Montana, spoke decisively about his experiences with the Montana Public Interest Research Group.

"Because of my experience with two different MontPIRG heads and many other problems, I will not support or endorse anything that has to do with MontPIRG receiving a new fee," Suzuki said. "MontPIRG has many great things it can offer the campus, but it can do so without a fee."

He said he wants to see MontPIRG succeed, but they have to prove results before they can ask for funding.

Bill Pfeiffer, a former campus organizer for MontPIRG and UM law school grad, spoke in defense of the student fee. The fee supported the student-run non profit for decades before it was rescinded by a student body vote last spring and once before by the Board of Regents years ago.

Pfeiffer said MontPIRG needs the fee because it's difficult for students to effectively organize and campaign when they are so busy with academics. Traditionally, MontPIRG hired professional, non-student staff to organize and implement the campaign goals set by student leaders.

He recommended that the organization heal the rifts between it and the University then move forward.

"There was a time on campus when many students were happy to fund MontPIRG because they could see what was being done," Pfeiffer said.

Patrick Rhea, a student supporter, said it's not yet clear what the next step is for MontPIRG. At this point, they're still looking for input via a website that they expect to launch soon: montpirgstudents.org.

Check out @KaiminNews on Twitter to read live coverage of the forum.

jacob.mchugh@umontana.edu