By Andrew Smith OMAHA, Neb- An internal audit at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has led to the near-complete defunding of several student organizations, curtailing their programming and resources.
UNO’s Division of Student Life and Wellbeing (SLW), led by Dean of Students Cathy Pettid, requested the audit to review purchases made by all organizations funded by student fees after being made aware of “improper purchases,” according to a fact sheet provided by Barbara Bray, internal audit director for the University of Nebraska System.
What began as an investigation into a few select purchases expanded in scope, and auditors ultimately concluded that the six agencies under UNO’s Student Government Association (SGA) do not benefit a broad base of the student population. That’s an issue for agencies using Fund A student fees, according to Board of Regents policies.
UNO Student Government Agencies
- American Multicultural Students (AMS)
- First Generation Student Agency (FGSA)
- International Student Services (ISS)
- Network for Disability Awareness (NDA)
- Queer and Trans Services (QTS)
- Women and Gender Equity Center (QGEC)
Many agency representatives, students, parents and alumni expressed disagreement with the drafted audit during an SGA open forum last Thursday.
“This is a gross misinterpretation, not just of the requirements to receive Fund A dollars, but also in violation of the values that we at the University of Nebraska hold,” said Holden Goodall, a Queer and Trans Services board member.
Several speakers emphasized that these agencies provide crucial support structures and resources for underrepresented groups while also reaching out to the broader student population through events like the annual International Banquet or Take Back the Night.
“Just because they are not the majority, that doesn’t make their existence any less valid,” said one student during the open forum. “Being disabled, being of a different culture, like me, being queer like many of my friends — it’s fundamental to who we are.”
The WGEC which, by rough definition, intends to serve at least half of the population on campus. Among many other programs, the WGEC provides free menstrual care items in campus restrooms. The funding halt would not allow them to purchase more supplies. The agency went on strike after the audit’s results were announced.
“We don’t just affect women, said Deepa Pollali, a WGEC board member. “We give a safe space to queer students and trans students. We give a safe space for women. We give a safe space for domestic assault survivors. We give a space safe space for sexual assault survivors,”
Jill Dibbern Manhart, an educator and parent of a current UNO student, said the university’s actions are contributing to Nebraska’s brain drain problem by stripping agencies of their ability to create relationships and give back to the community.
“The message UNO is sending to these prospective students is ‘UNO does not value or support women, students in different cultural ethnic groups, students with disabilities, international students, LGBTQ+ students or first-generation college students,’” Dibbern Manhart said.
SGA Vice President Kevin Ramirez said he feels deeply for the students that will be impacted by the decision to cut funding, mentioning how personal the decision is.
“I feel like we’re just all confused as to why this audit has been conducted in the first place. At least like three of the six agencies represent me.”
Audit Origins
Some student agency directors believe the audit was triggered by the purchase of a sex toy basket that was raffled off at a fall 2023 homecoming drag show. While similar items had been purchased for past events, the purchase of this particular basket sparked significant backlash, they say.
An article posted by the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications last Thursday says the process started because of two anonymous complaints during an annual budget process.
Emily Kaemmerer, former director of QTS, claimed at the open forum that the firings of Dustin Wolfe, the 10-year director of Student Organizations and Greek Life, and Jessi Hitchins, director of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, were linked to the controversy. Both were let go in weeks following the drag show. Wolfe’s firing was publicly announced by Taricka Burton, executive director for the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Inclusion (SLII) on Nov. 13, 2023. Hitchins’ firing was not addressed publicly at the time.
Other student government officials and agency directors close to the situation have corroborated Kaemmerer’s account privately.
The situation has been marked by tension and confusion between the agencies and administration.
Madeline St. Clair, coordinator of the Maverick Food Pantry, was temporarily put on administrative leave in connection with Wolfe learning that he was no longer a university employee by a drafted announcement in HubSpot, a tool used for mass emails at the university. The message would’ve been viewable to any number of staff members with access.
Around the same time, a former employee of in the Division of Sprit and Tradition said she received a threatening call from UNO Police warning they would press charges if she ever logged into any UNO accounts again — seemingly an allegation that she had logged into the platform and broke the news to Wolfe, who was a friend. The former employee said she had not accessed any university accounts since her last day in September 2023.
Directors of the WGEC shared messages discussing the audit as early as February 2024 and other student organizations also received audit-related messages during the summer.
Next Steps
Some of SGA’s agencies have been supported by Fund A fees and their associated budget processes for over 50 years.
Currently, the budgeted funding for agencies remains in SGA’s account, but it cannot be spent except for previously agreed-upon expenses with SLII.
Student Body President Ishani Adidam, Vice President Kevin Ramirez, and Chief of Staff Nate Ostdiek met with Chancellor Joanne Li before Thursday’s open forum to discuss next steps. Adidam said they’re working to create an interim measure with SLW to fund agencies through December while a larger solution is developed.
“We don’t agree with the interpretation of broad based that has been set by the NU auditors,” Adidam said. “We believe that SGA is broad based because we have the agencies.”
More than 1,000 individuals have signed a petition demanding a reallocation of funds and the resignation of Dean Pettid. Students said they felt this is a larger attack on free expression and diversity at the university.
“We are the people who need our voice most,” said Leaf Price, a recruitment board member for QTS. “You are actively taking away our voice, and if you’re telling me it’s all because, ‘oh, what if someone thinks it’s political?’ I think it’s more political for you to act like our existence is political.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, Li defended Pettid for ordering the audit.
“An audit is not a punitive exercise, but rather an essential function of the University to provide assurances of compliant practices or, at times, an opportunity to improve processes,” Li said.
Li said Pettid’s position is a “24/7 commitment to serving our students and campus,” sometimes requiring tough decisions.
Annabelle Ziegerer, former director of the Network for Disability Awareness, recalled an uncomfortable conversation she had with Pettid.
“It came up that I’m autistic,” Ziegerer said. “The entire meeting she kept circling back to it, telling me how inspiring it was that even though I’m autistic, I’m able to maintain my hygiene independently.”
Ziegerer, who works as a substitute teacher, expressed that recent decisions have affected her ability to recommend UNO.
“I don’t feel comfortable telling my students that they should attend UNO because with diversity, equity and inclusion is being systematically destroyed on campus, I don’t trust Cathy Pettid or any other administrators to support students,” Ziegerer said.
The Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications did not directly respond to questions from The Omaha News but referred to their previous article about the audit.
“UNO and SLW will work closely with UNO Student Government, its student agencies, and the NU System internal audit team to review and clarify the audit’s findings and find solutions for the agencies moving forward,” says the statement.
Student senators urged open forum attendees to speak at the upcoming Board of Regents meeting on Dec. 6, but the earliest that policies could possibly be changed to support permanent funding would be in February 2025.
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