SGA plans for a new semester

May 20, 2009
By Greta Myers
Public Affairs Reporter

TThe Student Government Association Executive Board gave justifications for the student fee allocations during the May 3 meeting of the SGA.  These allocations included funding increases for entities that included Intramural and Recreational Sports, the Counseling Center, Disability Services, and the Student Activities Committee.

The board’s biggest allocation increase was from $315.00 to $5,160 for the funding for Student Volunteers, Service, and Civic Engagement.  The increase was justified based on the increase in programming needs due to the hiring of a director of the Volunteer Center.

The board also gave recommendations on how the money should be spent.
For example, though SAC’s budget will increase from $56,000 to $58,171, the board recommended funding for Coffee House events should be focused on comedy shows and other highly-attended events.  The board also recommended an increase in funding allocation for the Counseling Center from $2,875 to $3,300, but denied the request for more stress balls, deeming the purchase unnecessary.

One entity, the Inter-Club Council Board, did not receive an increase. The SGA Executive Board decided to keep their funding level at $38,000 because they did not receive a request from the ICCB. 

Money not spent by the organizations by June 15 will not carry over into the next fiscal year, but will go back into the general allocation fund. The SGA discussed the possibility of allocating the unused SGA funds to “Jump For Joel,” a student fundraising organization that benefits an orphanage in Kenya.

After adjourning the first meeting, the SGA had a brief meeting with the newly elected officers. Continuing Vice President Charles Olivier said that the change was “bittersweet,” but he was looking forward to serving on the SGA in the future.  The next SGA meeting will be in the fall semester.