The Student Senate on Wednesday allocated $12,260 to Zeta Phi Beta for its Ninth Annual Step Show, to be held May 3. The sorority originally asked for more than $15,000, but the Senate decided to fulfill the group’s most immediate needs by allocating funds to reserve hotel rooms for out-of-town performers and a reception space at Valley River Inn.
Senators debated whether the expense was justified and compared the expenditure to an allocation of $10,000 of surplus to bring performer Günther to the University on April 20.
Sen. Nick Meyers said the Günther allocation was “a waste” and expressed concern that the sorority would return to Senate next year with another large request. Zeta Phi Beta received $4,000 from Senate last year for the show.
Sorority members explained they had anticipated more donations for the show and that the number of groups contributing to the show’s funding has fallen in recent years.
Sen. Samantha Brodey said, “Sometimes you have to spend money to change a system.”
Senators also heard a request from ASUO Elections Coordinator Kendell Tylee to allow funds that would otherwise go unspent to be used to purchase food for executive debates scheduled for the next two weeks. Tylee argued that the offer of free pizza would lure freshmen living in the dorms to the first debate, scheduled to be held April 8 in the Living Learning Center performance hall at 7 p.m.
Tylee also asked to spend funds on catering for an executive candidate debate scheduled for April 15 in Mills International Center at 7 p.m.
Sen. Meyers was skeptical, asking, “Do we really need to feed people to care about the work we do?”
ASUO Vice President Chii-San SunOwen replied that for students who don’t know what is going on, “Food is just another attraction.”
Sen. Billy Hatch reported that the University has agreed to pay for a substation needed to fix the ailing EMU, but that the EMU would need to spend $100,000 on a transformer, which will come from the major equipment reserve.
The EMU has also decided to offer office space formerly occupied by the Fibers Guild to student programs seeking a space in the building.
A motion by Sen. Nate Gulley to form a committee on committees failed, and Senate Vice President Patrick Boye asked to dissolve a legislative affairs committee saying, “I’m sick of trying to get others involved” and “no one here seems to care.”
The motion to dissolve the committee passed.
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