The Student Senate heard requests from student groups for money at its first meeting Wednesday night.
A long discussion accompanied the request by the Native American Student Union for $3,000 to fund the upcoming Indigenous Solidarity Day on Oct. 9.
The motion passed after more than 40 minutes of debate.
The International Law Students Association asked the Senate for $4,000 to begin a symposium. Senators raised concerns that the group had made no fundraising efforts, voting to allot $682 to cover some costs for airline tickets.
The Senate also discussed the feasibility of a new model for filling vacancies on the Senate, although some senators questioned the legality of the proposal.
ASUO President Jared Axelrod said he felt the Senate did not need to add steps to the hiring process when there is a vacancy on Senate.
“The approval process doesn’t have to be rubber stamped,” he said, referring to the questions have been asked candidates in the past.
The next Senate meeting will be Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in the EMU Board Room.