The Student Senate voted on Wednesday to approve a new stipend model that decreases the number of paid student group leaders after the Programs Finance Committee tried to table the proposal for one week because some groups were dissatisfied with the model.
Senate Ombudsman and Programs Finance Committee Chairman Jared Axelrod’s motion to delay the issue failed after an extended debate between the Senate, Executive and PFC members.
“I know for sure that the President’s office won’t approve of it,” he said. “Even this model is a little higher than what they’d like to see.”
Axelrod said the model proposed Wednesday night was unfair because it was an amendment to the one he’d been working with for the past several weeks.
He said the new stipend model not only contained many errors that should be fixed before implementing it, but also did not generally win support from programs leaders and PFC members.
“This is a grave issue that we’re dealing with, and it’s going to affect a lot of groups,” he said. “I think PFC can come up with something different after crunching the numbers on their own.”
Because the benchmark isn’t due until Nov. 9, Multicultural Center co-Director Khanh Le asked for a week to make changes that would satisfy programs leaders.
“If you care so much about students … all we’re asking for is a week,” Le said.
PFC member Scott Lu said he has talked to more groups that are hesitant about it than those indifferent to it.
Walsh and Hudson said the model is fair because it pays leaders more for the significant responsibilities and excessive workloads required to make programs and governing bodies function successfully.
They said enough time was allotted and adequate efforts to notify groups were made for comment and feedback. Walsh said program leaders are irresponsible because they didn’t attend earlier stipend model workshops or respond to e-mails.
“This falls on the hands of program directors who are on the list serves. They know that this stipend model is affecting them and the livelihood of their group,” Walsh said.
Also at the Senate meeting, student radio station KWVA was given $151,000 in over-realized funds, money that student government receives when enrollment exceeds predictions and extra revenue comes in.
The EMU Board of Directors decided Wednesday that adding KWVA to its budget would not force the EMU to spend more in its budget than it’s allowed because of the funds the radio station received. The transfer will make KWVA a more financially stable program.
The Senate elected Mike Filippelli to the treasurer position after Spencer Crum resigned last week. The Executive appointed law student representative Wally Hicks to Senate Seat 17.
Hicks was confirmed unanimously after expressing excitement and experience with “spending other people’s money.”
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