Like last week’s meeting, the main items on the Student Senate agenda Wednesday night involved money allocations to a variety of student groups.
The largest request, $3,000 to the International Student association, caused controversy with some senate members.
The ISA needed the money to cover two new programs connected with its International week, which is happening this week and culminating with International Night on March 16.
Sen. Spencer Hamlin said that while he supported the group’s program, he worried that the money went against the senate’s purpose for allocating funds. Throughout the year, senators have voiced the fact that its surplus money should be the last resort for student programs in need of money.
“It is blatantly obvious that we are not the last line here. We have to hold people to standards even if it is difficult,” Hamlin said.
ISA has collected a rollover in its fund raising budget during the past few years, but as explained by Sen. Helen Stocklin-Enright, the surplus in the group’s budget is caused by the fact that the event is paid for before ticket sales are collected and that money then transfers to the next year.
“We are the last resort,” she said. “Ticket sales will not come in until after the event.”
The senate also approved $2,888 to the Model United Nations for an upcoming conference and $400 to the YWCA to start a new magazine that would target diversity issues.
On Wednesday, the senate also approved Sarah Pirk to the ASUO Constitution Court. She will fill the seat opened when former chief justice Jeremy Gibons resigned last month. The court named Justice Robert Raschio to the chief justice position as well.
Kirk said she is a strong supporter of the school’s incidental fee system.
Finally, many senators must begin training their replacements for next year’s session. May 24 is their last day in office for all of the senators except for C.J. Gabbe, Jennifer Greenough and Peter Watts, the only returning senators. In the coming weeks, current senators will have their replacements come to meetings and begin to learn the job.