Students will have two things to look forward to upon their return to the University campus next year: a free concert by Ozomatli and a specially designed bike rack.
The Student Senate approved spending $20,000 for the Afro-Latin band, which is well known for its political- and social-justice-oriented lyrics. The group will come to the University at the beginning of fall term, and the show is expected to draw as many as 3,000 people.
Journalism student Trevor Atkins asked the Senate three weeks in a row to consider spending the money for the group, but many senators were skeptical because Atkins’ request did not include a complete outline of the expenses.
On Wednesday, senators praised him for his slideshow displaying the costs of the concert and the $10,000 in donations from other student programs he and other members of the Cultural Forum gathered.
The concert will be directed toward freshmen, but upperclassmen and community members are encouraged to attend. Atkins hopes the show will spread awareness about diversity while serving as a resource guide for student groups to recruit incoming freshmen and showcase all avenues of campus involvement.
The Student Senate also allocated $2,500 for a special bike rack to be placed somewhere on campus.
Senators have not yet picked a design, but many showed interest in a duck or a fish design.
The Senate had several options for leaving its mark on campus, including putting up a gate, installing additional lights or planting a tree, but most senators said they thought more students would benefit from the bike rack, which will also add some personality to the University.
The money for both allocations came from a surplus fund of student incidental fees.