Congress approves additional resolution funding Representatives voted to use money from the reserve account to increase the amount of funding available for resolutions at the Sept. 26 Student Congress meeting in School of Business Administration 170. Senior Abram Pentecost, chief financial officer, presented a resolution last week requesting that reserve money be used to fund resolutions and that the amount be increased to $50,000. The resolution passed with 88 percent of representatives voting yes. SGA President Patrick Hayden announced that the policy concerning how student government officials receive their salaries was being changed. Officials will now receive only half of their monthly salary, with the remaining half being held until the end of the academic year when each official’s performance will be reviewed. Alan Vandagriff, chief executive officer, will evaluate and decide if members of Congress’ executive board will receive their remaining salaries and Geoff Edwards, Center for Student Engagement director and Congress adviser, will determine if Vandagriff and Hayden receive theirs. “We are doing more to hold ourselves accountable to you guys as a student government,” Hayden said, “and one of those ways is salary.” Senior Jesse Willingham, SGA vice president, presented a resolution requesting that the contract with Student Savings Club be continued for the academic year. The resolution also asks that any future association with SSC be discussed before the end of the year. The resolution was tabled for two weeks. Graduate students Morgan Kenner and Lauren Schaftlein presented a resolution seeking $9,375 on behalf of the Physical Therapy Club. They said members would like to attend a national student conclave in Louisville, Ky., and requested $75 per student for registration costs. Kenner and Schaftlein expect about 125 students to attend. If fewer students attend, they said the amount would be reduced accordingly. The club is also organizing other fundraisers to finance the trip. The resolution was tabled for two weeks. Formula SAE presented a resolution asking Congress for $4,800 to attend an international competition. The nine students representing the organization said the funding would cover competition fees, costs and hotel charges for the team, adding that members have approached about 20 other sponsors and are hoping to raise additional funds during Homecoming week to also help finance the trip. The resolution was tabled for two weeks. Hayden announced the appointments of senior Nathan Edminston and sophomore Kareem El-Khodary to the Supreme Court and seniors Mary Hoskins and Victoria Bruner to the Judicial Board. Junior Caitlin Ricks, Enhancement chair, announced the appointment of seniors Lasondra Land and Henry Maurer to the Reserves Allocation committee, and Kate Sherwood, Student Development Fund chair, announced her appointment of seniors Sarah Orler and Tyler Samuel, junior Courtney Bunting and sophomore Lauren Littlepage to the SDF committee. Pentecost said he is still searching for students to join the Finance and Budget committee. Interested students should contact him at [email protected], and Willingham still needs two students to serve on the Fitness Center committee. Those interested should contact him at [email protected]. Vandagriff said the executive board is working on the constitutional review and will begin presenting resolutions soon. “I think next week we’re actually going to have some passes and changes to vote on,” he said. Edwards announced that Sodexo has made changes to Cafe Court meal options that will begin after Fall Break. Changes include the following: beverages as part of a meal versus being a side item; students having 50 minutes to go back for seconds instead of 30; and seconds consisting of either an entree and an additional side or two additional sides. Additional sides will include either: a bowl of salad, soup or cereal; a side dish of noodles, rice, vegetables, pasta or frozen yogurt; a breadstick or dinner roll; two cookies; a piece of cake or pie; or one slice of pizza. Pre-packaged items do not qualify as additional sides. Senior Mary Hoskins, RSA president, reminded representatives that spring semester resident assistant applications are due Oct. 11, and applications for the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls conference are due Oct. 7 in the RSA office in CSE. Senior Sam Wathen, SAB president, said Freshman Council would be providing transportation for freshmen to next week’s West Side Nut Club’s Fall Festival. No other information concerning transportation dates, times or pick-up locations was available. Congress will reconvene at 5 p.m. Oct. 10 in SOBA 170.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 05:00:10 +0000