MEREDITH RODRIGUEZ
News Assistant
After debate about the new system of allotting funds between classes, SGA passed its spring budget last night.
“We had our differences, and we each wanted what was best for our classes,” said sophomore president Christine Yi.
Debate began when sophomore representatives questioned why the senior class, with 939 students, was set to receive about $2,000 more than the sophomore class.
The new system allocates money proportional to individual class sizes.
“The sophomore class has like no money,” Yi said.
There are officially 514 sophomores aside from overseas students and second-year students with junior status by credit.
Sophomore representatives argued that although many in their class have junior status, most do not identify with the junior class. Therefore the sophomore class would require more than the $2,698.50 originally proposed.
Senior class representatives argued that they needed more money for special events such as a graduation celebration.
The conflict was resolved with a decision to evenly allocate $3,000 to each class. Then the remaining funds were divided based on class size, giving the sophomores $1,000 more.
Senior representatives appeared content with the decision and sophomores were satisfied as well.
“We allocated money according to what was best for each class and for the school,” Yi said. “Everyone was happy. We were all able to communicate.”
SGA President Carl Kasalek agreed.
“I thought it was great the way the debate took place,” Kasalek said.
Constitutional expenses, which constitute $17,780 out of the total $70,000 SGA revenue passed without debate. These expenses include predetermined budgets such as the Philanthropy Fund, Inter-Club Council and Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic funds.
In other SGA news, sophomore and senior-class elections for two empty senator seats have been scheduled to take place online Jan. 26.
The SGA E-board also appointed junior Michelle Jackson as the new special programs director to assist with upcoming tsunami relief projects, and hired freshman Amanda Lewis to be public relations director.
01-20-2005