By Audrey Reed
Staff Writer
The junior class secured slightly more than $100 from the Student Government Association Philanthropy Fund to participate in Aids Project Los Angeles’ Aids Walk, but the junior senators walked out of an SGA meeting in their attempts to get it.
More than 40 Pepperdine students took part in a 30,000-person walk Oct. 20 to benefit APLA in West Hollywood. The group, sponsored by the junior class, raised more than $2,000 for the charity.
But to make the fundraiser happen, the junior class requested 30 percent, which was at that time $210, of the SGA Philanthropy Fund, the maximum allowed by a new SGA bylaw, at the Oct. 2 meeting. The motion failed, which junior senator Elise Horner attributed to the senators’ wishes for the junior class to look for funds in other places.
At the same Oct. 2 meeting, four charities each requested 30 percent of the Philanthropy Fund. S.O.S-Hunger and Homeless in Malibu received $300. Next, the junior class asked for 30 percent of the remaining philanthropy fund, but the motion failed. In the previous meeting, the junior class presented the same resolution but because there were not enough senators at the meeting quorum could not meet. New philanthropic club St. Jude’s Up ‘til Dawn petitioned for the full 30 percent as well, but this motioned was tabled and heard again the following week, when they did receive $169.50. The Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Queen of Hearts for Reading is Fundamental event was granted 30 percent of the remaining funds, which was $210.
The bylaw declaring that no single organization may receive more than 30 percent of the philanthropy fund unless the senators are unanimous on giving the amount of money to the philanthropy was passed at the SGA retreat on Sept. 21.
Some junior senators objected to the passage of this bylaw.
“I think it’s outrageous,” junior senator Steve Lyle said. “The junior class attempted to throw that rule out because we foresaw the problems. It takes away power from the senate. It should be the senators decision on how much many we should give, not some stipulation in the by laws. Theoretically, the philanthropy fund that can never been spent. It’s going to be a waste of time for groups to ask for 30 percent of $200. All the money should be spent”
During the meeting Oct. 2 all of the junior senators present left in an attempt to break quorum and to protest the failure of the Los Angeles Aids Walk resolution, Horner said. This attempt failed and the rest of the senate voted on the final Queen of Hearts resolution.
This resolution stirred controversy among the junior senators “because it seemed as though some people wanted to table all the resolutions until the Queen of Hearts,” Lyle said. Lyle did note that none of these people are members of the E-board. Both SGA President Ben Elliott and Vice President Giuseppe Nespoli are members of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
If the junior class’ resolution had passed after the S.O.S. Hunger and Homelessness petition instead of being tabled, the juniors would have been eligible for the $210 Sigma Phi Epsilon received while the fraternity would only have been eligible for 30 percent of the remaining Philanthropy Fund dollars.
In response to the junior senators’ exodus, Elliott told the remaining senators “maybe you want me to keep them here, but I’m not their parents. It’s up to you guys.”
Following that meeting, the junior class received $100 each from President Dr. Andrew K. Benton, Student Activities and the Volunteer Center. The Spiritual Life
Committee also donated $130.
At the subsequent meeting on Oct. 9, Elliott “opened the floor so that anyone could talk about concerns about parliamentary procedure and resolutions” for members who were concerned about the actions at the last meeting.
Elliott also gave the SGA senate body and committee members a handout on parliamentary motions. Also, Wissmann decided that “when it was possible, I will write the names of all the motions on the chalkboard so that all senators know what motions are being debated.”
At the Oct. 16 meeting, the junior class renewed its request and received 30 percent of the money remaining in SGA’s Philanthropy Fund, which then came to $118.16, to sponsor the walkers.
However, regardless of the amount of money given by SGA, the AIDS walk was a success, Lyle said.
“I do appreciate SGA’s support,” he said. “I was glad with the turnout. I think the fact that the AIDS walk was so well received and think it’s telling of how the students of Pepperdine are open minded in ways to help out.”
In addition to the AIDS walk, the first freshman class event, brought between 80 and 100 people to Westward Beach Oct. 19 where the class played volleyball and football and ate pizza. There were also several giveaways to Malibu Yogurt, Becker and
Starbucks. Also, tickets for the Dashboard Confessional concert were part of the giveaway.
Tickets are currently being sold for the Nov. 3 concert on the SGA Web site for $12 for Pepperdine students and $17 for non-students. All tickets the day of the concert will be $17. At the concert, a round trip to Las Vegas, lift tickets at Big Bear, 1-month movie rental at Blockbuster and a DVD player will be given away at the concert. These items were funded in through donations out of the fund to promote the event through posters. Both Black Molly and Aria Decline are opening for Dashboard Confessional as well as one other band Dashboard has yet to announce, concert chair Jimmy Hutcheson said.
Ocotber 24, 2002