This week the Student Government Association passed resolutions to allocate the budget to both Housing and Residence Life and Payson Library. After withstanding a round of amendments, the HRL Improvement Project Resolution received $8,000, and the second resolution funded a Payson Library project for $1,441.01.
SGA’s remaining budget for the remainder of the academic year is $31,601.
The members made elaborate arguments as the two-hour meeting was cut short before the entire agenda could play out. Members spent the time working to compromise on finance-heavy resolutions proposed in the meeting yesterday, evaluating the budget while considering four resolutions.
The negotiation surrounding the resolutions reflected SGA members’ attention to their overall budget. SGA was mindful to specify their financial and funding obligations for projects, so they maintain a stable budget for their seven remaining meetings.
“Compared to last semester, we’ve –been cavalier with spending,” senior Sen. Jordan Womack said. “I’d like SGA to spend more of its funds on lasting legacies.”
SGA came to a decision regarding the HRL Improvement Funding that President Mimi Rothfus had brought to the table last week. Senators moved to amend three lines of the resolution before passing it.
Instead of granting $15,000 to HRL as the original resolution proposed, the senators moved to reduce the amount to $8,000. The number came from the amount that HRL set for the “bare bones” renovation — $10,000. As SGA passed a resolution last semester to fund $2,000 to HRL for this project, this additional $8,000 will fulfill the “bare bones” funding requirement.
Dean of Housing and Resident Life Brian Dawson attended the meeting to take any questions, concerns and suggestions SGA had in regard to the housing improvements — Lovernich in particular.
Dawson assured the group that this would cover the transformation of the area from an office space to a community living space, the Lovernich common area.
“It will still be a beautiful place for you,” Dawson said.
The amended resolution does not include any funding for exercise rooms in Rockwell Towers, as originally proposed.
SGA decided to fund the initial $10,000 necessary to get the ball rolling on the Lovernich common area project. However, an amendment was made by Rothfus to prompt SGA to evaluate the budget nearing the close of the semester and potentially fund more of the project.
The second resolution passed was proclaimed to be “an extra thing to make [the library] special” by Rachel O’Connor, vice president of administration. This resolution gave $1,441.01 to Payson Library to fuel the Pop-Up Lounge project. These funds will be used for an aquarium to be installed in the Pop-Up Lounge.
SGA denied two resolutions the senators believed failed to justify their requests for funding, including a $15,000 “Bon Voyage” freshmen class event and a $4,284 Capstone Research Policy Support resolution.
SGA found the Capstone Research Policy Support resolution, authored by Executive Vice President Nico Gutierrez, would be viewed as academic preference and unfair. The resolution promoted financially aiding students who take a required business policy course.
