Emotions ran high in the Student Government Association meeting Wednesday while representatives tried to discern the most effective ways to focus their money and attention.
One clear consensus however emerged among the student officers by the end of the meeting: the desire for more student groups to approach them with their ideas and requests for support and funding.
Much of the discussion time at recent SGA meetings has been devoted to how to effectively spend the $16 each student automatically pays to the SGA fund each fall as part of the $60 “Student Government and Activities” fee.
“The point of that money is to spend it in ways that are helpful to the entire student community SGA President Greg Lee said. If we can support groups putting on events that the entire student body has the ability to benefit from then we’re all for that.”
The idea that this money should benefit the student body as a whole is written into a line of the SGA constitution but as junior class president John Kempe pointed out deciding what benefits the whole student body can be a seemingly subjective task making it difficult to decide on a consistent basis how to spend the money.
“To take that line literally we would almost never spend any money. It’s a difficult line item to follow Kempe said, noting that even with the most inclusive events, such as Blue and Orange Madness, not every student is going to show up to benefit.
Kempe said he considered events such as the Christmas tree lighting in Joslyn Plaza and Greek philanthropy events good uses of the money because they are community-centered events that all students are welcome to attend. Such requests for funds generally pass and are met with little controversy.
Debate, however, surrounds resolutions that benefit a seemingly small group of students— groups like Project L.E.A.D.
Project L.E.A.D. is a group of 10 students traveling to the East Coast during spring break to run leadership workshops for high school students. The group came to SGA twice this semester asking for money. SGA finally granted $500 out of the $2500 that Project L.E.A.D. originally requested.
Debate centered around the question of whether or not sponsoring these 10 students was a responsible and fair allocation of funds— would it benefit the student body as a whole?
Rob Coyne, the Project L.E.A.D. member who presented the funds request for the second time Wednesday, supported the idea that even a small group of students can yield benefits for the student body as a whole.
It’s an investment in student leaders Coyne said, happy that SGA gave them at least some support. Those leaders will share the skills they gain from this program with the entire student body.”
Another resolution that spawned debate was a request to fund a student film project led by juniors Zane Miller and Paul Casey. The now-in-progress full-length movie musical received $2000 to help cover production costs. Miller believes the project is a valuable addition to campus life.
“So far our production has involved over 50 students involved in everything from fine arts to communication to business majors Miller wrote in an e-mail. By the end of shooting we will have worked with at least 100 students each one handling an independent part of the production and getting tons of experience. When the movie is finished it will truly be something each one of those students can own and put on their resume and something along with the film fest that is going to push Pepperdine to start taking advantage of the amazing talent it has.”
Both Kempe and Lee agreed it is vital for students to come to SGA with their requests and concerns.
“I want people to know that if there are things they want to see done or things they’re irritated about that that’s what I’m here for. That’s what the senate is here for: to listen. We want to know Lee said, emphasizing that in order for him to offer his support— be it money, time, promotion or even just being present— the first step is to know about it.
Kempe concurred. Student groups should feel perfectly comfortable coming to SGA for money when they have an idea that they think benefits the student body. We have money to give away.”
