By By: Kerry Garrett
Staff-Writer
The Student Government Association met on March 31 to discuss funding requests and report on upcoming events.
The first funding request came from the Student Occupational Therapy Association, which is within the Elkhart Center. It is a new program that will support graduate students in rehabilitation sciences, speech-language pathology and other fields of study. The program intends to help these students now and moving forward to make a difference within the community and their patients, as well as providing them with the support they deserve as graduate students.
The SGA funded the organization $500, which will provide them with various learning supplies, paper products, copying and office supplies and food for meetings.
The next funding request came from the Franklin D. Schurz Library, requesting funding to provide free snacks to students at the end of the semester. The campus does not have very many food sources available after 5 p.m., and as finals approach, students are going to spend long periods of time on campus studying.
The library intends to provide free coffee, popcorn, fruit and more between Sunday and Tuesday of finals week. The SGA allocated $988 to the library for this event.
The Queer Straight Alliance and the Art Club then requested funding for a fairy-themed, mocktail painting event. This would not only provide practical materials such as canvases, paints, and drink ingredients, but also fun and decorative ones like succulents, fake moss, and plastic frogs and butterflies. The SGA allocated $274.98 to the QSA.
The Preface also requested funding for its last two issues. This would accommodate the prices of printing, delivery of papers and payroll. After the student hourly wage increased from $7.25 to $10.15, The Preface’s staff tripled in size and inflation has increased, the organization has seen a sudden uptick in expenses. An approval for next year’s budget to be increased to reflect these changes is in the process, so that it can continue printing and covering events.
The SGA allocated $3,700 to The Preface for these expenses.
The next funding request came from the coordinators of the upcoming Latin Dance night, hosted by the SGA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. It is a free event taking place on April 7 from 5-8 p.m. in the University Grill. The funding requested, $829.85, would provide them with food, like candy, chips, salsa, guacamole and decorations. It is an entirely casual, student-run event, and both coordinators and attendees will curate a dance playlist together. The SGA allocated the entire requested amount to the committee.
The SGA also discussed their allocation of the Student Activity Fee budget for the next academic year. A new position under the Student Life Office could be introduced to support student leadership and DEI initiatives. This would provide students and organizations on campus with more support, especially ones that are underrepresented or in need of help. This would include developing club officer and leadership training, possibly some kind of retreat, whether on a local level or a much wider one.
President Christian Martinez also noted that the deadline to apply for election or re-election is approaching. Any student who meets the required number of credit hours may run for a position in the SGA by submitting the election form on Titan Atlas by April 7.
The SGA meets every Friday from 8-10 a.m in SAC 206. The meetings are public, and students are encouraged to attend. Groups interested in submitting funding requests can do so via the SGA’s Titan Atlas.
