SGA gives money for culture show, fund raising

Member present 'A Red Carpet Affair'

The Asian Student Union received $1,425 from contingency funds to help with a Wellness passport event the organization is sponsoring.

"The money will go toward our culture show," said sophomore Christina Hoang, secretary of ASU.

"The purpose of the show is to spread Asian culture awareness to JMU and the surrounding community."

Up ’til Dawn also received $2,694.50 from contingency funds.

"We are a fund-raising organization for St. Jude’s, a research hospital for children with terminal illnesses," said senior Emily Futrell, business director for Up ’til Dawn. "This money is critical for us because we are only a fund-raising group."

The Community Affairs committee of the Student Senate presented a project they are planning called "A Red Carpet Affair."

"In this event, all Greek organizations — social, honor, service, business and academic — will compete for the coveted title of Mr. or Ms. Greek JMU and other cash and prizes, including a donation to philanthropy of their choice," said junior Kathleen McKay, committee chair.

The money raised from the event will help "The Big Event," a school-wide community service effort taking place in the spring semester, according to McKay.

Senior Hunter Hanger, student representative to the Board of Visitors, spoke to the SGA about the most recent Board of Visitors meeting. Hanger said the three main areas discussed were diversity, financial resources and private support.

"Diversity is something we lack at JMU and something we are pushing for," Hanger said. "A couple of the points of progress that we’ve made are there is now a recruiter in Richmond to recruit diverse students from Richmond city schools and southern Virginia."

JMU is in the top 25 percent of most affordable schools to go to both in and out of state, Hanger said.

Even with tuition increases, JMU has been able to keep prices reasonable and is able to give pay raises to their professors, Hanger said.

Hanger said he explored the lack of a double punch available on weekends, and that JMU is the only institution to offer double punches. "Aramark isn’t making bank," he said.

In the area of private support, the Board of Visitors discussed the issue of chartered schools. "The Virginia Legislative is looking to make [the University of Virginia, College of William & Mary] and Virginia Tech chartered schools, which would have a great impact on JMU in the future," Hanger said. "But, there [is] no definite on anything right now."