Senate passes FEB reform

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Speaker of the House Krissy Schnebel, a senior, talks with junior Michael Dickie, who proposed a bill to change SGA to a parliamentary system.

The Student Senate passed a front end budget reform bill that will change the way funds are allocated, which affects the nine current front-end budgeted groups.

The reform also introduced program grants to help non-FEB groups.

"To say that we want to keep things the way they are now is not going to work," said Dave Barnes, SGA advisor. "There have to be some changes made.

"I have a concern about the way that SGA is involved with the oversight of budgets and also doing their own budgets at the same time," he said. "I think it creates the perception of inconsistency and so that’s what we worked on and made some changes."

FEB reform was initiated by Student Body President Tom Culligan and Executive Treasurer Gina Maurone, a junior, in conjunction with administrators and SGA advisers, Culligan said earlier this month.

The bill also gives a timeline for FEB discussion and the request for funds by other groups.

"It’s up to the finance committee and the rest of Senate to determine that they meet the criteria we give them and they are important enough to get their money on the front end," Maurone said.

A new clause was added to the FEB reform bill, clarifying that FEB groups could offer non-monetary assistance to other groups on campus putting on events.

"I am glad that we had Gina and Tom finally undertake this project because they have always said it’s something that’s been needed for years now," sophomore senator Matt Hayo said.

A new bill proposing to change the way SGA is run and eliminate the Student Senate — putting a Parliament in its place — was submitted by junior Michael Dickie. It will be debated the first Senate meeting of spring semester.

"Dickie must convincingly prove its benefits to us all," sophomore class president Colin Reynolds said.

Dickie said the changes would make the student government run more efficiently.

"I feel like it is inhibiting our ability to recognize the serious concerns and ideas of our student body," senior class president Bradley Harris said. "It undermines the integrity of our organization, presenting to our constituents that we do nothing better than debate senseless bills."