Senate grants campus money

The Student Senate passed the first set of Program Grants, giving five organizations on campus money to put on campuswide events next year.

The total amount for program grants and contingency was $47,475. The SGA allocated $20,561, leaving $26,914 for contingency and program grants to be used next year.

The organization Cinemuse was allocated $3,732 by the Student Senate to present a film festival. "We’re going to bring four foreign, classic and independent films to Grafton in February or April of 2006," freshman member Chas Smith said.

The JMU Knitwits received $2,117 from the Student Senate to help with a service project. "The JMU Knitwits were able to make a donation this past March to the maternity ward," junior member Morgan Neil said. "With this extra money, we are going to reach out not only to the maternity ward but also to the chemotherapy patients. We are hoping to get greater student participation this coming year due to the financial help from SGA."

The Muslim Student Association was allocated $4,267 from the Student Senate to bring speakers to campus next year. "We will bring two speakers who are known scholars in the field," sophomore member Samier Mansure said, "They are authors of various books and publications. The first one will speak on any topics in Islam at the time. The second will be speaking on topic of non-violence and peace building in Islam."

The organization Students in Free Enterprise received $709 from the Student Senate. "The money will go toward a young entrepreneur business conference, it’s going to be held next spring and tailor toward any student across campus, in any major who are interested in starting their own small business," junior member Kim Tashner said.

The Brass Band was allocated $9,736 from the Student Senate to put on a brass festival.

There was little debate on the five program grants. However, because of minor misinterpretations of wording, senators did debate on whether or not certain clubs could receive money.

"We’re pleased with how program grants are going despite technical difficulties with the first run and ironing out the details," Student Body President senior Tom Culligan said. "I am really happy that these are five groups that have access to funding they wouldn’t have had otherwise and bringing a real variety of programming to students next year."

The Student Senate also passed two bills to move money for CARE and the Sports Club Council. Each group had money moved from their reserve accounts into their accounts. Both bills passed unanimously.

The bill regarding Class Council seats in the Senate was untabled and an amendment proposed. The amendment stated Class Council members could be impeached from Senate for attendance but can still continue with their class council requirements. The amendment and bill both passed, the amendment will go into the constitution and will go into effect starting fall semester.

A resolution bill submitted by junior Wesli Spencer, student body president-elect, asking to set up an Ad Hoc committee that will work on reforming elections was passed. This committee will meet at the end of this semester as well as during the minor elections held in the fall semester to fix errors.