Senate approves $372, 390

Funding given to eight Front End Budget groups

Evan Dyson / staff photographer Junior Keith Mann, president of Student Ambassadors, responds to junior Bonnie Buchanan concerning the proposed budget in Tuesday's Student Senate meeting.

The Student Senate approved $372,390 to be allocated to eight different Front End Budget groups, exactly as the finance committee recommended.

The UPB, NAACP, the Panhellenic Council, Campus Assault Response, Interfraternity Council, Black Student Alliance and Student Ambassadors were present to explain their groups and adjustments made to the budgets. The SGA budget was discussed earlier, therefore it was not voted on with the other FEB organizations.

The UPB student fee budget of $181,856 passed with unanimous consent.

There was a minor change made in the finance committee involving apparel cost. The amount allocated to UPB stayed almost the same as last year’s amount of $181,860.

"UPB is the main program entity on campus," said senior Shaun Nicholson, UPB’s director of finance. "We try to reach every student on campus and with the money we’re allocated through student fees, we try to do what the students want."

The next organization to present its budget was NAACP, which also passed with unanimous consent. The senate passed the amount of $9,944 to be allocated from student fees, a slight decrease from last year’s amount of $10,025.

"NAACP’s main focus this year is to promote unity," Sheltonya Henry said. "We believe that by promoting with UNITY we can further diversity that our campus is seeking."

The Panhellenic Council was allocated $8,330 from SGA for its budget next year. There were minor changes in the finance committee including an increase in media services and the travel line item. The amount decreased from last year’s amount of $8,567.

"We are the governing body for the eight national recognized sororities on campus," Panhellenic treasurer sophomore Eileen Little said. "We use the money for recognition, scholarships and community service."

The budget for CARE was passed at $8,300 from the SGA, with only minor changes in the finance committee. The amount allocated was approximately the same as last year’s amount of $8,314.

"Our main function is a 24-hour helpline for victims of sexual assault and rape," CARE president senior Erin Curley said. "We operate on a pager and voicemail system so we have phone lines set up through campus and we also do presentations, bring a speaker every spring to talk about sexual assault and put on Rape is Not Sex."

The Interfraternity Council received $12,787 for its budget next year. The amount was a decrease from last year’s amount of $13,153.

The Black Student Alliance’s budget received $21,388 from student fees, a decrease amount from last year which was $21,700.

The money in the budget is used for activities such as Ebony Exposure, a week-long program in the spring with educational, entertainment and social activities. The organization brings two speakers a semester and helps to co-sponsor events with other organizations, BSA president senior Morgan Dye said.

The Student Ambassadors were allocated $12,942 of student fees, a slight increase from last year’s amount of $11,744.

"We’ll use the money to support all programming we do that meets our mission statement," president Keith Mann said. "All student fees allocated help to fund events and activities that promote and support our campus and the student body."

The last group to present, Sports Club Council, received the amount proposed by the finance committee of $45,619 for its budget. This was a slight increase from last year’s amount of $44,929.

"We oversee 36 sports clubs and advise them on leadership and help its clubs develop better and more effective leaders," president senior Gary Labelle said.

With the passing of all the FEB budgets from the SGA, the contingency fund is left at $47,480 for non-FEB groups to use for programs and program grants.

This year was the first SGA implanted a FEB advisory council, helping make the meeting the shortest FEB Senate meeting.

"The formulation of the FEB advisory board was very beneficial because they could answer a lot of questions that came up in debate during FEB weekend, and because the finance committee could make recommendations to Senate, knowing that a member of each FEB organization had a vote on the matter," finance chair senior Melissa Laughner said.

"I also applaud all of the FEB treasurers and executive board members who proposed very practical budgets that clearly meet its mission statements. The combination of these factors resulted in a smooth and responsible FEB process that I think everyone is happy with." Laughner said.