SA Moves Forward with Student Organization Allocations

by Michael Scarborough

The Student Association convened Monday night for its second meeting of the year and focused its discussions on welcoming three new Freshmen Senators, amending its bylaws and student organization financial allocations.

Only one bill came to the floor during the night, and it was postponed until an October 15 convening. Relating to revisions to the senate by-laws, the bill became suspect to some senators who were not entirely sure what the revisions were. Requesting a clear list of changes made to the by-laws, senators motioned 15-11 to have more time to read the bill.

Later on in the meeting Finance Chair Alex Mizenko announced the recent completion of initial budget allocations for student organizations. This year, the finance committee dispersed among 295 student groups approximately 85 percent of the $904,990 it has been given by the University.  Senate by-laws say it can give no more than 85 percent of its funds.  Student groups had requested almost $3.3 million. 

Mizenko announced that the SA was given an additional $39,495 from the University this weekend.  Mizenko says a lot of this money will be used during the appeals process, which takes place later this week. He went onto applaud all of those involved in the allocation process, especially those organizations who clearly outlined their fiduciary needs.

“We rewarded those organizations who did their due diligence,” Mizenko said.

Despite Mizenko saying the process was transparent, the Vice Chair of Finance for AIESEC, a student organization that sends students abroad to intern at companies, expressed his grievances over what he saw as a lack of communication between the Finance Committee and student organizations. Kaleab Brook said during the public comment portion of the meeting that he emailed the Committee several times with questions relating to allocation and received no response.  Additionally, Brook said he sent the Finance Committee a 1500 word letter this weekend before allocations were announced outlining the reasoning behind his $20,000 budget proposal.  In the end, AIESEC only received $500.   Brook was especialy upset that the allocation email he received was vague and its only explanation for the reason his request was not met was that the Senate was not funding “Conditional events.”

“I didn’t know what a conditional event was,” Brook said “and there was no explanation in the email.”

Mizenko shot back, citing informational webpages, emails, and meetings as proof the Finance Committee had laid out a sufficient amount of information for organizations.

“We have used every means and every instrument to communicate to organizations,” Mizenko said.

At the start of the meeting three new freshmen senators were introduced.  Ben Pride, Joy Dhar,  and Ryan Warman are now non-voting members of the Senate. The three were selected from a pool of 83 applicants.

The next Senate meeting is next Monday, October 1^st at 9pm in the Marvin Center Continental Ballroom. 

First SA Meeting of the Year Focuses on Goals and Confirmations

by Myles Goldman

The student Association held its first meeting Monday night, focused on its plans for the year ahead.  

Student Association President Ashwin Narla told SA Senators that the three issues he and Vice President Abby Bergren decided to focus on this year were Student Space, student wellness, and working with the External Relations Department to create an online calendar where student organizations would be able to publicize their events.  Narla told Senators he would continue the work of his predecessors and work to reduce student fees. 

One of Narla's major solutions to the student space issue that was heavily discussed in last year's SA election, is to work with Administrators to grant 24-hour access to more academic buildings on campus.  

Other priorities of the new SA Executive Leadership team of Narla and Bergren include securing free HIV testing for students and expanding the Lerner Health and Wellness' hours. 

Later in the meeting, the last two positions of Narla’s cabinet were filled when last year’s SA Presidential runner-up John Bennett was confirmed by Senators for VP of Financial Affairs and Larisa Ozeryansky was confirmed as VP of Graduate Student Affairs. Narla last spring had originally nominated candidates for both these positions and both those candidates were not confirmed.  

"I took your advice and went back and found a Graduate Student," Narla sai, referring to his nomination of Ozeryansky.  

With Student Organization Financial allocations happening in a few weeks, SA Finance Chair Alex Mizenko wanted all student organizations to know that with 50 additional groups asking for money this year and the amount of money raised from the student Association Fee stagnant, the SA has less money to give to organizations.  He also said that based on Student Association by-laws, the SA can only give up to 85% of the money they have.  Mizenko did reassure students that he intends to go right up to this cap.

"Students paid into the [Student Association] fee this year and the money therefore should be used this year," Mizenko said after the meeting.  

The SA’s Student Organization Allocations meeting will be on Monday, October 1st. The next General Body SA Senate Meeting will be on Monday, September 24th.