Students Reluctant to Approve Monetary Requests

Editor-in-Chief

   Students debated about paying for the poinsettias and musicians at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and reimbursing a student organization in a Student Activities Board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11.

   Michael Reynolds II, SAB president, announced Student Affairs asked the group to buy $800 worth of poinsettias and pay two musicians $50 each for the annual ceremony. Eric Bell, a senior political science major, said last year SAB gave half of the amount asked for and Brittany Pickett, a senior history major, pointed out an administrator matched what the group gave.

   “It was a popular consensus last year not to do it again,” Pickett said.

   With an account balance of $4,646.61, Reynolds said SAB could more than afford to pay for the poinsettias.

   Bell and other students in attendance asked the same question: “How will this benefit the students?"

   Ron Forte, sophomore psychology major, suggested tabling the issue until the next meeting to try and find minutes from last year to see exactly what SAB did in this situation.

   SAB also discussed reimbursing the Speech and Debate team $750 to offset the cost of attending Student Congress. Zack Tucker, a political science major, said Student Congress is a mock government and congress.  Bell asked if reimbursing this student group would set the precedent to give other student organizations money.  Megan Prescott, a senior history major, pointed out SAB already set the precedent by reimbursing the organization in the past.

   Tucker said SAB usually reimburses the team for its hotel and food costs, and the group only asked for help paying the hotel costs this year.

   Sandy Herring, a sophomore nursing major, said if the organization participates in SAB, it should be able to come and ask for help with fees when the activity represents campus. SAB voted to reimburse the hotel fees for Speech and Debate.

   The Collegiate Social Work Organization asked SAB for $100 to start a book scholarship. The club, open to any student on campus, hopes to increase activity with the scholarship.  Angelia Buford, a senior social work major, said the organization helps the community, including the Department of Human Services and Head Start. The requirements for the book scholarship include participating in two activities, attending two meetings, filling out an application form as well as signing an ethical statement.  SAB voted to give CSWO $100.

   SAB also discussed upcoming campus activities. SAB canceled the movie night scheduled for last Thursday since two other events took place that day. A movie night will be held next semester and the group will discuss it at a later meeting.

   A Christmas window-decorating contest will take place Nov. 19 and 20. The windows in the University Center will be first come, first serve for campus-recognized organizations. Student Activities and Programs will provide everything needed to decorate the windows. SAB voted to give prizes of $100, $75 and $50 to the organizations that paint the best three designs.

   The annual late-night breakfast will take place Dec. 8. SAB will spend around $2,000 for prizes. The group tabled voting on the prizes until next meeting so students could bring ideas for this year’s prizes.

   In other business, SAB voted Hiram Sumlin, a senior history major, to chair the advertising committee, after a recommendation from Reynolds. Reynolds said three to five people will work on the committee with Sumlin to advertise events.

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