Students Debate Request for Student to Attend National Conference

Managing Editor

Photo by Susan Harmon

Opening Remarks - SAB President opened the SAB meeting Feb. 17 with information on monetary requests for the Wellness Fair. SAB meetings take place at 12:45 p.m. in the House Room

   The Student Activities Board met Feb. 17 to debate monetary requests for the Wellness Fair, Physical Education and Exercise Science Major's Club and for Nikki Walker to attend the Southern Sociology Society National Convention.

   SAB President Michael Reynolds II said Director of
Student Programs and Activities Mindy Holcomb came up with an idea to buy soap and loofahs for the Wellness Fair March 11. The soap and loofahs cost $100.

   Eric Bell, a senior political science major, asked about students and local stores donating the soap and loofahs for the Wellness Fair.

   “During Wandering Weevil Wheels, the Creative Society went around to stores and asked them to donate things. We got a good response,” Bell said.

   Angelia Buford, a senior social work major, said the community responds well to donating money to organizations, but felt donating to the SAB remained inappropriate.

   “The community, as a whole, knows the SAB is where the money comes from for activities and I think it would look inappropriate for the SAB to ask for donations,” Buford said.

   SAB approved to give $100 to the Wellness Fair for soap and loofahs.

   Reynolds said Laura Hughes, director of Counseling and Testing Services, requested $2,500 for a massage bed and oxygen bar for the Wellness Fair.

   “She can pay for it, but the government won’t issue the money until April so she needs the money up front. When the grant money comes, she will reimburse us,” Holcomb said.

   SAB approved to give Hughes $2,500 for a massage bed and oxygen bar for the Wellness Fair.

   Reynolds said SAB asked Anthony Newton to play the piano for Dr. Joycelyn Elders during the Black History Month celebration. Newton charges $75 dollars to play for an event.

   “We're asking him to play the piano in the Senate room to give it a nice atmosphere for the whole event,” Reynolds said.

   SAB approved to give $75 to Anthony Newton to play the piano for the Black History Month celebration.

   The P.E. and Exercise Science Major's Club, a new club from the School of Education, requested $3,000 to attend their national conference in Tampa, FL March 30-April 5. The total cost for the event remains $5,000. The Majors Club raised $1,000 during a wooden roses fund-raiser for Valentine's Day and they plan to have a softball tournament March 7-8.

   “This will benefit the campus because faculty adviser Kathy King will be going with us to learn new instructional methods that she can teach to other professors on campus. This will also help the School of Education get accreditation,” P.E. and Exercise Science Major's Club President Kate Kelley said.

    Bell said the SAB set precedents in the past by giving money to organizations to represent the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Bell said, due to the precedents, he felt the Major's Club needs to receive $3,000, but he felt the trip provided no benefit to the student body.

   “$3,000 is a lot of money since our account is dwindling. I think we should give some money, but not the whole amount. I can't imagine the response I will get if people find out from the newspaper that we are giving away money for a trip to Tampa,” SGA President Michael Thomas said.

Photo by Susan Harmon

SAB attendees - Students listened to P.E. and Exercise Science Major's Club President Kate Kelley (second from right) give information to SAB concerning the Majors Club $3,000 monetary request to attend their national conference in Tampa, FL. SAB tabled voting on the issue until SAB met with the organization to acquire more information.

   Thomas said he felt SAB needed to table voting on the issue until SAB met with the organization to find out the benefits to the student body.

   “At the Assembly meeting, Chancellor Jack Lassiter said this is a program we're not accredited for and UAM wants accreditation,” Zack Tucker, a political science major, said.

   SAB tabled voting to give $3,000 to the Majors Club to attend their national conference in Tampa, FL.

    Ron Forte, sophomore psychology major, said Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences Trey Berry asked him to read a request for Nikki Walker to present her “Comparing the Occurence of Physical Aggression in Kindergarten Children to the Occurence of Physical Aggression in Third-Grade Children” at the Southern Sociology Society National Conference in New Orleans, LA in April.

   Forte said Berry requested $325 to cover Walker's mileage and hotel costs.

   “The conference accepted her and Dean Berry is requesting the money because it's a rare honor to have an undergraduate go to the nationals,” Tucker said.

   Yvonne Hinshaw, a junior political science major, said she thought the more students attend things like the national conference then the more it's going to bring recognition to campus. Hinshaw said because the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences' budget remains low this semester, it can't reimburse Walker like other departments can.

   Jonathan Greenlee, a senior speech communications major, said the total cost remained at $425 dollars, which meant someone offered money for Walker to attend the meeting. Greenlee added how someone funding part of the costs meant someone thought the trip was worth the cost.

   “SAB is here for the student body and not just one single person. The money for this semester came from the students on this campus. We got every Tom, Dick, and Harry coming out of the woodworks coming in here wanting some money,” Bell said.

   Forte said he felt SAB needs to have funds set aside for students to attend conferences.

   “It's important that we do send people to conferences because you get a better aspect of what you are trying to do in an organization. We want organization because it shows togetherness and community. We want that on this campus,” Forte said.

   SAB tabled voting on the $325 for Walker to attend the Southern Sociology Society National Meeting until Berry provided more information.

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