Senate allocates $35,300 for Spring Daze

Senate allocated $35,300 Monday night for the Spring Daze event in April. The amount was adjusted from the previously discussed $37,000 the committee was asking for. The adjustment came after students suggested that the amount estimated for “swag” items was too much. The committee decided to eliminate the sunglasses, wristbands, and hats that were going to be handed out and sold at the event.

Prior to the allocation, there was much discussion about the sponsorships the committee has been mentioning in open forums and other discussions about the event.

Senator Mauro Ovando suggested they amend the allocation to $14,500 now to secure the bands and other contracts and then set aside $23,000 to be used once the sponsorships start coming in. Senate Adviser Deena Kennell reminded senators that allocating money is setting aside the money to be spent. It’s not taking the money completely out of the account. She also reminded senators that any money not spent will remain in the Senate account.

The senators down voted this amendment.

The $35,300 allocation was passed with a vote of 16-1, with two senators absent. The only senator voting no was Stephanie Alfred, who said after the meeting that the reason she voted no was because she wanted to allocate the entire $37,000.

Senate President Katrina Hurley said the planning committee will update Senate every time a sponsorship comes in.

For more information on the Spring Daze event see the related story on page 4.

Prior to the allocation, Senate reported $54,020.50 in unallocated funds, but Kennell reminded senators that the student fees from the spring semester should be added to their fund soon.

Laure Sinn, coordinator of the Rangeland Facility and B.E.A.M.S.S., asked for a $950 allocation for Scholastics Day. In the past, Sinn brought an interactive trailer with video games in it to campus for the high school students enjoy while passing time. The owner of the trailer didn’t respond to Sinn’s messages before the meeting, but Sinn is expecting it to cost $800 or less. The extra $150 will be for T-shirts for college students who help during the day and also for the high school students.

Sarah Polack, Mari Sandoz Center director, was seeking an allocation of $5,275 for a rave to be hosted at the beginning of the fall 2016 semester. Following the recommendation from Hurley, senators tabled the discussion on the allocation to next week’s meeting.

“Some senators came up to me and were concerned there was going to be too much discussion with both allocations (for the rave and Spring Daze),” Hurley said. “Some senators have work and were concerned with the long meeting.”

After the resignation of Senator At Large Syerra Wycoff Bagshaw, Senate has two open positions—at large and E.H.P.C.P.S.W.

Bagshaw credited her resignation to being scheduled at work and not being able to attend meetings.

“I just moved off campus and was overwhelmed with bills and responsibilities,” Bagshaw said. “And my new job became a conflict with my senatorial obligations, so it didn’t seem fair for me to continue representing constituents if I couldn’t do so to my full potential.”

The constitutional committee will host another open forum at 3-4 p.m. today in the Student Center Ponderosa Room.