Senate discusses 2 allocations, feminine hygiene initiative with students

The budget for The Big Event, an allocation to the Aquatic Center, and a feminine hygiene initiative were discussed at the open forum Thursday in the Student Center.
Representative for The Big Event, Nathaniel Brown, proposed the budget for The Big Event for a total of $13,170. The breakdown for the budget is as follows: advertising $1,620; Prizes $409.98; Printing costs $2,605; t-shirts $4,293; food $3,675; and $977 for miscellaneous use.
Part of the budget of printing costs includes postcards for all the volunteers and season’s greeting cards for previous job sites that will be sent out over winter break.
Student Senate President Katrina Hurley brought up the issue of people signing up to volunteer, but never showing up to the event.
“What we focused on last year was lowering that percentage gap of people who signed up and people who showed up,” Brown said.
This year, Brown said TBE will send out emails and possibly texts to people who sign up just as a reminder.
TBE will also be handing out keychains and bracelets this year instead of just face tattoos the day of. Brown said it will help advertise the event in the future.
Janet Johnson, the planning, building, and zoning official for the city of Chadron, asked Student Senate for $20,000 donation for the final construction of the city’s Aquatic Center.
Johnson also added that the center has been approved by CSC to offer six work study positions, internships, and hopes to add a GA position. The Center will also be free for students with their Student IDs.
“Not only will there be benefits to college students in the actual use of the facility, but there are job opportunities in the future,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that the Aquatic Center was originally estimated to cost $6 million but the cost has bumped up to $6.8 million. She also said that the city is actively seeking grants and donations.
Johnson said that if the $800,000 isn’t met, the city still has to meet its obligations to the contractors, and will “probably” take out a short-term low-interest loan.
Hurley said that if Senate allocates the full $20,000, the budget would be tighter for the remainder of the year.
Janelle Kesterson, 21, senior of Bridgeport, thought that Senate should only give $10,000 at first and wait until funds from student fees of the spring semester come in, and then if there is enough, provide the remaining $10,000.
“I think it is a good cause,” Kesterson said. “But I don’t think it is worth putting the financial situation in jeopardy.”