Senate makes allocation for feminine hygiene initiative

Senate allocated $1,580 for the feminine hygiene initiative at a meeting Monday. Senate President Katrina Hurley said the products would be placed in the bathrooms when students return to campus after midterm break.
Senators referred looking into transgender bathrooms to the campus improvement committee.
Hurley reminded committees that they need to report back to Senate anytime they do research on a project, even if the committee decides they don’t want to move forward.
Student Trustee Coy Clark reminded committee members that they do not have the power to vote to not take action. The committee’s job is to do research and report back.
Clark mentioned to senators that the Nebraska State College System’s Chancellor Stan Carpenter sent an email that mentioned that despite federal changes, the NSCS would continue to enforce its Board Policy to protect the rights of transgender students.
Senate is still considering allocating $10,000 for the Chadron Area Aquatics and Wellness Center. The pool committee is expected to go to the General Assembly tonight to discuss what the allocation would be going for. It was suggested at the Feb. 16 open forum that Senate ask for two days a year when Senate could host a pool party in exchange for the allocation.
Senate has already given the center $20,000 two years ago and another $10,000 last semester, according to Hurley.
Chief Justice Samantha Merrill said that petitions for Senate positions next semester are due noon Monday, March 13.
“As of now, I have two petitions,” Merrill said. “I really hope we will have at least someone on Senate next year, other than the vice president and president.”
The Spring Daze Committee brought a proposed budget to Senate. The total budget is for $37,000. The breakdown is for apparel, $5,524.28; inflatables, $12,850; petting zoo, $8,000; club booths, $2,500; food trucks, $5,000; Mr. & Mrs. Spring Daze, $500; pool party, $800; wristbands, $20; decorations, $1,000; and contingency, $800, which totals to $36,994.28. The committee rounded up to the $37,000.
The inflatables will include a mechanical bull, jousting, boxing, a hungry hippo bungee cord, two obstacle courses, and a laser tag blow up.
The committee planned for $50 per booth for clubs.
There were complaints at the Senate open forum last week about not having snakes at the petting zoo this week so Hurley said they would discuss snakes at the General Assembly tonight.
The budget will only cover one food truck, which will be bought out so those at Spring Daze would not have to pay when they go to the food truck. Cassie Mitchell, director of student activities and recreation, reminded Hurley that she would need to talk with Dining Services Director Tracy Shuck before getting the truck. Hurley said she attached Shuck on emails and the contract is going through Shellie Johns, conferencing coordinator, to help take care of that.
A student mentioned that there are other music department events and softball games that weekend.
Hurley responded saying that the day was set and given to Spring Daze by administration, because “they wanted us to curtail drinking that weekend,” Hurley said. She said if there are other events on that day they will put it on the posters.
An entrance fee for the public will be canned goods that can be used to stock the food pantry Senate is starting up for students during break when dining services is closed.
Clark asked for an itemized budget because he doesn’t see how they will spend $800 on a pool party specifically among other things.
Campus Improvement Committee Chair Carly Slaght said that the school does not have money for mailboxes in its budget, but Sherri Simons, housing and residence life director, will be checking with Vice President of Administration and Finance Dale Grant to see if they can move projects around to make money available for the mailboxes sooner rather than later.
There have also been issues in Edna Hall with students not hearing the fire alarms when the living room door is closed, so they will be looking into making the alarms louder or putting alarms in the living rooms.
The Student Center computer chairs were out of stock at Wal-Mart. Slaght said they were going to look into a different color of chairs and work out getting them ordered.
Senate Adviser Mathew Brust reported that the white boards in the Math and Science building are underway. In Room 103, they took measurements, and in Room 246, the professors decided to only change the one middle board.
Senate has $44,035.08 in unallocated funds and budget packets are due Friday.
There was a hearing for Sen. Lelisse Umeta who missed more than the allowed Senate meetings. At the hearing Wednesday it was determined that the absences were because of work. Umeta said it would take a couple of weeks to get her schedule changed and it should be fixed now. It was determined that Umeta can remain a senator and is required to attend the rest of the meetings and special meetings of Senate for the rest of the semester.
Senate Adviser Deena Kennell said the Spring Career Fair would be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 22.
Mitchell said that RLA is looking for Senate’s help in bringing Cheryl Brown, who was part of Brown v. the Board of Education, for next year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day.