Senate releases spring budget, allocates almost $50,000

Senate announced its budget with the spring semester numbers in, and allocated $48,863 of the $196,793.30 unallocated funds. Senate also amended bylaws for the Activity Fee Board, amid much discussion between senators.
The Spring Daze committee presented a revised budget and was allocated $33,610. The committee cut the food truck because the contracts the school has with Dining Services will not allow to bring in food that can be provided any day of the week, Senate President Katrina Hurley said.
The committee added generators for the inflatables, $1,000; tables to rent, $380; and trash bin for animal feces from the petting zoo, $230.
The original request was for $37,000, which covered inflatables, $12,850; petting zoo, $8,000; free handouts, $4,424.28; pool party, $800; club booths, $2,500; Mr. & Mrs. Spring Daze, $500; wristbands, $20; contingency, $800; decorations, $500; booth prizes, $500, and food truck, $5,000.
Senate approved with a vote of 9-4 to allocate $10,000 to the Chadron Aquatics Center.
Student Senate allocated $20,000 two years ago for the design and set up of the pool, and then another $10,000 in the fall 2016 semester for the building of the pool.
The pool committee requested $20,000 last semester but Senate decided to only allocate half at the time to make sure they had enough in its budget to cover the full amount.
Monday, senators said they were concerned with giving the pool more money because most constituents were not thrilled with giving the pool more money when students are not getting anything extra out of it.
But, a few senators noted that this was an opportunity to give back to the community that gives to us.
There was a motion to allocate only $5,000 but it failed to get a second.
Senate allocated $5,253 for Phi Beta Lambda club for a trip to California for a conference competition. The money will be used for hotels, $3,070; gas, $300; parking, $128, and registration, $1,755. There was discussion before the vote to place a cap on lodging, which is discussion carried over from last week’s meeting. There was an amendment to allocate only $4,433 based on the idea of a cap for lodging; that motion failed with a vote of 7-3, and three abstaining. The vote for the $5,253 was passed 8-3, with two abstaining.
At the Monday, March 13 meeting, Hurley introduced bylaw revisions for AFB’s bylaws. The revisions were discussed heavily at the open forum Thursday, please see related story above.
The amendments were also discussed heavily at Senate. Senators and AFB members Teryn Blessin and Cody Cooper spoke out against the amendments saying it was the wrong time to put them into affect. They said in their arguments that AFB is supposed to be unbiased and there are already steps in place to remain unbiased. They claimed these amendments are excessive governance of the Senate executive body and that AFB should have been notified to fix the problem before the executive members took action themselves. They also said the hearing started that night, so it is not enough time to enforce the changes.
Student Trustee Coy Clark and Hurley, the drafters of the amendments, responded to the complaints saying that these amendments are things that AFB should be doing already, and although the AFB bylaws say they have to be reviewed every two years, there’s nothing that prevents them from being reviewed and changed at any time. They also said they were in communication with the AFB co-chairs about the amendments, but they both apologized for not talking to the co-chairs before drafting the amendments.
Each of the four bylaw revisions were discussed and voted on separately and three of the four were called to question before being passed.
The first revision of bylaw 7d would change from saying it was recommended that members abstain from voting or lobbying for a club the member is a part of to say the member shall abstain.
The revision to 8(b) vii says that AFB members should not discuss AFB matters outside of AFB.
Bylaw 8(b)vii says that if AFB members have “real or perceived bias against a club, of which they are not a member, shall abstain from voting regarding said club.” The co-chairs will determine if someone is biased.
Bylaw 8(b)ix lays out the steps that will be taken if someone violates the bylaws, which is an impeachable offense.
Following the passing of the revisions, Hurley called an executive session that lasted about two minutes.
Shellie Johns, conferencing coordinator, announced Maddie and Tae as the country concert that will be at 7 p.m. April 22 as part of Galaxy Series and Spring Daze. There are a limited number of student tickets, but they are available now until Friday for students. Tickets can be picked up in Memorial Hall’s Box Office. Friday, they will be open for the public at $15 per ticket.
Tracy Shuck, Dining Services director, announced that Dining Services will be attempting to get into the “Guinness Book of Records” with an event at 5 p.m. April 21 as part of Spring Daze. They will be constructing the longest taco line. Most the of the food is donated and they will need about 180 volunteers to create the taco, but after it is done and measured it will be free to eat for anyone in attendance.
Clark announced Sen. Ashley Goad as next year’s student trustee.
Chief Justice Samantha Merrill said that Senate elections will open at noon Monday, April 17.