Senate announces several position vacancies

In the first meeting of the spring semester, Senate announced various positions in student government, including senators at large and Constitutional Court justices, are vacant and in need of filling.

President Lukas Klueber, junior of Rapid City, South Dakota, notified Senate that a senator at large position has been opened. Previously, Ashley Cowley, sophomore of Box Elder, South Dakota, was serving as a senator at large, but due to credit transfer issues is now attending a different school. As of Monday’s meeting, two senator at large seats are open.

Chief Justice Sam Merrill, senior of Oral, South Dakota, also announced openings in Constitutional Court. Because of graduating members, the solicitor general position and a justice position are available. Merrill encouraged those who are interested to step forward, noting that in certain cases individuals can serve on both Senate and Court.

“The good thing about being solicitor general is that you can be on Senate and any of the committees and still hold that position. With justice, you cannot serve on Student Senate or any of the other subcommittees,” Merrill said.

Merrill also reported that the spring election schedule has been set. The elections will be a week earlier than usual. Though this means elections are “coming a lot faster,” Merrill explained that a move up was necessary because of the Easter break schedule.

“Because Easter Monday falls on what would typically be Inauguration Monday, we need to back it up a week,” Merrill said.

Petitions for Student Senate are due by 5 p.m., Friday, March 15 to Merrill. Because residence hall senators are selected in the fall, the elections will include all Student Senate positions except residence hall senator seats. Office hours to drop off petitions will be announced mid-February.

AFB proposed that clubs submit one budget packet with fall and spring semester budgets itemized separately. Vice President of Finance Lily Umeta, sophomore of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, explained that this move would make the budgeting process easier and would better show the money coming in and what should be allocated.

“Because we get the money for spring semester separately, and fall semester, that would be easier for us to know exactly the money we’re getting and the money we should allocate for that semester,” Umeta said.

Umeta also reported the fall semester’s total programming allocations amounted to $36,247.35. Paired with last semester’s trip allocations, which came to $16,937.69, a total of $53,185.04 was spent in the fall. The numbers added to roughly 40% of the original allocation of $135,000, which Umeta called “a good thing.”

CAB Chair Kimberly Hernandez announced the Spring Club Fair will be held from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Student Center Scottsbluff room. All clubs must have at least one representative at their table for the duration of the fair or be penalized with an absence.

Free Bowling Night will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at Hilltop Lanes. Free pizza will be provided.

Senate currently has $30.999.79 in unallocated funds.