By-law revisions could spell changes for student activity fees

Through a by-law revision, Senators discussed changing percentages and raising student activity fees by one dollar per credit hour.

The proposed by-law revision, introduced by President Lukas Klueber, junior of Rapid City, South Dakota, states:

“Every student will pay student activity fees. The student activity fee is currently split 36 percent going to the NPAC for the use of facilities, equipment, intramurals and activities and 64 percent will go to Senate for student activities. Effective 7/1/2019, the student activity fee will be split 37.5 percent going to NPAC for the use of facilities, equipment, intramurals and activities, and 62.5 percent will go to Senate for student activities.”

According to Klueber, the changes were offered in response to needing to be “fiscally conservative” this year as well as system office changes.

“Moving the percentage, moving the no-cap and changing the dollar amount, we’re trying to think in the best interest of the students,” Klueber said. “With how we had to be fiscally conservative this year, and with the new changes in the system office whether it’s insurance, advisers needing to travel and other expenses that clubs weren’t aware of until this year, we just thought ‘maybe that’s something students would rather see,’ like being able to go on more trips or go and do more things with the student activity fund.”

Under the current system, student activity fees are split 64 percent to Student Senate and 36 percent to the NPAC fund. Every student pays student activity fees rated at $7 per credit hour and capped at $84 per semester, equivalent to 12 credit hours. For every $7, approximately $4.20 goes to Student Senate with the remaining $2.80 given to the NPAC fund.

The revision would not only raise the student activity fee to $8 instead of $7, but would decrease Senate’s percentage by 1.5 percent. However, with the proposed one dollar increase, $8 split 62.5/37.5 percent would round out numbers with $5 going to Student Senate and $3 going to the NPAC fund. The fee cap would also be removed.

Senator Isioma Akwanamnye, sophomore of Lagos, Nigeria, expressed concern that a decrease in Senate’s budget could lead to problems funding activities students want to do. 

“The money coming to Student Senate is not a lot to do all the things we want to do, so that’s just my fear. I understand wanting to increase the amount available to student activities to $5, but even if we increase that, would we still have the money to do all the things we want to do as Student Senate?” Akwanamnye said.

Kari Gaswick, Vice President of Administration and Finance, explained that the percentage change came from wanting to “simplify things” rather than cut funding.

“The percentage split came from trying to simplify things more than anything so that it was easier to talk to students. Instead of saying 62.5 percent it was $5 of every $8 goes to Student Senate and $3 of every $8 goes to the NPAC,” Gaswick said.

Though the discussion did not reach a vote, a vote could be reached as soon as next Monday after senators speak to constituents.

Senate unanimously passed AFB’s budget recommendation of $926 for Sports Medicine’s upcoming trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to visit the U.S.Olympic Training Center. The budget includes costs of $25 per person, totaling $350 for 14 people, $576 for hotel rooms and $100 for gas.

Senate voted to decline Band’s trip packet due to the trip being an “academic trip” and not a professional development trip.

In addition to Sports Medicine’s request, Senate also approved a $200 allocation for a Student Senate banner. A design has not yet been chosen.

Two clubs received 5 percent cuts to their budgets. Farm Bureau, which had missed more than two meetings, had $23.75 cut from their budget. United was deducted $28.55

Student Trustee Dawson Brunswick announced AFB’s budget workshop is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Student Center Scottsbluff Room. At least one adviser and one executive member of each club is required to be present. An example budget will be presented and AFB members will be available to help clubs fill out their budget packets.

Budget packets are due March 1 by midnight. Budget hearings are scheduled for March 11-15.

Campus Improvement Committee Senator Emily Johnson, junior of Mead, Colorado, announced a “Coffee with Senators” event will be held Thursday, Feb. 21. Because AFB’s budget workshop is scheduled for that evening., the two events will merge. Johnson said the event’s goals are to “gather feedback” from students and gauge where students want to see Senate go.

“Our goal is to gather feedback and then we’re going to learn what the students are wanting from Senate and what directions they want us to take this semester,” Johnson said.

Petitions for Senate elections and Consitutional Court are due by 5 p.m., Friday, March 15. If looking to be appointed by the Court or the Senate body, applications are due by March 11. According to Chief Justice Samantha Merrill, senior of Oral, South Dakota, students who submit after March 11 cannot be appointed and will have to run for positions. 

According to recent surveys, Adviser Megan Northrup announced that STDs are going up on campus. Though the locations have not been decided, condoms have been ordered and will be dispersed on campus.

Senate currently has $14,999.79 in unallocated funds.