KAPUT! Senator’s $100K scholarship plan hits wall

The idea of returning $100,000 in student activity fees to students in the form of  scholarships was put to an abrupt end due to Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees’ policy, in this week’s Student Senate meeting. 

The idea began at the end of last week’s meeting when  Senator of Liberal Arts Sullivan Jones moved to “return” $50,000 to students in the form of scholarships funded by student activity fees.  

The scholarships would go to “whoever Student Senate wanted” Jones said, but added current senators would be unable to apply.  

Because the Feb. 7 meeting was running over its allotted time, senators tabled the motion to their Monday meeting.  

On Thursday, Feb. 10, Jones sent an email to students stating he would increase his original $50,000 request to $100,000 at Monday’s meeting. He said that the allocation would not increase any student fees and instead would be giving students “some of their activity fee money back as a result of limited activity funding by senate and its major failed fire-pit project.” 

“As your student senator, I believe senate has an obligation to use your activity fee money appropriately and logically,” Jones said in the email. “Hence, returning some of your money that we have failed to use is the best way to ensure none of your money is wasted.” 

However, when Monday’s meeting came to order, Senate learned that Jones’ scholarship idea hit an administrative policy wall.  

Kari Gaswick, vice president of admission and finance, said Board policy 6022 precludes from using activity fees for anything other than student activities. The policy states activity fees are “designated for student activities.” 

Gaswick said that a scholarship would not be considered a student activity. 

Even though he is unable to create a scholarship for students, Jones said he still wants to “come up with something better for the students.” 

“What I’m hopefully going to be working on after learning about that, is finding ways to give money indirectly back to the students in a way that their going to appreciate, and that is going to be within Board policy,” Jones said. 

In other news: 

> The general assembly will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the Student Center ballroom. 

> Student Senate allocated $574 for the Rising Sophomore awards. 

> Student Senate allocated $1,250 to purchase banners for every club on campus. The banners will be designed by the clubs and displayed in the Student Center.