After extensive discussion, the Student Senate voted in favor to fund $3,807 of the $13,507 needed in the budget of the second annual Thinking Matters Research & Creativity Symposium.
The original proposal, submitted February 8, requested $2,320, and was increased by the Symposium to $2,407. This left $1,402 of the Symposium unfunded including the $2,500 still pending approval from the President’s Office. “I feel confident the President will give us the $2,500,” said Pat Finn, who came before the Senate to answer questions about the monetary request.
Senator Sarah Ferriter, noticing the hole in the Symposium budget, made a motion for the Senate to increase their support of the Symposium. After several motions from various senators, the funding increased to $3,807.
Senator Michelle Alger raised concerns about funding the due to a potential conflict with the Senate constitution.
“I support the motion to increase the funding,” said Alger. “My concern is that I know students who are required to attend this conference, for class, for credit.” Previously in the year the 33rd Student Senate amended their constitution, prohibiting Student Activity Fee money from going to student groups and activities in which students receive credit.
Shortly after the Senate passed the Student Activity Fee amendment last semester, the Senate found themselves unable to fund the Dominican Health Outreach (DHO) because participating students were receiving class credit for the excursion, a group that was traditionally funded through the Senate. The DHO later found funding through the Student Development Office.
“Technically we have to deny all the money to this thing,” said Mirmelli. But, based on a ruling last week from the absent Senate Chair, Ezekiel Kimball, Mirmelli ruled the funds would not violate the Senate constitution if the added funds went to nonessentials such as advertising, food and filming of the event, and would not support the part of the conference required by professors.