SA: Student Assembly released an extra $10,000 for student trips

The meeting started with announcements that there will be a senior class "200 days until graduation" happy hour at 9 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Old Main Inn. There will be a $2 cover charge that will act as a second fundraiser for the senior challenge. Pat Newell, adolescence education and history major and senior class president, said that the last senior challenge fundraiser was a success.

"The senior class raised over 700 on the TV raffle," Newell said.

At the last Supreme Court meeting on Oct. 4 the idea of giving groups community service as punishment was discussed.

"Joyce Smith thought that giving community service was treated as negative because it was a punishment," said Jacob Amankwaah, senior political science and American studies major and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. "The justices thought that maybe they will go through different methods for community service but they still will use community service until they find some other form of punishment."

The binder for candidates who would like to run for SA president and vice president for next year is now available. The term of these positions will be from January 2008 to January 2009.

During SA President Dahn Bull's report, Mike Davidson, a senior political science major inquired about the representation from groups in the Center for Multicultural Affairs. He emphasized that these groups are supposed to have representation on an administrative committee.

Bull responded that he is not aware of the meetings until three days prior to them. He had sent e-mails last semester to Averl Renee Otis, director of the CMA and Tracy Bennett, vice president for administration. Bull thought they would have taken care of informing the CMA groups about the meetings.

During Comptroller Patrick Horn's report, he proposed a release of $10,000 into the Con & Con account which has a balance below $200 from reserves. The Budgets and Appropriations Committee discussed this and decided that $10,000 was the appropriate amount based on past precedent. There was also an increase of $84,000 in reserves last year. The assembly passed the released funds without any objections.

Horn also noted a problem regarding groups turning in requisitions for items already purchased.

"It is one thing to contact the company beforehand, but it is another thing to order it before the money is approved," Horn said. Student groups have been purchasing items before the money is released and if the pattern continues, student groups will have to take the money out of their fundraising account.

Patrick Newell, chair of the housing committee, said that he is looking into Web sites for rating landlords. Students interested in living off campus next year should start looking for housing now.

"I would do it before spring semester, have it all tied up before you leave for winter break," Newell said.

Amanda McVay, chair of the Academic Affairs committee brought a couple topics to the assembly's attention. Registration for J-term classes is due by Dec. 6. Also, advising for next semester will start Oct. 29 with registration starting Nov. 5.

"Deadline is coming up faster than you know it," McVay said.

The meeting ended with a change to statute L-2 requiring new representatives to attend one meeting of the three standing committees - Rules, B&A and Elections - as well as a meeting of the Supreme Court within one month of assuming office. The change passed without any discussion or objections.

-Reporting by Kevin Freese, Assistant Campus Life Editor.