Author: Yennaedo Balloo
The ASOC Senate made decisions on three capital improvement funding requests and seven general funding requests last Tuesday, Feb. 17. Of the capital improvement requests, The Weekly requested $6,384.55 for new computers.
Senator Roberto Calderon (senior), who is now filling the formerly vacant Senior Class Senator chair, inquired what would be done with the old computers, to which Business Manager Justin Laufer (senior) replied that while no concrete plans had been made yet, the computers would be moved to other departments that could make use of them. The request was approved unanimously by the Senate.
Other capital improvement requests included an SAC request for improved wiring and internet connectivity in the Bengal Room, totaling $3,000 based on a now-expired quote. The Bengal Room offices are shared by Programming Board, TOA and La Encina, and the wiring upgrade would go towards making the workplace more practical for all groups sharing the space. This request was also approved unanimously.
The final capital improvement request was from Programming Board for three new computers for their offices totaling $3,442. After discussion, the Senate decided to table the vote on the matter to see if the former Occidental Weekly computers couldn’t go towards Programming Board’s benefits.
The Senate then moved on to the finance committee’s funding requests, which began with the World Food Lovers request of $560 towards a Bossa Nova Brazilian food event. The Senate’s algorithm approved $247 for the event which was approved and allotted in a vote of 10 in favor, none against and one abstention.
Alpha Lambda Phi Alpha requested $430 for transportation to their off campus semi-formal event and received the algorithm-produced $84 in a vote of nine in favor, none against and two abstentions. The Oxy Hillel requested $45 for a Challah baking event and received the algorithm’s $44 in funding in a vote of nine in favor, none against and two abstentions. Mecha ALAS requested $120 for their Tamale Tuesday event and received $99 that was approved by a vote of ten in favor, none against and one abstention.
The Community Culture Club made a request of $605 towards putting together a two day retreat to train students in organizing grassroots movements. The algorithm allotted the club $304 but the club representatives explained that there were other expenses far beyond what the club was requesting which they were fundraising to curtail on their own. The Senate then voted over the algorithm and alloted the full request amount of $605 in a vote of ten in favor, none against and one abstention.
Following this, Global Perspectives, the Diplomacy and World Affairs department’s annual academic journal which vets articles and essays from undergraduates worldwide amended its request from $1600 to $3,200 to cover the costs of printing and production. $3,200 represents the full costs of printing and production that Global Perspectives was unable to secure from within the DWA department this year. The Editors for Global Perspectives shared their exhaustion with alternative routes of funding that have all proved fruitless. Based on the extent of their search for funding and the imminence of their printing deadline, the Senate voted to allot the full $3,200 after a lengthy review and discussion with eight in favor, one against and two abstentions.
Finally, RISE Publications requested $410 for the printing costs associated with their publication. The algorithm alloted them $314 which was amended to the full amount and passed with eight in favor, two against and one abstention.
Finishing the meeting President Patrick McCredie warned the Senators to be more prudent in how they vote approvals in funding requests: “We have to ask: ‘are there real extenuating circumstances to justify this allotment?’ Just because we have the money, is that enough of a reason?” McCredie said.
McCredie went on to warn the younger Senate members against hard times to come, adding, “It is your duty as senators to be inquisitive about where the money is going and why a group needs it. Just because they show up to argue their case does not mean it’s our responsibility to give them the full amount. . . sometimes doing our job means saying no,” McCredie said.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
