The Iowa State Student Government debated funding for two student organizations during their meeting Wednesday night.
The ISU Car Club was seeking $2079.81 for safety and event equipment for its driving event on Oct. 31. The club planned to store this equipment in off-campus storage units. Concern arose among Senators when discussing the storage of this equipment.
Senator Noah Kammeyer expressed concern about StuGov oversight.
The section of the Student Government’s bylaws that Kammeyer referred to says that StuGov capital equipment storage must have oversight from the Finance Director.
Finance Director Luv Saini said this does not apply because the equipment in question does not qualify as capital equipment.
“Anything under $5,000 at the university level does not qualify as a capital item at all,” Saini said.
After resolving this issue, the bill passed and StuGov granted funding to the Car Club.
The Africa Learning and Evolving Community requested funding for a mental health and breast cancer awareness event Oct. 31. The Finance Committee did not approve funding for food because it does not qualify as ethnic food, as required by the Priorities and Criteria (P&C).
Vice Speaker of the Senate Ryker Markus argued that the funding should come from the Student Government’s events account, as it did for the ISU Car Club, rather than the discretionary account, so as to waive this requirement.
“Since the events account is not bound by the P&C, it is up to the Senate to decide what they do and do not want to fund out of the event,” Markus said. “I am not in favor of setting that precedent and then immediately turning around on the next club and turning back on what we just did for a different club.”
While the organization was not granted money for food, the Senate did approve $1,060 in funding for advertising and event supplies.
StuGov also approved a debt contract with the Gymnastics Club.
New bills introduced
StuGov conducted a first reading of an Encouraging & Rewarding External Committee Participation bill, which would reward Student Government members with outreach credits for serving on an external committee.
Senators conducted a first reading of a $600 funding bill for the Pre-Occupational Therapy club month meetings, followed by a first reading of a $11,000 funding bill for men’s Lacrosse Club safety gear.
StuGov conducted a first reading of a bill adding a Director of First-Year Experience position in the bylaws. This position would connect StuGov with the First-Year Council and promote resources to first-year students.
Senators conducted a first reading of a debt contract with the Nepalese Student Association. The Senate had a first reading of a debt contract with the Nepalese Student Association after the group fell into debt.