SGA reached a quorum this week due to improved attendance from SGA members, granting a total of $6,575 to three on campus groups. Campus Ministries received the bulk of the contingency money after being granted the $6,365 they asked for at the previous week’s meeting.
Campus Ministries will use the money for its Appalachia service trip.
Senator Darien Marion-Burton was one of the many senators in support of granting the contingency.
“They are well prepared,” Marion-Burton said during the debate to grant the contingency. “They’ve done fundraisers and the students have taken the initiative.”
The contingency passed in a 27-0 vote.
The Ski and Snowboard Club received more debate on its contingency, and the senators voted to receive more time to debate. Though there was a proposal to give them $1, the Ski and Snowboard Club received $25 in a 32-0 vote.
The $25 was granted because if the Ski and Snowboard Club wasn’t given any contingency funds, they would not be able to come back with a budget for this year.
“I like the idea of the group, but felt they lacked planning,” said senator Chris Saladin.
President Richie Benson was also in support of giving the Ski and Snowboard Club contingency funds.
“I was going to give them something to help spread awareness of their group,” Benson said. “They are just starting out and deserve the chance.”
Commuter Club was granted its contingency funds of $183 in a 32-0 vote.
SGA has $3,960 left in its budget for the remainder of the year. When asked about the remaining funds, Benson said, “We shouldn’t have too many clubs left. Spring term is mostly budgets and we can play around with the rest of the remaining contingency funds for smaller groups.”
At the end of the year, the remaining contingency money exhausts, meaning it won’t pass on to next year.
After breaking down into committee, Marion-Burton brought up the article in last week’s Observer issue, “Putting Pledging into Perspective” to SGA’s attention.
In an interview, Marion-Burton said the article was “really one-sided and an absurd defamation of Greek life here at Augustana.”