The Slippery Rock Student Government Association (SGA) met Monday evening to discuss new financial motions, along with many other business motions.
Vice President of Financial Affairs Kaitlyn Hazelett proposed many financial motions with the finance committee’s recommendation of approval.
“A couple nights prior to [SGA] formal meetings, I have been typing up finance reports for our senate with as much detail as possible. I have been trying to take the best minutes I can during committee so that there isn’t a redundancy of questions repeated over and over so that we can get finance motions to move quickly but also in a fair process,” Hazelett said.
Among various financial motions, SGA approved the Women’s Club Ice Hockey team request of $13,365. They will use these funds for facility rental for practices and games, dues and memberships, transportation to away games, and other supplies such as pucks and water bottles. The Women’s Club Ice Hockey believes that with this funding, they will be able to represent Slippery Rock University (SRU) with sportsmanship and participate in a playoff experience. The rink that the group has requested funding for is not their usual rink, so the organization will most likely be coming back to the Finance Committee for additional funding for their normal rink once construction on it is completed.
SGA also approved the Spanish Club’s request for $200. The club will use these funds to collaborate on an event with the Arabic Club. This event is a trip to the Strip District in Pittsburgh on Nov. 9. The Arabic and Spanish Clubs have already had the funds budgeted for this event but found that they forgot to consider additional funding for food. Students attending the event will be exposed to native speakers that complement their in-class studies of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Both organizations believe that this experience will expose students to diverse cultures, languages, foods and ways of life that are not accessible at SRU. The funds will go toward the price of 40 tickets, bus transportation and food.
The Arabic Club’s request was approved for $6,690.50. These funds will go toward two separate initiatives. The first is to bring Dima Ghawi, a Jordanian American award-winning author, leadership keynote speaker and executive coach, to campus. She will be doing a presentation that describes her time as a leader in Jordan and discuss some topics that she has written about in her book, Shattering Vases. For this initiative, the funds will go directly toward the speaker fees and funds for refreshments at the event. Another initiative is a trip to the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The organization will use the funding for the museum tickets at $8 per person, bus transportation and food for students attending.
SGA approved The Musical Theatre Society’s (MTS) request for $1,354. These funds will go toward the ticket prices to go on a trip to Pittsburgh to see the touring company production of Les Miserables on December 1. Funding will cover the full price for students to attend trip. MTS beliebes that this will allow students to receive exposure to the arts that they might not have had before due to financial inability.
SGA approved the Exercise Science Society’s (ESS) request for $3,000. The funds will allow students to attend the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference (MARC) for the American College of Sports Medicine. The bus request allows for up to 47 members of ESS and other students of SRU to attend. At this event, students will participate in the Fitness Challenge and Quiz Bowl for a chance to compete at the National Conference this summer in San Francisco.
SGA approved the Rock Twirlers’ request of $400. Their first-time funding will go toward purchasing equipment for their organization in order to participate in particular events and practices. It will specifically go toward seven batons, grip tape, decorative tape, one baton bag, and a parade banner. The organization hopes to utilize these equipment items in the homecoming parade and the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade.
SGA approved a request from The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) for $1,422. They will take a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo for a behind the scenes Animal Encounter Tour on Nov. 10. These funds will be used for tickets for 48 students at $14 per student and bus transportation. NSTA wants to use this event to bring more awareness to their organization and wants SRU students to have a fun experience.
SGA approved the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) college chapter at SRU’s request of $3,260.61. They are going to have a brunch event during homecoming weekend for students and alumni. This event will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater. This event is being co-sponsored with the Chosen Generation Gospel Choir. The funding will go directly toward a photo booth, a speaker, a DJ, an alumni entrepreneur display, balloons, streamers, confetti, tablecloths, picture frames and a visual artist.
SGA also held an executive session to discuss bookstore employee salaries.
SGA approved a motion with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) on campus. NAMI on campus will not only spread awareness, but they will work on getting students proper resources on campus by partnering with the Arc.
Budgetary reserves are sitting at $79,500. Capital reserves are sitting at $14,832.97.
In other business, the next town hall meeting will be on Nov. 7 in the Smith Student Center Theater at 5 p.m. This meeting will focus on mental health and self care.
The student life survey deadline is extended until Friday for students to fill out. Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs Khalil Harper encourages students to fill out the survey and have their voices heard. Harper said there are about 510 responses so far.
Kemoni Farmer, the vice president of campus outreach, mentioned that there is going to be a pop-up voter registration drive, in collaboration with NAACP on campus. The drive will be Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Smith Student Center by Starbucks.
President Nicole Dunlop was confirmed by the Pennsylvania senate as a student representative on the board of governors.
SGA’s next formal meeting will be Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater.
