Senate fears budget cuts
Jacob W. Brower

Associate Editor

To date, this year s Student Senate session has been one of the most fiscally conservative in years. However, several senators believe they may have created a monster.

Andrew McGowan, treasurer, said a budget surplus at the end of the academic year would be detrimental. He said he fears the administration may cut the Senate s 2003-2004 budget if money remains in May.

 They are already projecting that the state may hold another 10-15 percent for next year,  he said.  We need to spend what we have. 

There is currently $11,650 left in the Senate treasury, and only two meetings remain this semester. No allocation requests were turned in for consideration at next week s meeting.

The administration traditionally allocates an additional $8,000 to the Senate treasury for the spring semester.

McGowan said he believes campus organizations are not requesting funds because the treasury is usually empty at this juncture of the semester.

Parliamentarian Brad Toler suggested the Senate allocate a portion of its funds to the faculty Christmas ball, which was not held last year due to financial problems.

 I threw [the idea] out there because they re hurting for money,  he said.  I don t know that I would do it more than once, but it s something we could do to say  Thank you. 

 I admit the faculty ball is stretching it, but at least we ll be keeping the money in-house, and it would cause [the administration] to look favorably on us. 

McGowan has said at previous meetings he does not believe student money should be allocated for faculty use.

 I don t have the same opinion as Sen. Toler on the issue,  McGowan said.

The Senate also discussed donating money to charities for Christmas.

Adam Griffin, adviser, urged calm among the senators about the budget.

 Don t hit the panic button yet,  he said.  We re going to get hit hard in the spring. 

Senators also discussed how to handle possible state budget cuts for the coming academic year. They decided to form a committee to draft a resolution urging the new legislature to not levy additional budget cuts to Southern.

Zach Odem, president, named Toler committee chairman.

 MSSC receives less money per full-time student than any other school in the state,  Odem said.  With this opportunity to form a resolution, we as a Senate can do something, not only as a campus, but at the state level as well. 

John Tipton, senator, recommended the Senate present the resolution to all Joplin-area legislators to take with them to Jefferson City. The legislative session reconvenes mid-January.

The Senate meets 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the House of Lords Room on the third floor of Billingsly Student Center. College President Julio L on is scheduled to speak to the Senate and answer questions during the Nov. 13 meeting.