Senate paces to overflow
Jacob W. Brower

Associate Editor

 

The Student Senate is on pace to have a budget surplus this semester, treasurer Andrew McGowan announced Oct. 16.

The Senate has allocated $5,200 of its $17,000 budget during the first four weeks of this semester, with the average allocation being $742 per organization. The Senate currently has $11,800 left and is on pace to have a $4,000 overflow going into the Spring 2003 semester.

Many Senate officers contribute this pace to McGowan s controversial policy of not allocating more than $100 per student, not to exceed $1,000 per organization. In the past, a $1,000 cap was placed on all organization allocations, regardless of the number of students participating.

Zack Odem, president, said he is pleased with the Senate s monetary situation this year.

 I m happy with how the money s being handled this semester,  said Odem, who served as treasurer last year.  It s always good to have some carryover going into the spring semester, because that s when we get hit the hardest. That s when people come at us with requests for both spring and summer trips. 

The Senate is traditionally given an additional $8,000 for Spring semester allocations.

Odem, however, urged the figures not be taken literally.

 As far as saying we ll last 10 weeks, I don t think we can guarantee that,  he said.  I could get three allocation requests for important trips in my mailbox tomorrow - that could be another $3,000 right there. 

In other business, the Senate appointed Rachel VonCanon, junior medical major, and Edward Browning, senior education major, to the fill vacant Senate seats.

The Senate meets at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the House of Lords Room on the third floor Billingsly Student Center.