Senate ignores $100 guideline
Jacob W. Brower

Associate Editor

A Student Senate policy set this summer saw its short lifespan end Wednesday night.

The Senate voted 16-12 to allocate $1,000 to the Collegiate Middle Level Association. Only six students are expected to participate in CMLA s four-day educational conference in Portland, Ore.

Andrew McGowan, treasurer, on Sept. 18 announced the finance committee this year will only recommend $100 per student per allocation request, not to exceed $1,000 per group. The finance committee this week recommended a $600 allocation for CMLA, which was averted in favor of the full $1,000 the group originally requested.

John Smith, student senator and sophomore education major, argued in favor of the $1,000 allocation, saying the CMLA members must pay an out-of-pocket average cost of $466-$497.

 I don t know about the rest of you, but I know, personally, coming up with $400 to $600 is not an easy task,  said Smith, a first-year senator.  One thousand dollars isn t even going to help [CMLA] that much, but it s better than $600. 

McGowan argued the $100 per student should be enough per student.

 Each of you [full-time students] pay a $25 activity fee,  he said.  If the Senate allocates $100 for a student, you re already getting back four times what you put in. 

After the decision, the Senate heard a $1,000 allocation request from The World Issues for Study by Educators. The eight-person group is expected to participate in a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., where it will study urban, inner-city schools.

The Senate, however, voted to uphold the finance committee s recommendation of $800, with only one vote against the allocation.

 I m very disappointed in the Senate s decision,  said Janet Parker, WISE representative.  It is very disappointing that the CMLA was allowed $1,000 for six people, and we were allocated less money for more people. Each student is now going to have to pay $445 out-of-pocket.