The Student Government Association still has 78 percent of its budget left on its books, which if left unspent, could result in a cut in its funding for the next session.
The Student Life Committee, which decides the budgets for student groups every year, has cut the SGA budget before because of money left over in its accounts.
The campus fiscal year ends in June. This gives the SGA approximately four months to spend the rest of their 2008-2009 budget.
“We still have a lot of money left in our budget,” James Bonsall, treasurer, said.
Some of the officers aren’t taking pay right now because they haven’t filled out the paperwork with IU Southeast to receive their salaries.
Bonsall said all officers need to collect their salaries even if they don’t want the money. Bonsall said the next person to hold an officer’s position might take the salary and SGA did not need to suffer another cut from the SLC.
Flo Gonya SGA, president, said funds for upcoming events were not reflected in his totals.
Gonya also said SGA had been conservative on their spending this year due to having received four budget cuts.
“We need to buy supplies this year for next year’s SGA,” Gonya said, “because they may receive even larger budget cuts next year.”
Gonya said they should increase their budget for hospitality next year. She said they should be able to pay for a hotel room for a night for visiting board of trustee members.
Melissa Lamanna, press secretary, said they should buy t-shirts for all SGA members or jackets if they need to spend more.
Gonya suggested anyone running for an office could request $50 for
campaign materials. However, when asked if someone had to be a senator to request the money she said she had no idea.
“You must have a senator write a bill requesting the money for you,” Jeff Martin, chief justice, said.
Martin also said everyone planning on running for an office, including senate seats, still has to run in the upcoming election.
“If you want to run,” Martin said, “March 5 is the deadline to get your paperwork to me.”
Gonya said she was excited about the election because it was going to be more diverse this year, since this election has a contest for the president’s seat.
This year’s election is the first time in seven years the president’s seat has been contested.
Josh Sesar, SGA vice president, announced he would run for president and Spencer Castile, mathematics sophomore, would be running as his vice president.
James Bonsall, treasurer, is running for president as well, with Amanda Denbo, senate chair, as his vice president.
In student forum Kara Draper, junior, represented a group of students who have contracts to live on campus for the entire year. She said they had concerns as to why they have been asked to move across campus over the summer, then move back to their original residence hall.
Students who live in Grove Lodge have been asked to move across campus to Meadow Lodge. Draper said they didn’t feel it was right because they got to pick their lodge when they signed their contracts and now would have to move for 12 weeks.
Jen Crompton, assistant director of Residence Life and Housing, said if students had concerns they could come to her with them.
Crompton also said Community Adviser positions are open in the residence halls and the deadline for applications has been extended to Friday, Feb. 27.
By LORI RICHIE
Staff Writer
larichie@ius.edu
