By Michael Walsh
As the CCSU Student Government Association plows through club contingency requests, senators have begun to debate whether or not a club should be penalized for submitting late budgets.
Over the last few weeks, SGA has fielded contingency requests from clubs looking to expand on their $500 base budget. Among the clubs have been the dance team, the men’s lacrosse club, the karate club and the veterans student organization.
Not all of the presenting clubs submitted late budgets – some are simply asking for more money to cover costs such as coaching.
“The contingency process is open to all clubs,” SGA President Matt Vekakis explained. “Anyone can come and ask us for more money.”
Clubs are expected to have their budget requests submitted to SGA ahead of time, but rising circumstances like a change in leadership or new club status sometimes leaves club scrambling to submit their requests properly and on time.
“I think we should be consistent,” said Senator Nicholas Alaimo. “They should be penalized for being late. There are rules. There is no incentive for doing it right.”
In the most recent SGA by-laws, there is no discussion of penalties for clubs that have handed their budgets in later than SGA would like them to appear. The by-laws do state that club money is funded on a first-come, first-served basis, but as of now a lack of money is not an issue.
“I don’t think any clubs should receive less money for in late,” said SGA Vice President Christopher Kyle.
Some senators believe that clubs that follow the set guidelines for budgets by turning them in on time deserve more than a club that doesn’t.
“What is the incentive of handing in budgets late? Is it fair?” said Senator Erika Dawson-Head.
An example was made last week when the Veterans Student Organization made a presentation asking for $11,600. After a motion was made for the full amount by Senator Drew Blythe was voted down with 13 yes votes, 18 no votes and four abstentions, a second motion was made to allocate $9,200 to the group in hopes that refreshments and a trip that only applies to veterans of war would be cut, but that language was not put into the motion.
Last week’s SGA meeting also saw the senators putting into motion a plan that would bring copies of the New York Times into the student center and all academic buildings, with the hopes that students will have a better chance of picking up a copy later in the day.
“This is something that is going to benefit all students,” said Dawson-Head.
The motion, which was passed with 18 yes votes against three no votes, would bring eight weeks worth of newspapers to the CCSU campus at a 50 percent off rate of $5250. The plan would be on a trial run, allowing SGA to decide whether to continue the plan or not.
Also of note, the next round of SGA-sponsored “Coffee Talks” were announced by Senator Eric Bergenn, chair of the student life committee. The talks allow students to talk to and meet SGA senators to find out what is going on with SGA, as well as having the opportunity to have their voices directly heard to SGA. The next talk is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. on Vance Lawn.
SGA meets every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in Bellin Gallery.
UPDATED CORRECTION: Confusing surrounding the scholarship committee’s budget has been resolved. While the committee initially believed it was receiving an increase of $29,500, it will only be receiving an increase of $9,500, leaving the total budget, for now, at $29,500. This was resolved at Tuesday’s scholarship committee meeting.