The Student Government Association held its first meeting with the official 2011 - 2012 senators and chairs on Monday, holding budget appeals for several University organizations and discussing projects for next year.
Six organizations individually gave five minute presentations to appeal the April 13 budget allocations made by the Finance Committee for next year
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"You can't put a price tag on an organization that does great work," Student Life Chair Joe Donato said.
Only five tier four organizations are allocated the $3,000 tier four budget each year. The finance committee chose the tier four organizations for 2011 – 2012 as the Slavic Club, Alpha Phi Omega, Adelante, the Black Student Union and the Graduate Diplomacy Council.
According to Mark Buryk, SGA treasurer, tier four status is achieved by a successful proposal and summary of the individual organization's plans presented to the finance committee in a binder by interested organizations each year. He also said great binders reflect promising organizations that deserve the highest budget.
Several organizations appealed their tier downgrade such as the Martin Luther King Students Association, the Seton Hall Gospel Choir and the Mock Trial Club.
The Martin Luther King Students Association was voted down to tier two by the Finance Committee. An appeal was made by representatives to be allocated more than the $500 tier two budget. Representatives from the Seton Hall Gospel Choir also made an appeal to achieve tier four status again next year after being moved to tier three and given up to a $1,000 budget by the Finance Committee. Also, Mock Trial Club representatives appealed the decision of the Finance Committee to put the club at tier three status and requested an upgrade to tier four.
All three appeals were denied.
The Criminal Justice Association and The Hellenic Society appealed their proposed lack of budget for next year. They were allocated $250 and $300 respectively.
The Sports Management Student Association, a tier three organization, also appealed their proposed lack of budget after receiving $600 this past year and was allocated $700.
The possible $50 student activities fee, if approved in August, will increase the SGA budget and make Habitat for Humanity the sixth tier four organization, according to Buryk, who is also petitioning for a seventh tier four position.
According to the finance report, the budget for this year has been completely emptied, after allocating $400 to the BSU, $800 to Adelante, $450 to the Asian Studies Student Association, $195 to the Theatre Council and $500 to the Equal Opportunity Program Students Organization.
Donato said there will be a Student Life information table in the University Center on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Student Life will also be making a YouTube channel in addition to revising their Facebook page.
The academic report stated a student satisfaction survey about Walsh Library will be going out via email on April 25. It will be open for two weeks.
Charlotte Lewis can be reached at charlotte.lewis@student.shu.edu.
