The Government of the Student Body participated in a quick Wednesday evening senate meeting.

Alyssa Staley, director of ISU Ambassadors and junior in political science, brought before the Senate a proposal to initiate a project to “provide a tax exemption for textbooks available for all students in the state of Iowa” according to an information sheet about the tax exemption plan. The project is still in its preliminary stages, but Staley said she has taken the initiative to get the senate involved in the endeavor.

The university already has a rebate program, but many students do not fill out the form. The new bill will potentially eliminate taxes on textbooks completely.

Although there were no general orders discussed at Wednesday’s meeting, Jonathan Turk, speaker of the senate and junior in political science, noted during closing announcements that next week’s meeting will include a full agenda, featuring bills to finalize apportionment of the 2009-2010 Senate as well as funding four computers for the Frederiksen Court Community Center.

GSB also received an update from Dan Saftig, president and CEO of the Iowa State Foundation. Saftig updated the senate on philanthropy from ISU alumni and said the foundation is responsible for “generating philanthropy at Iowa State.” The ISU Foundation’s main goal is to be the “interface between business and academia” and utilize donations from alumni to “make a good university great,” Saftig said.

There are more than 200,000 ISU alumni, he said.

Saftig told GSB about some of the projects made possible through these funds, such as the renovation of the Great Hall, which took place a few years ago.