Student Government approved the annual allocation recommendations for the Student Government accounts and the allocations for student organizations at their Wednesday meeting.

Vice Chair of Finance Committee Anne Miller introduced the annual allocations recommendations for the 2020 fiscal year. Student Government utilizes student fees and allocates them to the Iowa State student organizations and student services.

After the budgets were preliminarily approved by the Finance Committee, $1.7 million is recommended to be allocated among organizations.

The budget of Student Government was pulled for review by the Finance Committee to adjust the executive members’ scholarships amount, and the Student Union Board’s budget was pulled for possible adjustment to the requested amount for events.

Senate recessed as Finance Committee met to make the appropriate adjustments, and reconvened to vote on the updated budgets. Student Government’s budget, Student Activities Center’s budget and the Student Union Board’s budget were approved with a vote of 22-0-0.

The amended allocations recommendations were approved with a vote of 22-0-0.

Miller introduced the account allocations for 2020 fiscal year. Around $2.5 million in anticipated student activities fee revenues will be allocated among the Student Government accounts, $1.7 million of which will serve as the allocated funds for student organizations.

The recommendations were accepted with a vote of 22-0-1.

Sen. Kaitlyn Sanchez also reintroduced her bill “Addressing and Improving Student Government.”

The bill focuses on the effort that Student Government has put into making positive progress and recognizes the progress that still can be made. It also requests a student body-wide survey be sent out for feedback and that those results will be utilized to see what Student Government can continue to improve upon.

There was debate over whether or not the bill served a strong purpose, as it was aimed more at the members of Student Government than the general public and had little concrete action, though it was argued that the bill was well intended.

“I understand saying no makes it look bad, but I don’t want to say yes,” Sen. Ihssan Ait-Boucherbil said.

The bill was postponed indefinitely.

Sen. Ian Steenhoek introduced an order to move the election announcement from Friday at 7 p.m. to Thursday at 6 p.m. so more students are able to see the election results.

There was debate as not all executive slates would be able to attend the Thursday announcement, and the order was not accepted with a vote of 2-21-0.

The Pakistan Student Association requested $349.66 to offset costs of funding their Chai Night and pizza and game night welcome events for new members. The Association is a group that hopes to raise public awareness and promote an understanding of Pakistan, its culture, its heritage and its politics.

The funding request was tabled for two weeks.

Block and Bridle, a student led organization that aims to provide industry knowledge and experience to students interested in pursuing the various phases of Animal Science, requested $4,088 to decrease expenses for an event, Animal Learning Day. Animal Learning Day is open to all ISU students and members of the Ames community on April 6.

The funding request was accepted with a vote of 22-0-0.

Sen. Wyatt Scheu introduced a proclamation to thank President Wendy Wintersteen for her assistance in the Women in Stem Initiative (WISI). Wintersteen gave a speech on March 4 about her journey as a woman in STEM.

“Iowa State Student Government thanks Wendy Wintersteen not only for her work as a woman in the STEM fields, but also for her unwavering support of the student body,” according to the proclamation.

The proclamation was approved with unanimous consent.

For more information or to contact your senator, visit stugov.iastate.edu. The senate meetings are open to the public at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.