Student Government approves funding request, discusses professionalism

Cody+Woodruff%2C+Student+Government+speaker%2C+addresses+his+fellow+student+government+members+during+their+meeting+on+Oct.+24+in+the+Campanile+room+of+the+Memorial+Union.+The+meeting+centered+on+funding+for+Latinx+Initiatives%2C+Rodeo+Club%2C+seating+at-large+members+to+the+finance+committee+and+confirming+members+to+the+election+commission.

Katlyn Campbell/Iowa State Daily

Cody Woodruff, Student Government speaker, addresses his fellow student government members during their meeting on Oct. 24 in the Campanile room of the Memorial Union. The meeting centered on funding for Latinx Initiatives, Rodeo Club, seating at-large members to the finance committee and confirming members to the election commission.

Madelyn Ostendorf

The Student Government approved funding for the Latinx Student Initiative’s “Love Never Dies” event, aimed at celebrating Dia de los Muertos.

The free event, held in conjunction with Impacto Latino, the Lambda Theta Alpha sorority and the Lambda Theta Phi fraternity, will be held on Nov. 3 to bring cultural awareness to the Latinx community.

The funds would be used to decrease the cost of the traditional Latino food served at the event and the cost of advertising the event.The Latinx Student Initiative asked for $917.

“The purpose of this event is to bringing cultural awareness and bringing the Ames and Iowa State communities together,” said Gaby Hernandez, a representative from the Latinx Initiative.

The funding bill was approved with a vote of 31-0-0.

The program for the evening was an inclusion and professionalism discussion led by Speaker Cody Woodruff, Sen. Katelyn Noah, Sen. Courtney Beringer, President Julian Neeley, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Lilian Juma. They spoke about professional dress expectations and how to best represent the student body.

Lucy Dougherty, a junior in economics and political science, Michael Ellis, a senior in finance and business economics, Michael Hiraldo-Santana, a senior in mechanical engineering and Mandar-Uday Mahajan, a graduate student in finance and information systems, were approved as at-large members to the Finance Committee. They were received with unanimous consent.

Mathew Keyes, a sophomore in political science, Hans Mueller, a sophomore in industrial engineering, and Ross Opie, a freshman in finance, were confirmed to the Election Commission. They were approved with a vote of 31-0-0.

Rachel Oringer and Amit Mahapatra were also seated to the University Affairs Committee. They were accepted by way of unanimous consent.

The Senate voted to fix a contradictory finance bylaw to streamline the funding of clubs and organizations. The extra clause made funding from the Events account ineffective, and made it more efficient for student organizations be funded through the Student Discretionary fund.

“I think it was be very beneficial to student government and the student body to take that clause out and open up funding from this account again,” said finance director Seth Carter.

The bill was approved with a vote of 26-1-2.

The Senate also voted on a bill to allow the Civic Engagement Vice Chair to succeed the Chair. When the bylaws for the Civic Engagement committee were written, this allowance was overlooked.

The bill was approved with a vote of 27-0-2.

Speaker Woodriff introduced a bill regarding replenishing the Senate Discretionary account. The Senate has depleted, and this bill requests a transfer of $20,000 from the Special Projects account to the Senate Discretionary account.

The bill was approved with a vote of 29-0-0.

The Rodeo Club requested $600.49 in funding for their competition in Sisseton, South Dakota, on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. The funds would help pay for an additional university vehicle to bring the participants to and from the event.

The bill was approved with a vote of 29-0-0.

For new business on the agenda, there is a new funding requests from Project Jamaica.

Project Jamaica, a student organization who chooses 22 non-members to attend a service trip to Jamaica during spring break, is asking for $3,300 assist in funding the trip. The funds would go towards the students’ airfare, lodging, food and supplies during spring break.

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