Student Government passed its annual allocations for fiscal year 2025 amounting to $1.3 million unanimously during its meeting Wednesday.
Minor changes were made between the first and second readings of the bill though it was largely passed as recommended by the Finance Committee.
“The only change that we had to make was just moving around the student activity fee reserve. So that is a state law it has to be 6% of what our estimated student activity fee is going to be. So this, again, number is a projection, but for the most part, we believe it’s gonna be accurate and it’s gonna be relatively close,” Martin Hursh, Student Government finance director and a sophomore in economics, said.
The annual allocations bill is one of the primary functions of Student Government and is funded through the student activity fee. Organizations receiving funding meet with the Finance Committee to review a proposed budget. The Finance Committee then has the opportunity to amend each proposed budget before making a recommendation on allocations to the Senate.
The expenditures were:
- Student Union Board: $261,257
- AfterDark: $143,900
- Student Government: $136,334
- Student Alumni Leadership Council: $134,795
- Performing Arts Councils: $74,000
- Dance Marathon: $56,773
- KURE: $53,538
- GSB/ITC Media Equipment: $49,855
- Theatre: $49,566
- WinterFest: $43,750
- Hockey Club (Men): $24,378
- SAE International Student Chapter: $19,069
- Student Legal Services: $17,181
- Equestrian Western: $16,926
- Lacrosse Club (Men): $15,786
- Skydivers: $12,390
- Focus: Artist Grant: $10,959
- Hockey Club (Women): $10,944
- Ultimate Frisbee Club (Men): $10,156
- Solar Car: $9,670
- Martial Arts Club: $8,912
- Volleyball Club (Men): $7,829
- Hindu Yuva: $7,719
- Golf: $6,932
- Running Club: $6,893
- Mountaineering and Climbing Club: $6,290
- Sketch: $6,000
- Bowling Club: $5,744
- Equestrian Hunt: $5,583
- Rodeo Club: $5,181
- Election Commission: $5,156
- Triathlon Club: $5,068
- Tennis Club: $4,966
- Soccer Club (Men): $4,720
- YWCA: $4,666
- West Coast Swing Dance Club: $4,630
- Boxing Club: $4,277
- Ultimate Frisbee Club (Women): $4,090
- Soccer Club (Women): $3,967
- Nepalese Student Association: $3,936
- Rugby Club (Women): $3,743
- Baseball Club: $3,727
- Swim Club: $3,250
- Disc Golf Club: $3,019
- TREND magazine: $3,000
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers: $2,811
- Cricket Club: $2,743
- Cardinal Swing Society: $2,622
- Ames Student Association for Malaysians: $2,616
- Vietnamese Student Association: $2,525
- Badminton Club: $2,439
- PAS Student Chapter: $2,095
- Industrial Tech Club: $1,994
- Rugby Club (Men): $1,772
- Block and Bridle: $1,681
- Basketball Club: $1,676
- Bridges International: $1,591
- Iowa Student Chapter on Family Relations: $1,574
- University Print Society: $1,568
- Campus Service Council: $1,356
- Earthquake Engineering Research Institute: $1,337
- Students Helping Our Peers: $1,131
- Volleyball Club (Women): $965
- First-Year Council: $905
- Water Polo Club: $605
- Pakistani Student Association: $548
- Gymnastics Club: $521
- Fishing Club: $200
- Archery Club: $75
- Bhangra Dance Association: $52
Resolution to censure several cabinet members
Student Government heard the first reading of a resolution to censure President Jennifer Holliday, Vice President Quinn Margrett, former Chief of Staff Stacia Drey and Ames City Council Liaison and Ex-Officio Jeffery Clark after a joint Senate and Ames City Council meeting, which was planned to take place prior to the Senate meeting Wednesday, was canceled.
A resolution was brought forth on first reading to the Senate on Wednesday addressing the possible lack of communication between Student Government cabinet members and the council leading up to the proposed semesterly joint meeting.
“I was in contact with [Clark] yesterday and today. I was told that the reason he is not here tonight is because he was sick. That is what I was given,” Margrett said.
While the Rules Committee proposed the resolution, Sen. Sydney Jones, a sophomore in cybersecurity engineering, proposed to table the bill indefinitely.
“When Jeff Clark accepted his position he understood the expectations and roles outlined for him. Each Cabinet member is held personally accountable for fulfilling their duties and unfortunately, Jeff Clark has not met these expectations,” Jones said.
Jones, who ran as Holliday’s running mate for Student Government president, also said that Holliday, Margrett and Drey should not be punished for Clark’s actions when they took all the necessary steps to stay in contact with the ex-officio.
Her motion to table the bill indefinitely failed on a vote of 3-14-4.
The vote to waive the first reading also failed 1-20-1 after addressing the lack of time senators had to prepare for responding to the resolution. If passed, the motion would have allowed full passage of the bill Wednesday.
“That is why we have a first read, so that way we can get an initial impression, and people can have a week to gather their thoughts,” Sen. Alexandra Momaney, a junior in global resource systems, said.
The failed motion to waive the first reading means the bill was not voted on and will be revisited next week.
GPSS, StuGov articles of cooperation
Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) Vice President Eddie Mahoney, a graduate student in computer science, spoke to the Senate about a bill instating the revised articles of cooperation between the Student Government and GPSS.
“The articles of cooperation is the governing document that dictates the relationship between the Graduate Professional Students Senate and Student Government,” Mahoney said.
A new article of cooperation, which has existed in some form since the founding of GPSS in the 1970s, was written after Mahoney realized that the Senate and GPSS had differing forms of the document.
A new copy was created, largely by Mahoney, and includes new changes to the six articles within the cooperation. The new articles passed unanimously.
Additional orders of business
Additionally, funding was approved 20-0-1 to create a cement walkway around the flagpole on the main campus and a bench to aid in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ (ROTC) responsibility of putting up and taking down the flag every weekday and other special ceremonies.
“We can’t do [proper military movements] on the grass because the ROTC doesn’t want to be responsible for basically like destructing Iowa State property,” Sen. Rebecka Larson, a senior in agricultural and rural policy studies and former ROTC member, said.
The Senate also approved funding to the Indian Student Association 17-0-2, with two senators voting absent because they were not removed from the roll, for Holi celebration and other club activities.
The Senate also unanimously agreed to cap Senate programs to 30 minutes.
