The Senate will debate a lofty agenda Wednesday evening, with bills that if approved could lead to a broader financial impact for both Iowa State students and Student Government officials. 

One of the items up for discussion includes the possible addition of a referendum on the Student Government ballot asking students if they would like to pursue the idea of a $4 student activity fee increase. 

Currently, all students pay $36.75 for Student Government to then allocate throughout the year. 

On Wednesday, however, the Senate is strictly deciding on whether or not they want the question “would you vote to approve a $4 increase in the student activity fee?” on the ballot. 

Additionally, the Senate will debate a compensation adjustment in relation to four senior Student Government positions: president, vice president, finance director and speaker.

Currently, all positions are paid in scholarships that are equivalent to either the full or half in-state resident undergraduate tuition for that year. 

If approved Wednesday, the bylaw would change to be more inclusive of out-of-state student’s needs by making it so that if an out-of-state student is appointed to one of these positions they will receive a compensation equivalent to their fees either in full or in half. 

“Currently the compensation for chief officers is based on the cost of in-state tuition, and some students feel this unfairly advantages in-state students to run for positions of leadership in Student Government,” the bill reads. 

Regarding external legislation, the Senate will debate the following funding requests:

• Funding $2,850 to ISU Landscape Club to attend a conference in North Carolina;
• Funding $1,500 to the ISU Feral Cat Alliance to support trap, neuter and return clinics and provide food for volunteers;
• Funding $1,265 to the Asian Student Union to attend a conference in Ohio.

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.

This Wednesday, the Senate will have a working meeting in the same room beginning at 6 p.m.