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The following events took place at the Dec. 10 meeting of the General Student Senate:
* The Woodsmen Team received $1,700 to allow the team to compete in a Woodsmen Competition Feb. 8 in Truro, Nova Scotia at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Funding will pay for the cost of chartering a bus.
* The American Society of Civil Engineers received $1,152 for the AISC/ASCE Steel Bridge Competition Feb. 22, 2003 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The funding will cover the costs of equipment and materials, food and lodging.
* Alpha Phi Omega received $1,000 to bring comedian Daniel Tosh to UMaine Feb. 7, 2003. The event will be open to the public.
* The Senate allocated $1,000 to the Pension Plan Administration to pay for the cost of having the TIAA-CREF pension plans maintained through a public accountant. Loiselle, Goodwin and Hinds will be contracted for the task.
* The Senate allocated $885.83 to the High Angle Rescue Team for new equipment, such as reflective vests, a wilderness medical field guide and EMT medical supplies.
* The Senate gave Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Society $750 for the Annual Military Ball in February. Funding will pay for a portion of food, invitations and accommodations for a guest speaker. Scabbard and Blade President April Chase expects up to 125 people to attend the event.
* The Student Women’s Association received $600 to purchase a new computer. The organization has functioned without an adequate computer for years. GSS also gave SWA $136 for the Vagina Monologues production Feb. 11-13, 2003. The funding will pay for ribbon supplies, videotapes and portions of the hall rental, sound and a backstage crew and house manager.
* The Senate allocated $500 to Gamma Sigma Sigma to attend the National Association of Campus Activities National Conference. The money will be used to cover airfare and some of the accommodation costs.
* The Fair Election Practices Committee received $434.05 to pay for catering and room rental at the Student Government Inauguration ceremony Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. A portion of the funding will be used for a performance by the Maine Steiners.
* The Maine Peace Action Committee received $400 to pay for printing costs for their newsletter.
* The Off-Campus Board received $300 to pay for the cost of providing food to students in the commuter lounge as part of the Stress-Free Finals campaign.
* Senior Skulls received $200 for their regular office budget.
* The Senate voted 15-0-1 to authorize the UMaine Student Government president, vice president and vice president of financial affairs to purchase the Student Government office furniture. According to the resolution, no more than $15,000 will be spent, and the furniture must be purchased between Dec. 13 and Jan. 21, 2003. The allotment will allow the officers to purchase furniture through the University of Maine, giving them a 32 percent discount. Estimates, delivery and installation will be provided free of charge.
* The Senate passed an act to shorten the probationary period for clubs from six months to 15 weeks, or one semester. This is the time period between when a club is granted preliminary approval and when it is granted final approval.
* Sen. Danielle Rioux was sworn in as a new senator for the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture.
* The Senate approved Keith Biddle as the vice president for student entertainment, Parliamentarian Kyle Cyr as the new vice president for financial affairs, Sen. Justin Brown as the chair of the governmental procedures committee and Secretary Melissa Curtis as the new treasurer.
* GSS nominated Sens. Jonathan Susee and Danielle Rioux to the ad-hoc committee on clubs. Sen. Scott Reynolds was nominated as the new chair for the ad-hoc committee on clubs, as Sen. Rodrigue will vacate the position to step up to the duties of president of Student Government.
* The Senate approved the revised bylaws of the National Student Language Hearing Association. The organization includes about 20 members.
* The Student Portfolio Investment Fund of University of Maine Foundation received preliminary constitution approval. The organization has been active for nine years but previously went unrecognized by Student Government. The group provides real-life experience in finance and dealing with the stock market and bonds. An average of 30 members attend each meeting, and the group is preparing a presentation for a national conference in March.
* Mitchell Scholars received preliminary bylaws approval. The proposed service group plans to perform community service projects in the area and throughout the state. Members are Mitchell Scholarship recipients.
* Guest speaker Ted Curtis of Legal Services addressed the group about the current activities of Legal Services. He said they have dealt with a large number of relatively minor criminal problems, as well as issues concerning landlord/tenant relations. Legal Services is in its new office in Memorial Union but still needs furniture and its sign hung up.
* President Pearce Paul Creasman reported that he has been informed that Student Government might be targeted for a budget cut in the coming year. This was Creasman’s last meeting as Student Government president.
* Vice President Matthew O. Gagnon reported that VPFA Cyr, Sen. Rodrigue and himself plan to revise the financial policies of Student Government during Winter Break, particularly in preparation for the student leader conference at Texas A&M next semester.
* Fair Election Practices Commissioner Erik Black reported that the results of the Dec. 2 Student Government elections were certified Thursday, Dec. 5. No one contested the election. Rodrigue and Gagnon will be inaugurated as the new president and vice president of Student Government Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Mahogany Room of Wells Commons.
* Off-Campus Board President Timothy Pike reported that the new Off-Campus Council Secretary is Andrea Saunders. OCB Vice President Colin Grady encouraged off-campus residents to become involved with the Off-Campus Council.
* Residents on Campus President Aaron Sterling said ROC allocated $1,500 to allow Vice President of Programming Erin Smith to attend the National Association for Campus Activities conference in Nashville, Tenn. at the end of February.
The General Student Senate meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the FFA Room of Memorial Union.
