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In the latest session of the General Student Senate a resolution was passed to have a student barbeque at homecoming.
Of the resolutions on the agenda, none was more contested than the student barbeque on homecoming weekend, slated for Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. This event is scheduled to be hosted by the student senate as a way of allowing the student body to meet and socialize with those who represent them. President William Pomerleau debated that this event would give the student senate the opportunity to meet other students and said the $3,000 cost was a “pittance.”
“We could grill ourselves but that means we can’t go talk to students,” Pomerleau said, “By hiring a catering service . we can give them food, celebrate homecoming and see what’s up.”
Senator Sean Rankin opposed the resolution and cited prior fiscal issues as well future expenditures as his argument.
“We’re spending a lot of money and we’re feeling at ease because we have a lot of money to spend but it is really about being responsible,” Rankin, a third-year financial economics major, said.
“This current idea is a great idea,” he adds, “but student senators should be out there at homecoming talking to students and mingling because it’s our job.”
Vice President Steven Moran also spoke on behalf of the proposed tailgate party saying he wants the student senators to get their faces out there. In addition, Vice President of Student Affairs Anh Do stated that this did not have to be a financial decision.
The evening began with special guest speaker Bobby Tucker, former Texas A&M student government advisor and founder of Conference of Student Government Associations (COSGA). Tucker started by talking about how he got involved with leadership at a young age, using his experience to travel and meet not only new people but new challenges as well.
Tucker’s message was brief but succinct: “Don’t let anybody steal your dreams.” His speech told of his countless adventures and obstacles in life and included allusions to Sept. 11, 2001 and the bonfire tragedy at Texas A&M in Nov. 1999. While the speech touched on motivating oneself to lead and help others, Tucker spoke of bonding the community and encouraged the senators to be leaders on and off campus.
President Pomerleau provided updates on the “Greek Grant Program” which passed in last week’s senate, after much debate. The program is the biggest financial undertaking so far in the GSS, allocating $15,000 for external improvements on and off campus. In his weekly report, Pomerleau said that applications for the grant money were sent out yesterday. He also appointed Peter Kelley as Director of the Greek Grant Program; the two will oversee the project so as to avoid misuse of funds.
In addition to the resolution for the homecoming tailgate barbeque passing, a resolution to allocate $1,500 to the Roller Hockey Club’s “B-team” for its season passed unanimously, as well as a resolution to allot $2,000 to purchase SA link, which is an online database allowing for easier communication between student government and other student organizations. The student senate also disbursed $200 to College Republicans, $200 to NSSLHA, $425 to the Dressage club, $140 to Sophomore Owls for paintball fees, $440 to Sophomore Owls for haunted house and $582.47 to Maine Outing Club
In the session Andrew Johnson, interim chair of the Fair Elections Practices Commission, stated that in a vote on Sept. 13 a resolution passed giving the president of GSS the power to veto. This is not an absolute power as the senate has the power to cancel the veto with a two-thirds vote.
President Pomerleau appointed two senators, James Lyons and Ashley Wozneak, for the cabinet, both of whom were inducted at the session.
Also included in the session was the final approval of the Robotics club, which is currently building a robotic device to be used for entertainment at home hockey games.
After all allocations and resolutions came to pass, the budget was at $49,842.93. This will change however because the senate will be receiving the Student Activity Fee check for $300,000 today.
