James Bonner, a former University of Maine student, returned to the General Student Senate on Feb. 9 to remind the senators of Black History Month. Bonner said that Dr. Betty Trout-Kelly, a diversity leader, will be speaking to the crowd at the Black Lives Matter breakfast in the Wells Conference Center on Feb. 20.
“You folks are very influential on this campus and people look up to you so I hope that you can help to spread the message,” Bonner said.
Club Maintenance
The Yoga Club formally changed its name to The Acro Yoga Club to better represent their operations.
Club Presentations
The International Affairs Association (IAA) addressed the Student Government by thanking them for helping fund their recent trip to McGill University’s Model United Nations Conference. Each January, the IAA travels to the conference to debate against and work with other universities in search of potential solutions to global issues.
At this year’s conference, the IAA sponsored 34 draft resolutions, all of which were passed. In addition, one of the delegates from IAA won Best Delegate at the conference.
Periodic Reports
Senator Connor Scott returned with new information from the Board of Trustees meeting. The decaying infrastructure on the Orono campus in the UMS system is a growing concern. Scott discussed the “need for modernization of the system.” It was mentioned that there were efforts last year to work on the campus infrastructure, but there is still more needed to be done. The approximated cost for these efforts in Orono is $160 million.
Director of Communications Mallory Nightingale discussed new ideas to advertise on behalf of the Student Government. One of the main focuses is to recruit a new class of senators.
Currently, students must be at least a second-semester freshman to become a senator. The Student Government is exploring the option of allowing membership to include any full-time student at UMaine.
The resolution will be discussed at the next meeting on Feb. 16.
Community Association Reports
The Wilde-Stein Club returned to the General Student Senate to readdress their request for funding for the drag show in April. Previously, the club inquired the amount of $1,250, and have now reduced it to $500.
The Wilde-Stein Club argued that if it did not receive funding from the Student Government, the show could not go on. The club promotes the lifestyle and culture of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community and have expressed that the drag show, typically the largest Pride Week event, is an annual tradition.
After much debate, the Student Government agreed on an amount of $1,800 with a stipulation of $800 to be returned to the Student Government from the office budget of the Wilde-Stein Club.
Relieved after a long fight for funding, president of the Wilde-Stein Club Amy Schmitt said that “We didn’t plan for this funding problem to happen.”
New Business
Nightingale discussed the need to increase the Student Government’s brand image, diversity and members. Nightingale said student organizations, tabling and the upcoming website, which is launching soon, will help do this.
The Women’s Club Ice Hockey Team was allocated $177 to pay for their hotel room in an upcoming trip to Vermont — the first time in four years the club is traveling out of state for a game.
