On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the General Student Senate (GSS) met to discuss various funding requests and finish the voting process for the remaining official positions.
The meeting began with the appointment of first-year Meredith Mitchell as a new student senator.
Following the appointment, several student organizations appeared before the senate for preliminary recognition as university clubs.
The Physical Education student organization, the Marine Science Club and the women’s fitness club (CHAARG) all appeared for preliminary recognition and were passed unanimously.
The next points of discussion were the executive reports, beginning with fourth-year GSS President Alyssa Ciasullo. Student Life is looking for donations of menstrual products.
Ciasullo also announced that the position of Vice President of Financial Affairs has finally been filled. Page Allen, who now holds the position, previously served as a student senator and student legal services liaison.
“My goals for VPA this year are to clean up financial policies and make them more accurate to what we can fund, make the financial policies more accessible to groups so they know before requesting funding what we can do and working with VP Lewis to explain funding to newly recognized groups,” Allen said.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Allen at paige.allen@maine.edu.
The VP of Student Entertainment Owen Hebda reported that there would be another block party next week featuring local bands like Midnight Breakfast and Gnocchi, who will play at the IMRC. Updates and advertising for the event will be posted around campus. Any questions can be directed to Hebda at owen.hebda@maine.edu.
The VP of Student Leadership Michael Delorge spoke briefly about his new goal of getting students’ emergency information on the back of their MaineCards, as well as the goal of collaborating with some of the outdoor clubs on campus in the future.
Senate advisor Lauri Sidelko reported that the University of Maine’s President Joan Ferrini-Mundy will have a meet and greet on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. in the Memorial Union.
The Commuter and Nontraditional Students representative reported that there is a pancake breakfast taking place on Nov. 17 in the Commuters Lounge.
The Honors College representative third-year Kate Kemper reported that the fall formal will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, in Estabrooke Hall from 6 to 9 p.m. and is open to all UMaine students.
Following the executive reports, the senate moved on to budgetary issues.
The senate approved an act to allocate $2,815 to Black Bear Beekeeping for colony management and their winter bee yard.
The senate also passed an act to allocate funds to the Maine Outing Club in the amount of $4,200 for a wilderness training course in January for their 21 members.
The senate considered a final act to allocate funds to the Interfraternity Council (IFC) in the amount of $2,930 for a party tent and food for their event, Greek Winter Monster Mash, on Oct. 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. on the University Mall. This act was originally for the amount of $3,930, but the senate amended the act to reduce the total by $1,000. The student senate passed the act.
The last order of business for the senate was to finalize voting for representative positions within the senate. The results from the election are as follows:
The Orono Town Council Liaison: Senator Joshua Bohm
Multicultural Affairs Advisory Committee: Senator Cameron Nelson
Executive Budgetary Committee: Senators Cameron Nelson, Jacob Chaplin, Keegan Tripp and Claire Nowak
