BY CORIE LYNN
Thursday night, the Fort Hays State University Student Government Association held one of their most important meetings of the year.
The SGA is tasked with allocating yearly funding to the University’s student organizations. After weeks of applications from and hearings with these organizations, the student senators of the SGA met to pass the final yearly budget.
Representatives of each student organization that applied for funding were preset. The Accounting Club was the only group unable to attend. Because representatives are required to be present at the meeting for their organization to receive funding, the student senators voted to move the funding from the Accounting Club to the Center for Civic Leadership and the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization.
These two amendments, along with the rationale behind cutting the Gender and Sexuality Alliances’ budget made up the bulk of the discussion on the allocations bill.
The SGA passed the bill with its two amendments, awarding a total of $532,500.00 to student organizations across campus.
During the evening, the executive officers also gave their weekly reports.
President Haley Reiter, in her report, welcomed the student representatives to the meeting.
Reiter informed the group that she met with the Virtual Student Senate to discuss how to better organize for the next administration. She also stated that the Student Emergency Assistance Fund awarded funding to one student.
Other major reports came from Legislative Affairs Director Crystal Rojas, who met with the University Values Committee to discuss campus diversity and inclusion.
Community Relations Director Jayden Siebert attended the Virtual Student Senate with Reiter and spoke on opportunities for virtual students to participate in the Big Event in their own communities.
A few committees also gave reports.
The Legislative and Political Action Committee met to discuss fee reviews, and the Senate Affairs Committee conducted Constitution reviews.
The Allocations Committee chair reminded the student senators to ask questions about the evening’s bill in order to pass the best funding bill possible for the students.
With no discussion for open forum, the student senators moved into new business, during which time five resolutions for the first time. These reviews pertained to the Annual, Biennial, Intramural, Student Engagement, Tiger Deb, and University Activities Board fees.
The student senators also read for the first time a bill proposing a student organization line item change.
With the conclusion of business and no new announcements, the meeting was adjourned.