Student Government will have $109,672 to dip into for the 2008-2009 academic school year. The Student Senate unanimously passed the operational budget written by SG President Colorado Robertson during the Senate’s final meeting of the semester. Student fees will foot the bill for the budget – $0.95 for students enrolled in summer courses and $2.20 for full-time fall and spring students. The figures are based on the projected full-time enrollment, with summer enrollment expected to reach 6,000 and fall and spring at less than 25,000 students. Robertson’s salary totals $2,000, and the programming budget for student programs is set at $7,500. One expense raised eyebrows during the budget’s review. The allowed funding pool for estimated telephone services is set at $4,800. Sen. Andy Palermo, University College Advising Center, was one of three senators who introduced the budget on the floor and said the money will finance the phone lines in the SG executive offices. Palermo said though it is a substantial amount of money, former SG President Cassie Alsfeld spent an estimated $6,600 on telephone services during her tenure. But the main point of business Wednesday was approving all 72 of Robertson’s recommended executive staff and University committee representatives, which all received approval. Robertson appointed one of his former opponents – Taylor Craft – to serve on the Student Fee Oversight Committee. Craft, history sophomore, ran on the “Do Nothing” ticket during the SG elections this past month and will oversee SG funds and all recommended fees as a committee representative. Though senators questioned several appointees before passing approval, Robertson’s choice to have Laura Boggs serve as executive director sparked debate during Tuesday’s committee meetings and stretched into Wednesday’s formal session. The Senate approved the appointment but with several abstentions. “We believe Laura has perfectly good leadership skills and is in a position to manage the office,” Robertson said. Speaker Pro Tem Drew Prestridge said Boggs is someone SG definitely needs, but he said senators questioned during committee meetings whether she would be more suited for another position. “I am very confident I can be involved with everything at once,” Boggs said after listing nearly every organization she has contributed to since elementary school. Several senators had reservations about whether Boggs, secondary education sophomore, could contribute to the governing process on the University level, despite her experience on the high school level. Boggs is only one of several new faces in SG, but some familiar faces remain. Former SG Vice President Josh King will serve on the Traditions Council. Jeffrey Noel, former SG director of campus development, will serve as the new SG elections commissioner. Noel attempted to file expenditure complaints against Robertson to disqualify him from serving as the new student leader. The Student Required Fee Committee will see three new faces next year – Sen. Brett Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences; John Voltz, civil engineering sophomore; and a third student yet to be determined. But Jackson said Robertson refuses to call a SRF Committee meeting until drastic changes are made. The Senate adjourned before voting for all University committee positions and will not determine who fills the positions until the fall.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]