The Student Senate approved two bills last Wednesday to putreferendums on the Student Government fall election ballot.
The first resolution asks students to consider a $1 fee increaseper semester to fund SG’s Newspaper Initiative.
Allen Richey, former SG president started the NewspaperInitiative program last year. It provides 855 national newspapers– 530 New York Times and 325 Wall Street Journals — at multiplecampus locations Monday through Friday.
Chris Odinet, UCFY Sen. and a co-author of the resolution, saidcurrently, the funding for the Newspaper Initiative comes from aCoca-Cola Company grant. But Odinet said at any time Coca-Colacould pull the funding or the University could re-direct it toanother program.
Jennifer Bishop, an assistant director of the Center of StudentLeadership and Involvement said Risa Palm, executivevice-chancellor and provost has the ultimate control of theCoca-Cola grant money, but this year delegated the authority toBrad Golson, SG president.
However, she said that may not happen every year.
Odinet said the bill is to ensure that the Newspaper Initiativenever is underfunded.
Odinet also said the extra funding coming from the increase maybe able to go toward providing more newspapers and providing themat more locations.
The resolution passed with a vote 23 to 5.
The second referendum students will see on the fall ballot isfor a $2.50 fee increase to help enhance campus concerts.
“Basically, campus concerts have sucked,” Erin Englert, anenvironmental engineering senior and resolution co-author senatorsaid. “Well not sucked, but people have complained. This fee willhelp us get better people to come out and play.”
The fee will go toward the Student Government Programming,Support and Initiatives fee listed under Student Recommended Feeson the ballot.
Students currently pay $3 for the fee.
The bill passed unanimously without debate.
SG fall elections will be held on Oct. 27.