Student Government reviewed its budget of more than $116,000 for the fiscal year at Wednesday’s Senate meeting. SG’s budget, which includes money received from student fees, is used to fund appropriation grants to student groups and organizations. The budget is also used to fund SG’s activities, projects and programs.
DeAndre Beadle, chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, said this year’s budget increased to $116,475.15 because of the University’s increase in enrollment.
“We collect $2.20 every fall and spring semester, and 90 cents over the summer,” he said. “With a higher enrollment, we have a higher budget for the fiscal year.”
Beadle addressed the lack of finance bills written and urged students to look around campus for issues that SG can assist with financially.
“Senator Frias wrote the legislation for the library inspired by Thomas Rodgers — initiatives like that — things that you see on campus that directly make an impact to students,” Beadle said, citing the legislation passed to provide additional seating in Middleton Library.
After five hours of debate on proposed changes to Student Government’s election code over multiple meetings, the senators finally approved the resolution with 86 percent in favor of changes.
Lane Pace, a political science junior and the speaker pro tempore, said his “favorite” change to the elections code was its greater emphasis on social media.
“We’re going to expand next semester’s elections to where we can grab that voter that’s never voted in a Student Government election and actually urge them and tell them to go vote,” Pace said.
Pace told students the increased use of social media in Student Government elections will allow them to increase their voter turnout from 22 percent to compete with voter turnouts at other SEC schools.
SG also unanimously approved a measure to honor and recognize members of the Best Buddies LSU Chapter for their leadership and hospitable volunteer work. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that selects volunteers to provide friendships and leadership for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
