The University of Maine Student Government approved its proposed FY 2014-2015 budget as a single, non-divisible resolution on April 1 inside the Memorial Union’s Bangor Room shortly after its General Student Senate (GSS) appointed a new senator and saw four clubs present during the 17th meeting of the 35th session.
New senator appointed, four clubs present
Vice President Ryan Hall appointed a new senator during the April 1 meeting. Eric Laplanc is the newest member of the GSS chamber.
Four clubs that received funding toward events or trips within the past couple of months presented to the GSS during the April 1 meeting.
Former GSS senator Daniel Norwood spoke on behalf of Circle K’s recent trip to Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine for the 54th Annual New England District Convention from March 28-30.
“We received several awards,” Norwood said. “And we learned a lot from the convention that we hope to bring back to campus.”
Representatives from the Students of the University of Maine in Technical Theater (SUMITT), an organization aimed at further educating design, technical and stage production management students outside of the classroom, spoke on the groups recent trip to Fort Worth, Texas for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) 2014 Conference & Stage Expo from March 26-29.
Treasurer Kaleigh Knights and the club’s president spoke on behalf of SUMITT, describing how the trip went.
“We went to various informative and educational sessions,” Knights said. “There was an expo floor where companies came to show off new technology inside the theatrical world and also others looking to hire students like us.”
UMaine Nursing International also presented on its trip to Belize in early March. The expedition, titled Community Health Care & Triage, included 17 nursing students and one faculty member who administered medical aid to several villages within the San Ignacio province.
Animation Club was slated to speak according to the meeting’s agenda but no representatives were present.
Exec, Services and Legal Services Liaison reports
During his report, Hall said he and President Aaron Ortiz had both been working with former GSS senator Lee Jackson to draft a couple resolutions.
Also, Hall commented on the GSS’s Skype session with North Dakota State University’s student government after the March 18 meeting.
“I think we learned a lot about what other schools do for student government … it’s a lot different,” Hall said. “I’d like to set up a weekly Skype meeting with other schools to learn more about what others do and continue to strengthen our own procedures.”
During his report, Vice President for Financial Affairs Justin Conant announced that applications had officially been released for the upcoming vacant executive positions and also read allocations under $1,000.
Seven clubs received funding: $700 to The Wildlife Society toward the upcoming Northeast Student Conclave; $525 to Interfraternity Council’s Kappa Sigma toward its 3rd annual Frisbee tournament for the Fisher House Foundation; $390.63 to Gamma Sigma Sigma toward its leadership conference; $297.50 toward the Blade Society for equipment replacement costs; $200 to the Institute of Management Accountants toward its office budget and $120 for its Student to Faculty Connection; and $150 to the South Asian Association of Maine for its Holi Festival.
During the Services report, Sen. Caroline Harvey announced UMaine Dining’s expected dining hours for specific locations and commented housing options around the area.
According to Harvey, UMaine Dining plans to extend Wells Dining’s closing time to 8 p.m. and open York Dining at an earlier time of 9 a.m. on the weekends starting next year.
Harvey said the university does have housing plans, but because of the University of Maine System’s current financial state, they’re having trouble getting approval.
There is a new apartment complex between Orchard Trails Apartments and The Grove Orono, according to Harvey.
As for restrictions on next year’s housing agility, Harvey said the university is disallowing junior and seniors to live in normally all-student residence halls because they want higher retention rates for underclassmen.
During the Legal Services Liaison report, Sen. Devin Greenlaw read aloud more than 20 laws in Maine thought to be extraordinary including these: It’s a illegal to shoot a moose from a plane in Maine; it’s illegal to catch lobster barehanded in Maine; and it’s illegal to blow your nose in public in Waterville, Maine.