In the General Student Senate (GSS) meeting on Tuesday, GSS began with $117,760.79 unallocated funds to distribute to students and student groups that they see fit. By the end of the meeting, there were upwards of $13,800 funds distributed throughout different student groups.
Clubs receive funding
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) was awarded $3,200 to bring 16 students to the AIChE Conference.
Club Field Hockey was awarded funds for goalie equipment, travel and referee fees after their budget was mulled over by GSS members, who removed the money for warm-up uniforms from their budget.
“I’m iffy about paying for things that aren’t absolutely necessary,” Sen. Caroline Harvey said.
Sen. Donnacha Coyle added that passing the budget wouldn’t stop other teams from “wanting to come to us and wanting swag apparel for their teams.”
The Cyber Security Team received $2,550 to update its computer stations, which are used to simulate different company environments and problem solve. The team’s current computer stations are 10 years old.
The Society of Women Engineers were allocated $2,700 for their airfare and registration fee for nine groups members to attend their National Meeting Career Fair.
The UMaine Photography Club received $60 to pay for its entrance fee to Acadia National Park, where they spent the day taking photographs.
The Golf Club was awarded $830 to attend two tournaments in New Hampshire this fall.
UMaine Tennis Club was allotted $619 for a tournament at Harvard, which the group will send its top six players.
GSS passes procedural resolutions
The first act modified the Fair Election Practices Commission (FEPC) guidelines. Before the act passed, GSS could not make changes such as they had been in the same meeting they voted in. The act allowed them to make the changes and enact them in the same meeting.
Another act, which further modified the FEPC guidelines, was tabled until the next senate meeting due to a lack of paperwork provided to the senators.
There was an act to create a new standing committee within the UMSG Inc. The act passed and allows the group to provide information to students about “issues on the state, federal and local levels,” according to Donnach Coyle, the sponsor of the act. He said the act will help “enhance the undergraduate experience and help inform students.”
An act to change a senate resolutions rules was also passed. The act clarified where and how resolutions will be communicated.
President’s report
In UMSG Inc. President Justin Conant’s report, he said he is beginning meetings discussing the construction of a new astroturf field next to the field hockey field for Student Recreation teams.
He also mentioned that Student Athletic Advisory Committee Co-President Liz Wood is working on insulating the dome from 50 degrees to “something bearable.”
Student Entertainment hints at concert
A comedian will be visiting campus on Nov. 10, according to Vice President for Student Entertainment Patrick Fortier Brown.
Club reports back
The Crew Club thanked GSS for sending 16 members to their crew race in Merrimack, Mass.
Fraternity seeks new members
Austin Sellers spoke to GSS as “a little bit of a shameless plug for Pi Kap.”
Sellers was attempting to recruit members for his new fraternity Pi Kappa Phi.
New positions
GSS Sen. Randy Bosquette was elected as Sergeant In Arms. He is now responsible for the protection of senate, the flags and table cloths.