SGA reviews club activity proposals

Alexis Schlesinger / THE GATEPOST

By Bella Grimaldi

News Editor

SGA reviewed allocation proposals from three clubs for events or trips planned for the Spring semester and voted on the addition of three new senators at their Feb. 3 meeting.

The Psychology Club, Aspiring Health Professionals, and Brother 2 Brother (B2B) submitted their proposals to the SGA Finance Committee for additional funds to cover the costs of events or trips that their budget does not. 

Each club’s budget and the additional funds they submitted proposals for comes out of the Student Activities Trust Fund (SATF) and must be approved by SGA. 

According to SATF Treasurer Khoa Bùi, there was $49,048.36 in the SATF before the proposals were voted on. 

Katherine Barrientos, Psychology Club publicist, said the club was asking for $1,300 to go on a day trip to the Museum of Science. 

“We want to go to the Museum of Science because we went last year and a lot of our members enjoyed going. I think it’s a great way for us to all bond together,” she said. 

Bùi said the Psychology Club’s starting SATF budget is $400. 

Senator Julia Carvalho asked if it were possible for the club members to arrange to carpool in order to save funds.

Senator Kimberly Martinez, who is the treasurer of the Psychology Club, said that wouldn’t be possible because only about three members drive and the club’s advisors would also need to attend.  

The club’s proposal included funds for a bus for 25 people. 

SGA passed the request for the proposed funds 15-0-1.

The Aspiring Health Professionals submitted a proposal for an overnight trip taking place on March 6-8.

Aspiring Health Professionals President Leena Elbayoumi said the club was asking for $4,324.05 to cover the trip expenses. Of that allocation, $491.05 of the proposed funds went to transportation, $3,617 were allocated to housing costs, and $216 went toward travel staff. 

The vote to approve the proposal from the Aspiring Health Professionals passed unanimously. 

B2B submitted a proposal for funds to help cover the costs of the Her Brunch held at the Warren Center in April. 

The requested funds would cover the cost of security, decorations, and a DJ, according to Raul Perez Santana, B2B events coordinator.

Alix Ayoub, SGA events coordinator, said this year, SGA would not be contributing any of their budget to the Her Brunch event. 

SGA moved to strike the B2B proposal from the agenda because the amount of funds the club needed from the SATF was unclear. The motion passed 15-0-1.  

According to President César Matos, this vote allows B2B to resubmit a proposal to the Finance Committee. 

After the votes on the proposals concluded, there was $43,424.31 left in the SATF, according to Bùi.

SGA moved on to review the addition of three new senators.

The three prospective senators looking to be added were Yoojin Wollaber, Lenora Jones, and Jonathan Sundberg. 

Before voting on the addition of Wollaber, Jones, and Sundberg, the candidates gave short speeches on why they want to join SGA.

Sundberg said he wanted to join SGA because last time he was at school he did not participate in anything outside of classes. 

“I want to join student government because I want to do something meaningful and put myself out there. … I want to make a change. I feel like I have some knowledge I can bring to the table,” he said. 

Wollaber said she is joining because she believes there is a lack of diversity at the University for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

She said, “There’s nothing happening for Lunar New Year coming up and it’s on the 17th.”

Wollaber added she was influenced to join by Ayoub. 

Jones said her friends in SGA told her she should join. 

“I’m already in student leadership. I’m an RA in Towers and I’m excited to join and be part of this community,” she said. 

The vote to appoint the new senators passed unanimously and Wollaber, Sundberg, and Jones were sworn in by Matos. 

During committee reports, SGA Vice President Shubham Valand said as part of the Student Affairs Committee, he and Matos are working on changing the SGA bylaws and the language of funding requests, as well as reviewing the constitution of Videography Club.  

Bùi said the Finance Committee approved a funds proposal from the ASL Club last week.

Senator Nathan Piette said the safety and security ad hoc committee is planning a safety walk for the spring semester.

Matos said this safety walk will occur before the Daylight Savings time change.

Piette said the data from the Fall Safety Walk was organized and sent to Matos, Meg Nowak Borrego, vice president of Student Affairs, and Ryan Hacker, associate vice president of Facilities and Capital Projects.

According to Valand, SGA does not currently have a secretary because Ling Zhang had to step down due to scheduling conflicts.

[ Editor’s Note: Nathan Piette is a Staff Writer for The Gatepost. ]