Bets on who can use the largest vocabulary words in their reports and this years up and coming University of Massachusetts Amherst budget were just a few of the topics discussed in last night’s Senate meeting.
Meeting for the first time in two weeks, Senators and members of the Student Government Association’s Executive Cabinet entered the meeting with much discussion surrounding the up and coming State of Massachusetts budget cuts.
Student Trustee Jon Laubinger explained to the Senate that this year the University of Massachusetts at Amherst would be facing up to a 12 million dollar budget cut.
“The budget outlook sucks,” Laubinger said. “Twelve million dollars will be cut from the University, meaning that last year students were protesting our 1.35 percent cut, and this year were facing a five percent cut.”
Laubinger further explained that the SGA Executive Cabinet has been asked to submit reports to Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Javier Cevallos regarding their thoughts on the budget cuts and what it will mean for the University.
“This year is just the beginning, and next year could and probably will be worse, meaning more huge budget cuts for us in the future,” Laubinger said.
Speaker Aaron Saunders expressed his thoughts on the situation by stating that students need to take a stand and let the University know how they feel about the budget cuts.
“The budget really, really sucks and were being hit the hardest because we’re students here for four, five and six years, so were only temporary,” Saunders said. “We have to show them that we’re outraged, because it is outrageous.”
Saunders continued to explain that it’s important for the SGA to be organized and prepared for what the future may hold.
“If it even looks like we could have more cuts, we need to stand united and say that we won’t stand for anymore of it.”
Aside from budget cuts, the Senate allocated funding of $1,500 to Soul TV’s annual fashion show. The fashion show is set to be held on Dec. 8, and will feature student designs as well as performances by the University of Massachusetts Funk Club.
“Our basic goal is to promote student talent,” Senator Verena Bryan said. “We have 47 models who are students on this campus and well as a variety of performances.”
The Radical Student Union also asked the Senate for the allocation of $1,500 for funding future events. The Senate passed the motion unanimously.
Issues surrounding displaying the American Flag and the State of Massachusetts flag were once again a motion brought before the Senate. Last spring a similar motion was brought before the Senate causing much debate and it was then ruled dilatory. The motion was presented upon the recommendation of the Administrative Affairs committee, and tabled to the Diversity committee for further discussion.
“It’s more important to see this motion tabled because diversity will be able to provide a different perspective so hopefully they will be salient to one another.”
Discussion surrounding the appropriate electoral districts and their appropriate definition in the SGA Constitution was brought before the Senate once again. A motion calling for just two electoral districts, On-Campus Residential and Off-Campus Commuter was discussed by the Senate and tabled for further discussion.
