Undergraduate Student Government held its first two meetings of the semester on March 6 and 13 with full agendas of budget approvals, new initiatives and election announcements.
Vice President of Financial Affairs Jen Gish presented the budget requests by some clubs on campus. In response to last semester’s controversy over organizations’ funding distribution, USG members now vote on budgets on a rolling basis as clubs put in requests.
The American Advertising Federation will attend a national student advertising competition. USG members approved a Conference and Competitions fund of $483.75 on March 13.
The following internal student organizations’ budgets were also approved March 13: Public Health Club, $2,129; Catholic Students Incorporated., $750; Film Society, $160; Projects and Robotics, $6,020.
At the March 6 USG meeting, more Conference and Competitions funding was allocated: Men’s Club Volleyball, $2,000; Enactus, $1,750; Chemistry Club, $2,000; Students for Human Life, $2,000; CRU, $1,440 and $1,000 for two conferences; Pre-Law Society, $1,212; Volleyball Enthusiasts Club, $112.50.
USG members at the March 6 meeting also approved internal budget requests for Pre-Law Society, $1,360; Philosophy Club, $620; Students for Human Life, $1,390; CRU, $6,950; Nordic Ski Team, $810; KUST, $2,350.
The two campus-wide events that received funding from USG were Saudi Night at $4,125 and the KUST Vol. 2 Release Party at $2,450.
USG also drafted mission and vision statements in addition to a purpose statement written to explain their creation. All three will be posted on the organization’s website in the coming weeks.
President Michael Gaytko said the mission statement explains “what we are right now,” while the vision is “what we want to do.” The declarations are modeled after St. Thomas’s, but focus more in students, Gaytko added.
Themes of accountability, equity, total representation, and transparency are present in the statements, which, according to the purpose statement, were created “in response to the changing needs of the student body.”
Elections were announced for two open positions, Senior Class Senator and Spirituality Chair. There will not be a general election for candidates wishing to fill these roles; students will simply attend the USG meeting on April 3 and give a short speech explaining why they should win the seats.
Application packets, now available on USG’s website, are due April 1.
For more information about the elections go to stthomas.edu/usg.
Sophie Carson may be contacted at sophia.carson@stthomas.edu.