STORY BY BETH LEVALLEY
With six one-time funding requests, the theme of fiscal responsibility came up several times during the Student Senate meeting this week.
The Senate has agreed to think critically about funding this year as a part of its goals, but the balance between supporting student organizations and cutting back on spending has already given Senate difficulties.
Senators O’Hea and Kane continuously reminded members that fiscal responsibility should be more than an idea.
“You’ll find that all student organizations that come to us make a very compelling argument,” said Sen. O’Hea, warning other members of the problems carrying similar requests could cause.
The most attention was brought to the Drake University Curling Club, which meets every week at the Des Moines Buccaneers’ Arena. The club requested $2,250 to rent the arena for 10 practices during the fall semester.
The club has an average between 15 and 20 participants per week wherereturning members teach curling to newcomers. The club does not travel or host tournaments.
Senate often encourages student organizations to host events, collaborate with other organizations and bring something back to the Drake community.
While the club is open to all Drake students, the lack of awareness on campus and weekly participation discouraged Senate to allocate the full amount of funding.
This funding request was compared to others such as men’s and women’s ultimate Frisbee tournaments.
Although the Curling Club is open to a larger student body and is cheaper per person, it does not provide the same publicity for Drake that the traveling tournaments do.
Sen. Creese suggested amending the motion to fund five practices instead of ten, which would then allow time for the Curling Club to fundraise for the rest of the semester’s rental fees.
It would also encourage students to make time for the practices that occur less often.
“With the practices cut down from 10 to five, we’ll be able to see statistically the improvement of attendance,” said Treas. Matusik. If the club does not make their fundraising goal, they can come back to Senate to discuss other funds.
Student Senate agreed to allocate $1,125 to the Drake University Curling Club.
Not every organization had fundraising cuts slashed, however. Student Senate was unanimous in carrying the motion to fund the “St. Jude Up ‘Til Dawn” event that fundraises for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“Up ‘Til Dawn” is a nationwide event that happens at over 250 colleges, and Drake is among the top 10 fundraising schools.
“It’s an all-night event that goes from midnight to 6 a.m.,” said Elise Damman, an organizer of the event. “We, as college students, give up a night of sleep to commemorate all of the nights of sleep that parents give up to be with their kids.”
The event has a goal of raising $40,000, a jump from $31,000 raised last year.
“Up ‘Til Dawn” also expect about 70 more participants than last year, which contributes to the increase in funds requested.
“This is exactly the type of event we should be spending our money on,” O’Hea said.
Sen. Donat also spoke positively about the goal of 300 participating students — roughly 10% of the undergraduate student body.
Student Senate allocated $2,340.08 for this event.
A possible new organization, Spikeball, requested $227.64 for a “Spikeball Combo Meal Case,” which includes six sets of Spikeball equipment.
Spikeball, an up-and-coming recreational sport, involves two teams of two surrounding a mini trampoline.
Teams interact to throw a ball at the trampoline, hit it three times and then bounce the ball on the trampoline again. The team that fails to pass the ball by trampoline in three tries loses a point to the opposing team.
The money allocated will go straight towards equipment, which is necessary due to their increase in membership. The informal club had 65 members sign up at the activities fair and hopes to create a Drake tournament for the spring semester.
The equipment will be owned by the student body and will be available to borrow from the Student Life Center at any time.
Student Senate also allocated $1,120 to Next Course—Food Recovery Network for former CEO Ben Simon to speak at Drake on October 13.
The Drake Dance Team received $450 for registration fees associated with attending the Iowa State Dance Team Competition.
Seante also gave $3,029.85 to the Drake Women’s Ultimate Club to cover various costs associated with three tournaments throughout the course of the fall semester.
Student Senate Sidebar:
•PRESIDENT MAISTO is working on concerns with Sodexo with Drake’s Chief Administration Officer, Venessa Macro. They are working out the perceived issues and hope to have changes mid-semester.
•PUBLIC SAFETY wanted to clarify the situation on Greek Street last week. The event was a timely warning because both Drake Security and DMPD were alerted and on it within minutes. Students were not in danger. A Bulldog Alert requires present and immediate danger, and a timely warning does not.
•SEN. MEYER spoke to Scott Law about some parking lot concerns, including why the Olmsted lot has been blocked off earlier than normal.
•A “MEDIA BLAST” for the SafeRide bus will push soon so students are more aware of the procedures and what the bus offers.
•LOOK OUT FOR several events teaching students about what a caucus is and what to expect with the Iowa Caucuses coming up.