The St. John’s Senate (SJS) held its last meeting of the year Monday. By the end of the meeting, the SJS passed six motions, allocating more than $22,000. Many groups came to the SJS because the St. Ben’s Senate (SBS) did not meet this week.
The largest allocation went to the Men’s Lacrosse team. The senate allocated $11,008.93, pending approval from Club Sports Commissioner Bob Alpers, to the team for its trip to nationals. This is the eighth consecutive year the lacrosse team will go to nationals.
“I think this is a great example of how accomplished club sports can be,” Vice President Corbin Cleary.
The second largest allocation, $8,000, went to Channel 8 for new equipment. The allocation will go toward new cameras and equipment that will allow Channel 8 to cover live events.
“I want the new senate to work with KJNB and Channel 8 to get good exposure,” Sen. Ty Cox said.
The third allocation gave $2,800 to sophomore Kunihiro Shimoji to attend the Japan-America Student Conference in Japan. While most of the senate supported the motion, some were concerned about the cost.
“We have $28,000 to allocate to lots of people right now, so let’s keep that in mind,” Regent Thomas Joyce said. “I am having my doubts about funding this because of how much it impacts students. We have lots of stuff on the table right now, and I’m not sure if this is the right time to fund this.”
Other senators believed it was a good use of funds.
“From what I understand, I think it is so much bigger than that,” Sen. Eddie Hanlon said. “I think we understand how big of an opportunity this is for Kuni and our country.”
Attention Starved Children received $300 to buy new uniforms. The current uniforms are over 10 years old and are starting to become worn according to troupe members.
“I think this is another great chance to help out an organization on campus,” Cleary said. “New uniforms that will be passed on from year to year seem to be a good thing.”
The senate allocated $300 to the Peer Resource Program (PRP) for the upcoming Quidditch tournament. The allocation will be split between food, prizes and equipment for the event.
The senate also allocated $180 to the Halfway There dance, which will be taking place Saturday.
“It was this grassroots movement to have a sophomore dance,” Lottie Residential Director Heather Nicole Saladino said.
The allocation will go toward security for the event.
The SJS also heard two motions but did not pass them.
The first motion that failed asked for $14,000 to be allocated to the CSB/SJU crew team. The
team requested the funds in order to buy a new boat, costing around $24,000. One of their boats is currently cracking and facing other structural problems.
“(The cracks aren’t) just in one spot,” sophomore Kelsey Kryzer said. “This boat is just showing its years and falling apart on us.”
However, the senate was concerned the team would not be able to purchase the boat because they were asking for only part of the funds needed.
“From my point of view, it would make more sense if you asked for the money all at once,” Sen. Jon Ostazeski said. “I think this is something worth funding, but not this year.
“I have very mixed emotions on this,” Cleary said. “We cannot fund the entirety of this boat, and this money will be reabsorbed in the student activity pool before it is spent.”
The senate did not pass the motion, but asked the team to come back next year.
The senate also heard a motion to change bylaws concerning stipends. The motion failed.
This was the last St. John’s Senate meeting for the year. President Colman Silbernagel congratulated the senate on their work.
“It’s been an honor working with each and every one of you,” Silbernagel said.
Tags: SJU Senate