Senate Notebook
Full Senate met last night and voted on several pieces of legislation, including student fees, raising funds for various student organizations and deciding on internal matters. Below is a recap of the night’s events
By Erin Sommer
Thursday, November 15th, 2007
REQUIRED CAMPUS FEES
Student Senate voted unanimously to increase student fees by $19.15 per semester.
Riley Dutton, Pittsburg senior and author of the legislation to raise the fees, told senators that the increase was to compensate for inflation rates.
Each semester, KU students are required to pay student fees to 17 entities in the University. The entities that asked for a raise in their fee this year are: student recreation, student union, campus transportation fee and legal services.
Currently, students pay $377.75. With the increase, students will pay $396.90.
Because the fiscal year changes on July 1, the new fee rate will be implanted on a pro-rated basis during the second term of classes in summer 2008, and the new fees in their entirety will be implemented in fall 2008.
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION FUND
Student groups seeking funding to travel to multicultural events will now be limited to $275 per member for domestic events and $425 per member for international events, according to legislation Student Senate passed.
The legislation also specifies that groups may only go to the Multicultural Education Fund Board for money once the Student Senate unallocated account goes lower than 30 percent.
Currently, student groups that pay for multicultural events or travel may go to both Student Senate and the Multicultural Education Fund to be given funds up to 75 percent of their event or travel costs.
The Multicultural Education Fund is in its first year of existence at the University. KU students pay $1.50 per semester to contribute to multicultural groups.
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS MAY ALSO SERVE AS SENATORS
Student Senate rejected legislation that would prohibit members of the student executive committee from also serving as student senators.
Supporters of the bill said that students should not be allowed to have dual influence in both the executive and legislative branches of senate. They also said that prohibiting students to serve in both roles would open up seats for more students to be involved in Student Senate.
Currently, there are 14 seats in Student Senate that are not filled.
Those who voted the bill down said that members of the current executive staff were among the most active members of Student Senate, and it would be unfortunate to lose their voice in Senate only because they accepted an executive position after being elected to serve in Senate.
MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Members of the Student Senate executive staff are able to accept monetary compensation from any entity on campus.
Student Senate did not pass legislation that would have allowed prohibited executive members from receiving pay from sources outside Student Senate.
The legislation was directed at the tuition sponsorships that are currently received by the student body president, vice president, treasurer and legislative director and the director, financial director and communication coordinator of the Graduate and Professionals Association.
Those who said that the money should only come from the Student Senate said that it was morally appropriate for executive members to be compensated by those they represent.
Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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