In the second to last meeting of the year, the issue on the Student Government Association’s agenda was 606 appropriations.
Being the last 606 funding session before summer, there were 25 applications to be heard.
All passed without serious debate except for applications from SGA, the Homecoming Committee, and the Student Ceramics Association.
SGA, which applied for money to fund a bookrack to be placed in the Culp Center, was voted down 14-2-0.
The bookrack was supposed to be used to support Read ETSU, but liability issues concerning placing such an item in the Culp Center arose.
“Evidential, if we purchase something, any damage done with it becomes our liability,” said Sen. David Lane.
Sen. Chris Ziegler, chair of the 606 committee, said he spoke with Tony Warner, assistant vice president of the Culp Center, who did not think it was a good idea.
During the debate, the Senate weighed the liability issue against the issue of benefit to the students
“I think risk has to be weighed with benefits,” said Sen. Lisa Mullins.
However, in the end it was determined that a bookrack which could be secured to the wall or floor, and thereby eliminate any liability, was preferred.
In the issue of the Student Ceramics Society, their application was withdrawn due to university and state regulations concerning the construction of a kiln, which had not been considered in full.
Homecoming, which is something SGA funds every year, asked for a budget increase of $3,000. The reason cited was that Homecoming needed more money to improve its events.
The Senate, when hearing the application, went into committee of the whole, closing their doors and debating the issue in secret.
Upon reopening, the debate continued briefly, with the Senate finally settling on $27,000, the previous budget, with a vote of 11-5-0.
In an interview after the meeting, President Chad Reed said that he had vetoed the funding proposal. “I think that a lot of the these [Senators] voting on it don’t have as much experience, and they haven’t seen the Homecoming committee process,” he said.
The Senate will have to decide whether or not to override his veto at the last meeting of this Senate prior to elections.

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