606 funding allocations was the focus of Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting.
President Pro Temp Chris Ziegler served as chairman and conducted the meeting while Vice President Aaron Caton served as acting president in Jennifer Berry’s absence.
“It’s difficult to have to step down and allow the meeting to continue without me,” Caton said.
Eight of the 17 applications were pulled off the calendar to be discussed.
The first group discussed was Delta Sigma Theta Sorority which was requesting money for a conference. The Senate approved the amount of $500.
Campus Greens applied for funding for an Earth Day speaker and booth and received $2,250.
Sigma Kappa Sorority was asking for funding for their officer training retreat. They were given $800.
Pi Kappa Alpha was also applying for officer training and risk management. The Senate gave the group $1,039.92.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will be bringing a speaker on campus whose price is $5,000 a day. The group was given $2,249.
The event is within a few weeks and some senators were concerned that the application was not brought forth earlier.
“Just because they chose to come through the last session doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give them money,” said Sen. Jared Ball.
The Inter Fraternity Council was given $3,551 to bring a speaker to campus also.
The MPH Student Association received $3,000 for the next Wellapalooza that will be held in April.
The largest amount of money allocated was given to the SGA for the Homecoming Commit-tee. After much deliberation, the Senate decided to give the committee $23,350 to fund activities during Homecoming.
Katie Craig presented a proposal to the SGA and asked for their backing of a plan to show schools across the state what they think of the budget cutbacks.
A committee will organize a rally in which students from across Tennessee will walk out of class wearing their school colors.
This committee will be working through the SGAs of the schools in Tennessee.
Craig said that 210 positions would be cut at ETSU due to the budget cutbacks. The Senate voted to lend SGA’s backing to Craig’s idea.
They will lend support where possible.
“This is something that everyone needs to get involved with and support, because it affects everyone,” Craig said.
Caton planned to meet with Craig to discuss how the Senate can be involved.
The Senate also went over three different pieces of legislation.
One was voted upon and passed, while the other two will be discussed at the next meeting.
Sen. Lacie Tullock also reminded senators about the upcoming Relay for Life which will be the week following Spring Break.

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