News Reporter
Former ASG president Telbe Storbeck addressed student government members during the public comment period of Wednesday night’s meeting, expressing disappointment in a decision made by ASG not to schedule a commencement speaker for the upcoming December graduation.
“As someone who’s graduating in December and been working toward a degree for four and a half years, I don’t understand why we will not be having a speaker at our graduation,” Storbeck said.
In response, ASG President Ariel Diamond called the choice an “executive decision” made by herself and ASG Advisor, Dr. Justin Gollob, stating that commencement speakers are not invited to graduation ceremonies “if we can’t round up any big name speakers or anyone who is worth the time and will just make the commencement ceremony longer than necessary.”
“As a student who’s not going to be able to have a commencement speaker, I hope you guys put more effort into finding someone in the future,” Storbeck concluded.
After hearing public comment, student senators elected Adrienne Barlow as their new senate leader. Barlow defeated Graduate Senator Marcy Harton.
Three bills were then seen by the student senate, two of which allocated $3,100 from SCRF to the Criminal Justice Association and another $4,937 from the Transportation Fund to Snow Slay.
Bill 13-24 was passed in an 18-1 vote, granting $3,100 to the cover transportation and lodging costs for five Criminal Justice Association members who plan to attend the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences National Conference in Philadelphia Feb. 18-22.
Bill 13-25 was passed unanimously, allowing for $4,937 to be taken from the Transportation Fund in order to upgrade the MavRides vehicles used by Snow Slay. Where MavRides now pays $54 per day to rent vehicles for its program, Snow Slay members asked the student senate to approve funding so that Snow Slay may rent four wheel drive vehicles with roof racks for $94 per day.
“The resources are here for us. All we need to do is upgrade so it’s safer and so we can fit more people,” Snow Slay President Alex Forsett said.
Additionally, senators approved $600 from the ASG operating budget to fund purchases to be made for the Adopt a Family program. Though the bill was passed 18-1, it did prompt a senate discussion in which senator Colton Vaughn questioned whether or not student fees should be drawn from by ASG to fund philanthropic efforts.
“I think it’s a very great cause,” Vaughn said. “But to me, it’s not necessarily our place to give out money from student fees. I want to avoid looking like we’re spending other people’s money.”
Charlotte Rowden, Fine and Performing Arts Senator, countered, saying that there is a “line item budget for philanthropy and community outreach. We’re required as an organization to do community outreach.”
“All I’m saying is that it’s easy to get lazy and spend that money, even if it is a line item,” Vaughn said. “It’s a good cause, but if it’s important to you, spend your own money, volunteer your own time.”
cblackme@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Recent Comments