A jam-packed senate meeting Wednesday started with the affirmation of two new senators, both recommendations from Senate Leader Adrienne Barlow.

Brian Arms was affirmed as Senator for Health Science. Carlos “Tony” Ibarra was voted Senator for Professional Studies.

President Ariel Diamond and Vice President Ashley Pulido returned this week after attending “A Taste of CMU” last week with the culinary program and performing arts majors. “A taste of CMU” is an annual meeting in Denver to inform the Board of Trustees on what’s happening with the students while providing them with dinner and a show.

Seven of the ten bills scheduled for the evening passed without a vote against them. ASG 13-30 proposed by the Math Club will provide $421.98 from SCRF for seven students to attend an academic conference in Colorado Springs. Three of them are going to present research. ASG 13-31 also involves the Math Club and its president, Allison Theobold. As part of a Research Experience for Undergrads program, $630 from RNCF was granted for her to present research with her partner at a conference in Baltimore, Md.

The Chemistry Club was next with ASG 13-32 asking for $3358 from SCRF to attend an international conference hosted by the American Chemical Society. Three students will be attending the conference in Dallas, Texas and all three will be presenting research projects they have been working on.

The Forensic Science Club asked for $786.65 from the transportation fund for a four-night stay in Seattle, Wash., for the annual conference hosted by the American Academy for Forensic Science, which exposes students to employers and graduate school opportunities. After winning the Colorado State Culinary Competition, the Culinary program requested $3,446.36 from RNCF alongside $3,100 of its own contribution to attend the Western Regional Championship in Oakland, Calif.

The new Alternative Spring Break Club asked for $6,000 from the transportation fund as part of a $100,000 total trip cost to New Orleans. The goal of the club is to provide students with an opportunity to go somewhere new as well as engaging in community service work throughout the trip. The last unquestioned bill removed $1,100 from SCRF for finals week coffee and programs through the library. They only expect to use about $700 but are unsure of the volume of students. Any unused money will not be removed from SCRF.

ASG 13-35 was tabled, and only one senator voted against ASG 13-33, requested by Merill Wallace, who asked for $1500 from transportation for an airline ticket to Latvia for a global art conference that is held once every four years.

ASG 13-36 is one that sparked much discussion Wednesday. FBLA requested $2,645 from SCRF to attend a state competition against different club chapters. They are supplying $1800 of their own funds but have asked for $68,000 since 2007, so some senators questioned their claim to be a self-sufficient club. Ten senators voted yes, 10 voted no and 2 abstained, bringing the tie-breaking vote to Pulido, who voted in favor of the club.

In other news, March 6 is PAC’s “Undie Run” and clothing drive, where students can participate and donate their clothing to the Lattimore house.

Despite the announcement from FAC last week, the decision to limit spending SCRF funds is not final and must be affirmed by the Senate. This vote will take place at next week’s meeting.

brjthomp@mavs.coloradomesa.edu