Student Union senators left a decision about the future of the Union and its funds pending Monday night, as the body awaits a decision on the matters from Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore.
Several senators, including Senate Chairman Joel Fajardo, expressed interest in appropriating $16,000 currently in the Financial Affairs Committee’s control to the Student Union Allocations Board, though Union officials have not yet discussed the idea with Elmore.
Fajardo said he is confident Elmore will not object to the proposal, especially considering that the “whole idea of the Financial Affairs is moot.” Fajardo also said he thinks giving SUAB the money is the best alternative.
But others expressed concern that giving SUAB the money will not be a fair alternative, especially because SUAB has bylaws restricting certain uses of funding – one requires that funds be used for BU’s catering service, Catering on the Charles.
“Catering on the Charles is ridiculous – we are here to help all the students,” said Sen. Ernie Clarke (School of Hospitality Administration).
President Carl Woog said he thinks giving the money to SUAB would be “tying our own hands with bylaws” and suggested giving the money directly to student groups.
“The problem is not a lack of funding but how it is distributed and for what purposes,” he said.
Still, Fajardo said SUAB chairwoman Diana Zito is willing to work out funding issues.
The Senate also created an unofficial committee made up of both senators and other students that will help deal with Elmore’s proposals on the future of the Union. The group will also help work on a Senate constitution.
Residence Life Committee Chairman Sen. Jon Marker (Warren Towers) proposed the idea for the group and Vice President of Residence Life Mike Myers and Sen. Randy Diamond (West Campus) will be heading the group.
Group members include Woog, former Executive Vice President Remie Ferrera – who resigned last semester – and former President Ethan Clay, who spent the fall semester abroad.
“We have 107 days left and let’s get moving,” Marker said. “We need a group of students that will be ready for Elmore’s recommendations and will help form a constitution.”
The group will go to work immediately but it will not be recognized as an official Senate committee in order to save time and avoid some bureaucracy, Marker said.
“We all know how long it takes for a committee to pass,” Marker said.
OTHER UNION NEWS
Marker announced that the Residence Life Committee will revamp its efforts to change the Guest Policy and said he wants to push Elmore toward creating an actual policy.
“We need to decide if students like the current policy, and if not, keep working on it,” Marker said.
The search for a new Tribunal member and a new executive vice president is currently underway, though Woog could not give a timeline on when the positions will be filled. Former senior Tribunal member Nayan Ranchhod resigned last week and former EVP David Bresler graduated in January.
The Student Union Service Council also announced that current Miss America Erika Harold will likely be in attendance at the Mr. and Miss BU competition, set to take place in March.