9 clubs funded, special meeting called at April 19 USG meeting

The St. Thomas Undergraduate Student Government approved funding for nine clubs and the formation of a new club at their April 19 general council meeting.

Sophomores Rachel Reineke and Stephanie Schaffer presented their plan to form a club women’s soccer team as an alternative competitive program to the varsity soccer team. The group plans to start with one or two practices a week and a few games each in the fall and spring. The club was approved unanimously.

In internal club funding requests, USG approved $703.50 for Design for America, $500 for LEAD, $2,415 for Math and Actuarial Science club, $2,910 for American Marketing Association and $3,675 for Volunteers in Action.

In campus-wide funding requests, USG approved $4,900 for KUST Campus Radio’s UST Sampler Volume IV release and party, $650 for Happy Tommies’ end of year celebration and $310 for Design for America’s Rapid Prototyping Experience.

In conference and competition funding requests, USG approved $500 for Bridge St. Thomas’ Bridge USA Summit.

USG’s diversity committee proposed that next year USG members should complete an Intercultural Development Inquiry test to assess their intercultural competence. USG will discuss the results of the test at its fall retreat. The test consists of about 50 questions and costs $12 per person. The IDI test is commonly used for students studying abroad.

The USG special funding committee will meet on April 27 to discuss how they will continue to spend their budget surplus. Mental health and the Center for Student Achievement are two issues that may be considered for funding.

Solveig Rennan can be reached at renn6664@stthomas.edu