The Undergraduate Student Government unanimously approved the French Club, a club that started the process of drafting a constitution last year, but ran out of time in the academic year to seek university club status.

Senior Gauthier Mubwa said nearly 20 students are interested in learning more about French, which is not only the official language of 29 countries but also of many U.N. agencies and international organizations.

“It has such a high importance around the world and so much recognition. It’s not just the language, it’s also the culture,” Mubwa said.

The council approved two constitutional amendments that were presented at the Oct. 21 meeting and tabled until Sunday.  

Both amendments were related to club finances. The first capped club conference and competition budget requests at $1,800 per semester and $2,600 per academic year. It also limited clubs to one request per semester. The second adds a requirement for clubs to submit a summary of the conference or competition in addition to copies of the receipt.

Budget requests for two clubs were approved by the council. Miracle Vansiea, USG’s vice president of finance, said the two clubs submitted special budget requests.

Racquetball Club still has probationary status, but was allocated the $250 maximum dollar amount available to clubs on probation. ST(ART), an art club, will receive $350 and Vansiea said the club requested more money because an unanticipated amount of students are interested in the club.

USG finalized plans for a Tommie Tuesday event Nov. 6 during convocation hour. The committee for the Tommie Pride initiative is hosting the event for the first time. Council members will pass out candy to St. Thomas students, faculty and staff who are wearing purple.

Freshman Residential Senator Christian Roemhildt said USG council members will hand out Crystal Light packets to students using reusable Thursday outside of The View as part of the sustainability initiative.

Roemhildt said the packets will encourage students to buy or start using the reusable water bottles and keep the campus moving toward becoming plastic water bottle free.

“Our main goal is to get a reusable water bottle into the hands of every underclassman student, that way they can use it time and time again,” Roemhildt said.

Heidi Enninga can be reached at enni5264@stthomas.edu.