Undergraduate Student Government held its third general council meeting of the year on April 3.
USG filled two open positions, spirituality chair and senior class senator, at the meeting. As had been previously announced, general elections were not held, but interested students gave speeches to USG members explaining why they would be best for each position.
Junior Alex Krajec, a former peer minister, ran uncontested for spirituality chair. He said he “has an idea of what the needs are of certain clubs” and “believes in the message of USG.”
Senior Sarah Moon also ran without an opponent for the position of senior class senator. She said she is looking forward to “helping out in the last few weeks of the semester,” adding that she hopes to “relay” her previous experience as a student liaison to the Board of Trustees into the senator position.
USG members approved both students for the positions.
Vice President of Financial Affairs Jen Gish presented the most recent finance requests for student organizations. USG now approves budgets on a rolling basis as clubs put in requests.
One student club’s internal funding was approved: Geology Club, which received $1,240.
Two organizations requested Conference and Competitions Funding. The Dance Club received $611 for its trip to the Ovation Dance Challenge in Bloomington, Minnesota, and $108.75 were allocated to Volleyball Enthusiasts Club for its trip to the Spring Fever Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.
Two clubs received funding for campus-wide events. Black Empowerment Student Association’s Black Excellence Gala received $5,470, and Dance Club’s annual show received $3,150.
The election process for the 2016-17 executive board and general council was announced as well. All application materials are due at noon on April 19. On the same day, mandatory candidate meetings will take place in ASC 340 at 12:15 p.m. and at 6 p.m.
Campaigning begins April 20, and the presidential and vice presidential debates will be held April 21. On April 24, the rest of the executive board candidates will hold an open forum. Students may vote for candidates from April 26- 28, and winners will be notified on April 29.
The application packet can be found on USG’s website.
Sophie Carson may be contacted at sophia.carson@stthomas.edu.