Committee chair resigns after completing overhaul
After an overhaul of senate finance codes was passed unanimously Wednesday night, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ashley Farr resigned from her post, citing personal issues she must now put first.
Farr’s resignation leaves four open seats in student senate, which was full for only two weeks so far this term.
“I wanted to make sure these codes passed after all the hard work we have done within finance committee,” the third-year international business student said. “Unfortunately, for me, my time in Student Government is now up. I have to put some other stuff first.”
The codes create a rolling allocation system instead of senate’s current semesterly allocation system. Student organizations will be able to approach the finance committee with funding requests at least five weeks before a scheduled event. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and requests can be made at any point in the semester.
The last allocations bill using the semesterly system was also unanimously passed at the Wednesday student senate meeting. The majority of the nearly $100,000 allocated to 83 student organizations was to conferences, Farr said. No allocations were budgeted for food while traveling for conferences, but some allocations did help fund fees, travel and lodging.
Allocations for membership exclusive organizations and open organizations were also approached differently. All but one request for conference funds for membership exclusive organizations were denied. The one organization that did get approval had to prove to the finance committee that they would bring the knowledge they gained at the conference back to USC and hold a presentation open to the entire student body, not only their approved members.
Blitz Week results
Nearly a month after Blitz Week, the results of surveys taken by more than 300 students were presented at student senate.
A majority of those surveyed approved of the two major initiatives that have been passed by senate so far this semester: Carolina Closet and Rate My Landlord.
Eighty-seven percent of students surveyed said they would use Rate My Landlord, which would be a student-generated database of landlord information and reviews. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they’d use Carolina Closet, and while that’s just more than half, Senate Student Services Committee Chair Jonathan Holt said that was much more than anticipated.
“This program is designed for a small population on campus, so we didn’t expect a majority of students to say they’d use it,” Holt said.
Students also said in the surveys that SG needs to improve in its communication and accessibility, according to a word cloud Holt created.
Presidential projects
The Gamecock Pantry, housed in McBryde Quadrangle A, is undergoing a “soft launch” and will officially open on Nov. 14, Student Body President Chase Mizzell said.
“We’ve already been able to help a few students in need, so we know it’s worth it,” Mizzell said.
Progress has also been made on Walk Home Cocky, the safe walk program that officially launched on Oct. 21 after nearly a year of work by Student Government officials. This week, the program walked its hundredth person home. Volunteers have accompanied students on late night walks as short as to bike racks outside Thomas Cooper Library and as long as to Capstone House.
“We’ve really been able to give peace of mind to students late at night,” Mizzell said.
Halloween celebrations
Many student senators and other members of SG dressed up in Halloween costumes for their
Wednesday senate meeting. Student Body Vice President Ryan Bailey and his executive staff raced into the senate chambers dressed as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Wario and Toad from the video game Mario Kart, holding paper plates cut to look like steering wheels.
A trio of committee chairs dressed as characters from “The Great Gatsby,” including Senate Judiciary Chair Stuart Wilkerson, who donned breeches and riding boots as Tom Buchanan.
Some senators were less festive, including Holt.
“I am in costume as the sadness you become when you get older, because I don’t really get into Halloween anymore,” Holt said.