ASG Senate Recap: Week Three

Student senators hear requests from RSOs seeking fundingKimi AndrewThe Santa ClaraApril 27, 2017Money talks, and it’s the Associated Student Government’s turn to speak.At their April 20 meeting, the ASG Senate heard requests from six registered student organizations asking for over $1,000 each. Funding requests equaling or exceeding $1,000 are only granted four times each academic year—once in the fall and winter, and twice in spring.According to Karsten Andersen, chairman of the Student Affairs Committee, the money for this funding comes from a mix of the Santa Clara Fund and the Student Affairs Committee budget allocated by the Student Activity Fee Committee. The total budget for funding requests from clubs is around $78,000, which is distributed throughout the school year.Ka Mana`o O Hawai`i, Barkada, TED x Santa Clara, Igwebuike and SCU Hipnotik requested funding, since each of these groups will hold their biggest events of the year this quarter.Santa Clara’s Hawaiian culture club, Ka Mana`o O Hawai`i, petitioned for funding to host their annual luau event on May 27. It is the oldest cultural show on the Santa Clara campus, having been around for 39 years, and traditionally has very strong ticket sales. “The purpose of the Luau is to spread awareness of the Hawaiian Culture through a showcase of traditional dances, modern dances and local Hawaiian cuisine,” said Luau Director Keola McDonald.Barkada, the Filipino student union, requested funding for their annual Pilipino Culture Night, which will be held on April 27 and 29. According to co-director Sherryl-Anne Perez, “the event showcases 91 cast members from various backgrounds who each share a passion in Filipino culture.”TED x Santa Clara sought funding for their upcoming TED Talk event to be held on Monday, May 22nd at 8pm. After its initial founding in 2013, TED x Santa Clara was brought back to campus last year. Last year’s event featured eight speakers, four of which were Santa Clara Students. The 100 tickets available for the 2016 event sold out within 24 hours. This year’s event will be held in the Music and Dance Recital Hall, which seats 250 people.“We have sent our future president, Nick Spragg, to this year’s TEDFest in New York to get the required training to host a larger event,” said Peter Hession, a co-organizer of this year’s event. Igwebuike, Santa Clara’s black student union, petitioned for funding to cover their spring retreat. According to Marvah Gorlorwulu, a club representative, the retreat is aimed at reinforcing ties within the organization, reflecting on the state of the club and relaxing from academic life. Gorlorwulu also mentioned that active membership in the club is not a requirement for participation in the retreat.SCU Hipnotik, Santa Clara’s hip hop dance club, requested funding to attend a dance competition in Las Vegas happening later this quarter. The Prelude Las Vegas Urban Dance Competition will take place on May 27. Hipnotik was established 11 years ago and has grown from six members their founding year to 25 and counting. 21 members will attend this year’s Las Vegas competition.Funding for these clubs will be voted on and decided at the SAC committee meeting next Tuesday. ASG also voted to approve several RSOs originally proposed during their week two meeting. Photo SCU, Secular Student Alliance (SSA), Association for Women in Mathematics, People United for Reproductive Rights (PURR), Every Campus a Refuge and Aerospace and Amateur Rocketry Club were all approved.A vote to approve another proposed organization, Honors Advisory Council, was tabled for the April 27 meeting. The Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will ask the Honors Advisory Council follow-up questions at their next meeting.The ASG Executive Board discussed the first annual Bronco Day coming up on April 29. From noon until 5 p.m., the on-campus event will include student performances, bounce houses, food provided by various MCC clubs and carnival games. The day will culminate with the APB Spring Concert in Leavey Athletic Center featuring performances by rapper Vince Staples and tropical house DJ Matoma.ASG Senate will meet again on April 27 at 6 p.m.Contact Kimi Andrew at kandrew@scu.edu.