Saint Mary's Student Government Association (SGA) looked at and discussed four club sponsorships and reviewed its own SGA bylaws at its meeting Monday night.
The final sponsorship at the meeting sparked controversy when Le Mans Hall council requested money for their hall event, a Christmas ornament decorating night. The council failed to provide adequate documentation of their expected costs and their request was denied.
SGA is trying to set a precedent that documentation needs to be provided as part of their effort to avoid reimbursement.
"This is a year of change for student government," president Jenny Hoffman said.
The board members have implemented changes in order to protect themselves and to make sure that students money is being used efficiently. This decision was a part of that effort.
The first club to present a sponsorship request was Thespians Unplugged, the theater club, who will be attending the American College Theater Festival in Saginaw, Mich.
Ten club members will be attending this six-day conference, which provides the students with opportunities to see performances, attend workshops and compete for scholarships as well as to network with theater professionals and graduate programs, club treasurer Katie Hoolsema said.
SGA approved the club's sponsorship and will be awarding them funds towards their registration fees for the conference and transportation.
The College Republicans will also be receiving a sponsorship to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C. CPAC is a three-day conference of mostly students who attend workshops and listen to speakers, club president Caitlin Sullivan said.
The College Republicans' major goal at the convention this year will be to bring a speaker, political correspondent Tucker Carlson, back to campus.
"Those attending the conference will gain a greater understanding of one of the key political groups affecting modern day American politics," Sullivan said in her proposal.
The Holy Cross Hall Council is planning an ice cream social, and sponsorship was granted to them to help fund this event. The hall is also sponsoring an ongoing project sending letters to servicemen overseas, hall council president Kelly Zenere said.
Included in their sponsorship request were funds to help this project, which were granted by SGA.
The SGA executive board is going to be making a SGA handbook over Christmas break.
The handbook will go out to all the clubs on campus and will outline the procedures for dealing with SGA and point them to the right offices for questions, Hoffman said. SGA is hoping this handbook with end snafus with sponsorships.
The SGA board also approved their bylaws with only one notable change being made.
The board decided to change the election policy for class executive boards so candidates will run on two-person tickets, president and vice president, as opposed to a four-person ticket that also includes secretary and treasurer.
