BAC has approved $20,000 worth of club funding proposals, using the money that was reallocated from SGA reserves at the previous meeting. 

Director of Finance Robin Levisky gave an update on BAC funding and talked about some prospective changes to BAC policy at the senate meeting on Feb. 6. Additionally, SGA approved a bill securing a space for the winter formal on Feb. 22. 

Director of Finance Presentation 

Levisky announced that the $20,000 that was reallocated to BAC at the meeting on Jan. 23 was used to fund 14 club proposals, and BAC has allocated all its funding for the semester.  

“Needless to say, we’re broke, again,” Levisky said. 

Speaker of the Senate Greg Abukar-Duru asked Levisky if they had any ideas on how BAC could update funding guidelines to prevent funding from being completely allocated in the fall semester as it has been for the past two academic years. Levisky said they plan on reviewing how much money clubs can request each year. They also suggested allocating half of BAC’s budget to the fall semester and half to the spring semester.  

While Levisky has some ideas on funding guideline changes that BAC could make, they said that how BAC allocates funding is ultimately up to the senators that serve on the committee.  

“Generally, if a club comes up to BAC and requests funding, as long as their paperwork is fine, they get funded. I truly believe it’s going to take a culture change in BAC to change from that first come, first served kind of motto, to a best use type of work,” Levisky said. “Should we really be spending $3,000 for five people to travel across the nation?” 

BAC was unable to fund nine proposals that came in after the 14 that were funded. Clubs still have access to club cash, a $100 stipend allocated to each club per academic year. 

SGA Advisor Noelle San Souci said that out of the $170,000 that was given to BAC to fund clubs for the 2024-2025 school year, only $76,685 has been used. Some funding proposals are for events and travel that haven’t happened yet, but San Souci said that the gap was significant enough that some of that money may have gone unused. 

“Me and my team, we’re going to do some digging into that because I believe we may actually have room to hear those students on the waitlist,” San Souci said. 

Winter Formal Bill 

Senate unanimously approved the Winter Formal bill which will allocate $3,699.46 including GAR for SGA to rent the ENT center on Feb. 22. The rental fee includes lighting and audio setups. The bar at the ENT Center, Pinney’s, will be open during the event with alcohol and mocktails for sale. 

The event will collaborate with multicultural student unions and recognize student athlete achievements. 

Senate voted to form a winter formal ad-hoc committee that will be in charge of organizing the rest of the formal, including a DJ, catering, decorations and any additional amenities. An additional bill will be created by this committee allocating additional funding to the event. 

In other news: 

• SGA unanimously approved a new election policy. There will be a follow-up article by the Scribe explaining the new policy. 

• On Feb. 17 at 6 p.m., there will be a mandatory candidate meeting in the student life lounge for all students running for SGA positions. 

• The Senator of Disability and Accessibility bill was tabled until the next senate meeting. The bill would add the position, which has been approved by the Rules and Organization committee, to senate next semester. Senators expressed concern about the position not being tied to an organization on campus like most senator positions are. San Souci suggested that senators consider what adding an extra position would do to their quorum and brought up the idea of replacing one of the senator-at-large positions rather than adding a new senator seat. 

• SGA voted to organize an ad hoc committee to begin considering performers for the fall concert. 

• Vice President Aidan Burke is working to form connections between UCCS’ student government and the student government at Colorado College. On Feb. 20, members of the CC student government will be attending a senate meeting at UCCS, and on March 27, the two senates will be meeting at CC. Burke hopes this connection will allow for cooperative events, like Battle of the Bands and concerts. 

• SGA unanimously passed the Name Plate bill allocating $112.21 including GAR for 25 aluminum name plates and name plate cardstock that senators can use when motioning during meetings to assist in the creation of the minutes. The cardstock within the name plates can be replaced as new senators are elected. 

Graphic via The Scribe archives.