BY DANIEL KIM AND ELIJAH SIMON
STAFF WRITERS
Student Government was busy during the formal meeting Wednesday as it officially recognized a student organization and passed six bills allocating funds.
Senate Spring 2015 Bill 19, which recognizes Franciscan University of Steubenville Intercollegiate Defense of Equality and Solidarity (IDEAS) as an official Student Life club, was passed unanimously. The club plans to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) in New York City.
Student Government allocated $2,100 for the lodging cost of the trip in Bill 20, which also passed unanimously. Student Government commended the club for its struggle to bring conservative perspective to the international scene by representing the youth and Franciscan University at the UN CSW.
Student Government also passed Bill 15, which allocated $800 to Chapel Ministries for the Abandonment in Christ: Silent Retreat. There was much debate about whether or not the funds should be given.
President Brian Kirby cautioned that although it is not illegal in the constitution for Student Government to allocate money to any individual or organization, the primary mission of Student Government is to aid student clubs.
In the end, the notable worthiness of the retreat and its exhaustion of other options of raising money caused Bill 15 to be passed.
Student Government passed three re-allocation bills, 16, 17 and 18, for Latinos for Christ. The club requested a total of $880 for three purposes.
Bill 16 allotted $30 for weekly meetings. Bill 17 allocated $250 for the event Noche de Fiesta, and Bill 18 requested $600 for the event Brazilian Carnivál on Feb. 13. Each of these bills passed without opposition.
Bill 21 that allocates $200 to Student Government for the Student Club Leader Social was passed unanimously.
The Student Welfare Committee had results from a recent study regarding the extension of library hours. Conclusive results stated that students would study more in the library than any other offered space on campus and that they would be in favor of extending the closing time to 1 a.m. Monday to Thursday.
Finally, David Schmiesing, the adviser of Student Government, commented that there will be an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting that will discuss budgeting for the next academic year.