By Helen Clark

Published April 06, 2006

Student Senate passed a motion to approve the Leadership Development and Programming Board’s final committee budget for the 2005-2006 academic year.

The approval came after much deliberation by both Senate and LDPB following the Feb. 26 Annual Budget Funding Requests meeting with student organization leaders.

At its March 7 meeting, Senate passed a motion for $18,000 from the University Reserve account to be allocated to LDPB to fund student organizations.

After including the $18,000 transfer in the budget, LDPB has completed the budget process.

“We feel like this is the best way to allocate the money this year,” said LDPB Chair Carolyn Schenk.

She said the approved budget is the best representation of the programming student organizations do on campus.

The final budget amounts are: $55,000 for Campus Media Committee, $30,000 for Diversity Awareness Committee, $37,000 for Entertainment Committee, $15,600 for Leadership and Service, $27,000 for Recreational Activities Committee, $70,450 for Performing Arts Committee, $49,585 for Student Organization Committee and $13,500 for Homecoming Committee.

Some changes made by LDPB were also announced by Schenk, including a name change for the Special Events Committee, which will now be called Homecoming Committee.

The Entertainment and Performing Arts Committees will be combined next year, with eight subcommittees. The official name will be changed to Student Entertainment and Arts Committee.

Other Senate news

• The United Council referendum was concluded at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
• Student Affairs and Academic Services Director Lindsey Burdick said she is still waiting to hear back from Mark Kimball, director of Public Safety, about changing the skateboarding rule on campus. Current University policy restricts people from using skateboards on campus sidewalks. Burdick said students who want the rule to be changed should contact Kimball to quicken the process.
• A TABOR hearing was scheduled to be held in Madison at 5:30 p.m. April 5. Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson) and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) will also be on campus April 10 to speak about TABOR. The event is open to the public, and will be held in the Presidents Room of the Student Center at 2 p.m.
• A motion was introduced for Senate to approve one-time funding amounts for student organizations. According to the motion, the total funds allocated will be $23,425.