Funding Request
Delta Sigma Pi: Fully funded for $2,552
The business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, requested $2,552 from SGA to send members to LEAD school, an event that helps Delta Sigma Pi members network and build professional skills. Senators were hesitant to fund registration fees, as Delta Sigma Pi collects dues, which they said could be used to cover the fees. However, loading the cost onto the organization would drain much of their student account funds, and senators unanimously decided to fully fund the event. Senior Senators Sabrina Cinque and Rosalie Leykum both abstained from the vote. Senator Leykum said she wanted more information about how they spent their dues.
Trinity University Players Society: Partially funded for $1,300
The Trinity University Players Society (TUPS) requested $1,835.66 for their annual shadow performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show. TUPS’ Rocky Horror Picture Show has been an annual tradition for 50 years as a Halloween-themed event and a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, according to TUPS. The organization requested the money for the rights to screen the movie, costumes, props and makeup. Senators said they would need a full itemized list of the costumes, props and makeup in order to fully fund the request. Senators also acknowledged the fact TUPS has $6,000 in their student account, which they argued would be enough to cover costumes, props and makeup. Senators voted to partially fund TUPS for $1,300, with Senior Senators Rohit Shetty, Rosalie Leykum, Alexander Brown and Justin Wartell voting against the motion. Senator Leykum said that the senate should have fully funded TUPS on the condition that they come back with a list of line items that the senators requested.
Trinity University’s Mock Trial: Fully funded for $1,908.12.
Trinity University’s Mock Trial team requested $1,908.12 to attend an upcoming invitational. The Mock Trial team made it to the Opening Round Championship Series last year, skyrocketing their rankings to be among some of the best schools in the nation. Senators debated whether to make the Mock Trial team pay for registration fees, as they collect dues, but they acknowledged that the team attends many events a year that all require registration fees, and to make the team pay for all of them would be a heavy financial burden. Senators fully funded the request unanimously.
The Society of Women Engineers: Partially funded for $3,269.08.
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) presented a request for $5,158.36 to attend one of the largest engineering conferences in the nation in Austin. SWE told SGA the organization helps women develop their careers in engineering through networking and skill-development in the field. They noted that students had gotten internships due previous attendance. Senators were cautious about the price of the hotel, totaling over $2,000. Senators discussed denying the request and asking them to request help from the engineering department to come up with a more complete budget. Senators decided to cut the number of hotel rooms for 15 students from four rooms to two on the second night, stating that students won’t be forced to drive home at night after the conference. Senators said that they encourage the organization to also explore funding from the engineering department. The request was partially funded for $3,269.08. Sophomore Senator Nellie Clark abstained from the vote and later said she felt like SGA was encroaching on the decisions of the SWE, telling them that they didn’t need to stay another night at the conference.
Trinity Community Garden Club: Fully funded for $6,102.30.
The Trinity Community Garden Club requested $6,102.30 from SGA to replace stolen equipment, as well as for investments into community outreach, new beekeeping equipment and bird feeders. The Garden Club had most of their tools stolen over the summer, as their main storage shed did not lock. They requested funding to buy back the stolen equipment, as well as purchasing a new shed and locks. Senators expressed that they saw the immediate need for new equipment, as well as the vast improvements the club had made to the gardens over the past year. Senators fully funded the request unanimously.
Trinity University French Club: Fully funded for $664.84.
The Trinity University French Club requested $664.84 to screen “La Main du Diable” and provide French pastries from Bakery Lorraine for Halloween as a way to promote French culture and language. Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jessica Edonick said that the university could give the club a tax-exempt form. Due to the tax exemption, the request was partially funded for $642.54 by unanimous vote.
Climate Check
Senator Clark said a first-year told them about translation services at their church and wondered if the same accommodations are provided at the Trinity’s chapel. Senator Clark said they would reach out to Chaplain Alex Serna-Wallender.
Inclusion and Belonging Chair Ayesha Farrukh said that someone’s car had been vandalized in view of security cameras, but TUPD said that the cameras didn’t see. Farrukh said issues with security cameras might be representative of a wider, alarming issue. The issue will be brought up during SGA’s staff chat with TUPD.
First-year Senator Hannah Kim brought up the issue of ants around campus, especially around Murchison Hall. Senator Kim will reach out to the new facilities director to see if an exterminator can be brought on campus to address the issue.
Senator Cinque said that she was concerned about the lack of lighting around the firepit in front of Murchison hall. Dean Edonick said architects had recently visited campus to start planning residence and community area redesigns, and that she will raise the issue with them.
