STAFF CHAT
The Division of Finance and Administration presented their updated meal plan after receiving feedback on the latest proposal. With the new revisions, the Maroon Unlimited Plan will contain no swipe exchanges and 800 Bonus Bucks a semester, the Silver Plan will contain three weekly meal swipe exchanges and 400 Bonus Bucks a semester, and the Bronze Plan will contain five weekly meal swipe exchanges and 100 Bonus Bucks.
They aimed to measure SGA’s support of the revisions, representatives said. Andrew Wells, vice president for Student Affairs, requested all elected members of SGA to vote on the changes, and that if SGA approves, that would be considered a formal SGA endorsement.
DELIBERATION
SGA should consider the implications of officially endorsing controversial changes, President Omar Ratrut said. Senior Senator Alex Brown said that if SGA didn’t endorse the revised plan, the department would return to the previous plan. Sophomore Senator Andrew Cernosek motioned to vote, with 15 senators voting for the revisions while Sophomore Senators Will Regan and Andrew Cernosek and Junior Senator Camryn Sperling, abstained.
USO FUNDING PRESENTATIONS
TRINITY DIVERSITY CONNECTION
Trinity Diversity Connection (TDC) requested $37,065, unchanged from last year’s request. TDC represents marginalized communities at Trinity and supports equity, inclusion and belonging through their events, representatives said. They have not spent their entire budget this year, but plan to spend the remainder on various end-of-year events.
STUDENT PROGRAMMING BOARD
The Student Programming Board (SPB) requested $235,880, a $34,805 increase from last year’s. They intend to double the number of committee chairs in the organization and create a new athletics engagement committee position. They also requested $40,000 for Welcome Week activities and events, but rather than a “week” of events, they suggested spending the $40,000 on a Finn Wolfhard concert.
QUESTIONS FROM SGA:
Judicial Chair Odi Aneji asked about their Welcome Week line item, which allocated $10,000 to each of the four committees to host one event during the first week of school. An SPB representative said that events can be expensive, but that they do plan to spend the full amounts.
Senator Sperling also asked about the Finn Wolfhard concert, questioning how much extra it would cost for setup. Representatives said setup would cost around $12,000, and they would pull that money out of other line items in their budget.
Inclusion and Belonging chair Ayesha Farrukh expressed that “biweekly programming” might overwhelm students, leading to less engagement. They said that it is SPB’s job to provide accessible events to students, but that it is ultimately up to the student body to attend.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
SGA requested $25,775. Senator Brown asked about plans for future events, and SGA wanted events to be more involved and table for students to express grievances. Assistant Treasurer Denae French asked why compensation decreased for cabinet chairs, and SGA said it was due to consolidation.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STUDENT AMBASSADORS
Trinity University Student Ambassadors (TUSA) requested $31,590, an increase of $29,950. The organization spent $18.564.98 in 2025-2026, and requested an increase due to inflation, stating that they spent more than they received last year.
USO DELIBERATION AND VOTING
TRINITY UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEER ACTION COMMUNITY — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $80,702
SGA funded TUVAC $28,140 out of the requested $28,990. With line item cuts to supplies and promotional items, Senator Brown motioned to partially fund with 15 yays, no nays and no abstentions.
RECREATIONAL SPORTS — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $115,850
SGA funded $115,850 of the requested $119,800. Senators suggested lowering equipment funding to $4,000 from $6,000, van mileage to $8,000 from $10,500 and collectively agreed to spend $42,450 instead of $45,000 on equipment. Senator Cinque motioned to partially fund for $115,850, with 15 yays, no nays and no abstentions.
TRINITONIAN — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $80,720
SGA funded the Trinitonian, Trinity’s independent student-run newspaper, for $80,720 of the requested $97,786. Senators suggested cutting printing costs, as two editions were online only. Funding over $90,000 would create a precedent, requiring SGA to fund the Trinitonian possibly unfeasible amounts in the future, President Ratrut said.
Head Treasurer Khushi Kakadia* said cutting funding closer to $80,720 would allow the Trinitonian to be self-sustaining and use its entire budget. Vice President Stovall suggested lowering wages to $55,000 due to the Trinitonian’s new tiered system. Senator Clark motioned to partially fund for $80,720, to which 16 senators voted in favor with one abstention.
MIRAGE — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $43,259
SGA funded the Mirage, Trinity’s student-run yearbook, $43,259 of the requested $52,010. The five-year average for funding was $43,259, Senator Brown said, and motioned to partially fund at $43,259. Senators voted to partially fund the five-year average with no line items cut with 16 yays, 0 nays and 1 abstention.
GREEK COUNCIL — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $30,770
SGA funded Greek Council for $30,770 of the requested $52,970. Senator Clark suggested funding $5,000, rather than $15,000, for the speaker line. Senator Rocha motioned to partially fund, with 17 yays, one nay and no abstentions.
TRINITY DIVERSITY CONNECTION — FULLY FUNDED FOR $37,065
SGA funded TDC for $37,065. Senator Cernosek motioned to fully fund for $37,065, with 18 yays, no nays and no abstentions.
STUDENT PROGRAMMING BOARD — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $157,620
SGA unanimously funded SPB, who plans on-campus events, for $157,620 of the requested $235,880. Senator Sperling said that because SPB is doubling the amount of their administrative staff, compensation for those members should be cut from the requested $17,760 to $12,200. Senators deliberated on the member development line item, but to partially increase it to $2,500 from the requested $4,500. Senators decreased funding for Chocolate Fest from $15,000 to $13,000 to match spending. Senator Clark motioned to partially fund, which SGA senators unanimously approved.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION — FULLY FUNDED FOR $25,775
SGA funded itself for $25,775. Senator Smith motioned to fully fund, with 15 yays, no nays and no abstentions.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STUDENT AMBASSADORS — PARTIALLY FUNDED FOR $29,120
SGA funded TUSA for $29,120 of the requested $31,590. Senators made line item cuts to headshots and the senior happy hour. Senator Rocha motioned to partially fund, with 17 yays, no nays and one abstention.
*Khushi Kakadia is the social media coordinator for the Trinitonian.
