Students will vote on an amendment that will allow for the recomposition of the Financial Affairs Committee, which makes allocations to student organizations next fall semester, Student Government Association Attorney General Ryan Sprinkle said.
The amendment, which was originally slated for Tuesday’s spring election, will not take place until next fall because all amendments must be posted online at least 14 days prior to an election in order for the amendments to be on the ballot, Sprinkle said.
“The FAC recomposition amendment passed the Senate on Feb. 24, failing to reach the 14 day requirement,” Sprinkle said. “As such, the amendment will be placed on the fall Homecoming ballot.”
During the revision of the constitution, members of the Constitution Revision Committee worked under the assumption that representatives of the FAC would come from the Senate, the SOURCE, the SGA vice president of Financial Affairs and treasurer, Sprinkle said.
However, according to the previous constitution, the FAC was composed of 16 members, several of which came from student organizations that no longer exist, Sprinkle said.
After the Senate approval of the proposed constitution, Sprinkle said the SGA was informed that the FAC operated with more representatives than those identified in the proposed constitution.
SGA President James Fowler then convened with the executive committee to discuss the issue, Sprinkle said.
“Through this committee meeting, the committee outlined how the FAC should be composed,” he said.
The constitution that was voted on and passed by students on Feb.1 defines FAC membership as eight total members, six senators from the Senate Finance Committee and two members from the SOURCE, according to an e-mail from Fowler to Mark Nelson, vice president for Student Affairs.
The amendment will call for five members on the Senate Finance Committee, three members of the SOURCE and two representatives that will be appointed by the University vice president for Student Affairs, according to the e-mail.
“With these changes, I am once again completely confident that the new constitution will create the most transparent, accountable, inclusive and functional government,” Fowler said in the e-mail.
Sprinkle said in an e-mail to Nelson that the recent exhaustion of the FAC budget provides two options for the FAC activities.
According to the e-mail, the first option would be for the FAC to stand adjourned until the beginning of the next fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2011, unless additional funds are collected.
After receiving the next fiscal year’s funds, the first option would call for the vice president of Financial Affairs to work with the FAC advisor to schedule a meeting after the amendment is voted on.
The second option, in the opinion of the SGA, is the best option for the students and student organizations, the e-mail stated. It allows the FAC to distribute funds, if collected, to organizations before the next fiscal year.
If funds are allocated before the first Monday in April and September, the second option calls for a meeting of the vice president of Financial Affairs, the FAC advisor, the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement and the SOURCE.
These organizations will each send representatives to the meetings that will advise the FAC. As advisers, the students will be asked to fully participate in the proceedings and discussions of the FAC meeting with the exception of serving as voting members, according to the e-mail.
“Option two allows for the fact to continue with its operations if funding is located, incorporate diverse student leaders from across campus and award funds to deserving student organizations,” Sprinkle said in the e-mail.
