SA voted to fund a project to provide community recycling bins in their meeting Wednesday.
Maria Martinez, Sikes Hall representative, introduced a bill to Congress to provide $500 to help purchase recycling bins for the entire ACU community. With little discussion, the bill passed overwhelmingly. There is now no money remaining in the congressional project fund this semester.
The bill follows a growing trend within SA to support recycling initiatives. Previously, $550 had been given to both Edwards and Morris Halls to allow their respective representatives to purchase recycling bins, all of which was taken from the congressional project fund.
Money from the bill will contribute to the purchase of recycling bins across the street from Nelson and McDonald Halls. The XO Initiative, a line item in the congressional budget which can be spent in any manner, will add $1,150 to the project. The senior class pitched in another $650. The bins are expected to be usable by next semester and will be open to the Abilene community.
Most of SA’s budget this year has been spent. Student groups have used approximately 90 percent of the funds they were awarded. However, with a significant amount remaining, Executive Treasurer Joseph Austin said he would prefer to spend leftover funds rather than allow them to rollover to next semester. Projecting the amount of money that will be left unspent by the end of the week, Austin, senior accounting and pre-law major from Houston, devised possible changes to the budget with other executive cabinet members.
“I do want to do something with these leftover funds,” Austin said. “I didn’t want it to just sit there.”
Austin expects to be able to spend $2,250 on Greatest Idea Challenge scholarship funds and $4,826 on a new printer for the SA office. Additionally, $325 may be added to the community recycling bins project.
Austin said he intends to purchase a printer that will not only meet the needs of Congress, but also campus student groups.
“The printer/copier in Students’ Association is not just for the officers and SA,” Austin said. “Every student organization on-campus that’s recognized can use the printer and copier for their organization.”
The Greatest Idea Challenge will be a competition conducted by SA next semester in which students will have the opportunity to suggest ways the campus can be improved. Finalists will compete for $2,000, $1,500 or $1,000 scholarships, the total cost of which will be $4,500. Executive President Rebecca Dial said half of the money would have to come from SA.
“The President’s Office is going to match scholarship money,” Dial said. “We’re trying to go ahead and pay our part this semester so that next semester we don’t have to be trying to find that money while we’re trying to do the competition.”
SA will not conduct another meeting before Christmas Break. Richie Elmore, sophomore political science major from Austin, will be studying abroad next semester and resigned from his position as Hardin Administration Building representative.
Absent members:
Gabe Elorreaga, senior vice president
Brady Kile, junior president
Bryson Shake, junior vice president
Bo Braddock, junior treasurer
Rodney Johnson, sophomore class president
Colton McCoy, sophomore vice president
Stephen Estrada, sophomore treasurer
Ethan Morman, freshman president
Austin Wade, freshman vice president
Brad Hall, Mabee Hall representative
Asim Dobani, McKinzie Hall representative
Kaitlyn Warton, McDonald Hall representative
David Sanderson, Edwards Hall representative
Elizabeth Cansino, SRWC representative
Connor Vansteenburg, off-campus representative
Emily O’Rear, Sherrod representative
Colin McClintock, Chambers representative
Stevon Carr, COBA representative
Alex Falcon, Hardin representative
