Student Council discussed a number of issues relating to contracted independent organizations at last night's meeting, including proposals to establish a CIO scholarship fund and to make the appropriations process more equitable for student groups.
The first piece of legislation, sponsored by Vice President for Operations Catherine Tobin, suggested the creation of a Contracted Independent Organization Scholarship Fund, which would set aside a total of $2,000 to provide individual students aid. Without such a scholarship fund, these students, according to Tobin, may struggle to pay CIO expenses not already covered through appropriations.
Though Council's Appropriations Committee cannot cover every CIO expense, the bill seeks to account for otherwise unconsidered expenses affecting students on the individual level. For example, Tobin said, current Council rules only allow for funding for four members of an organization to attend a CIO conference. Tobin noted that if other members wished to attend, they would often be forced to pay out of their own pockets for accommodations, food and other costs.
"We wanted to provide individuals the opportunity to come to us and explain why they need the money," Tobin said.
Tobin also presented two amendments to the current bylaws of Council's constitution, specifically in regards to the Appropriations Committee. Tobin said the first amendment, if approved, will make the committee more organized and would provide a procedure to follow, which in turn would make the appropriations process more equitable for all CIOs.
"We received criticism about the appropriations procedure last year and we wanted to fix it," Tobin said.
According to Tobin, the second amendment would allow CIOs to access more money on a semiannual, rather than annual, basis through a semiannual evaluation of the monetary surplus that remains after each year's appropriations. Any money remaining after the Appropriations Committee has allocated funds could then be redistributed to CIOs with additional needs during the spring semester.
College Rep. Sam Davies also presented legislation to Council last night, urging Council to support the use of fair trade products on Grounds.
"Free trade seeks greater equality in international trade," Davies explained. "The idea is to help those that don't benefit from a laissez-faire, open economy."
Davies said his legislation offers an opportunity for Council "to recognize what the Students Promoting Fair Trade has done and encourage them to promote their goals and ideas."
If this legislation is passed, Davies said, it would illustrate Council's desire for the University to offer free trade products.
Though Davies promoted the legislation, he maintained that if it is passed, the legislation should not imply that Council endorses the group Students Promoting Fair Trade.
"This is important for us to approve because it shows that if CIOs are active, then we [Council] will show support to them," Davies said. "But we aren't officially supporting Students Promoting Fair Trade, we're taking a stance that benefits them -- but that's not an endorsement."
The proposals will be voted on in two weeks at the next Council meeting.
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