The ASUNM Senate passed the fall budget unanimously last night, distributing $41,005 among 47 student groups.
"We worked on it for about two and a half weeks straight," said Sen. Jenny French, chairwoman for the Senate Finance committee. "That's two weeks shorter than the normal process."
French said the committee did an excellent job funding groups with a limited amount of available money. She said student groups requested about $79,000 at the beginning of the budget process.
"I think every group that asked for funding got an adequate amount of money," French said. "We had some new groups go through the process this year and we were really excited to get these groups up and going."
Student groups receiving the highest amount of funding were: American Indian Science and Engineering Society, $2,620; the Association for Non-Traditional Students, $2,318; Student Special Events, $2,234; College Entrepreneurs Organization, $2,019; Associated Students of Theatre and Dance, $2,000; the Associated Students of UNM Senate, $1,849 and the Society for Creative Anachronism, $1,872.
French said new groups are allowed to receive a maximum of $750.
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Three groups didn't receive any funding. The Christian Student Organization and the Mac Users Group were denied funding because representatives from the organizations failed to show up for mandatory budget hearings. The Arnold Air Society withdrew its request.
The Senate also passed 45 presidential appointments by way of a bloc vote.
"Most of these people have done this for quite a while, and they do a great job," said Sen. Amy Cook, the chairwoman for the Presidential Appointment committee. "The appointments will take full responsibility for their duties upon Senate approval."
A presidential appointment fills a position in an executive agency.
Karen Abraham, the director of Alumni Relations and executive director of the UNM Alumni Association, was a guest speaker at last night's meeting. She said student government plays a vital role in connecting current students with alumni. It is especially important during Homecoming Week, Abraham said, because it gives the students an opportunity to welcome back alumni and show school spirit.
"We would like to connect and have synergy with the student government especially to promote tradition and school spirit," she said. "We feel that students are alumni, they're just in-house and haven't graduated yet."
ASUNM President Jennifer Onuska also addressed the Senate with information regarding the proposed Review Week, during which students would not be given any new material, projects or tests in the week prior to finals. She said she presented the plan before the Faculty Senate at its last meeting.
"I'm going to be honest, the Faculty Senate has reservations about the policy," Onuska said.
She said she will meet with five members from the Faculty Senate to "iron out the wrinkles in the policy."
Onuska said the Review Week plan will be an agenda item at the next Board of Regents' Academic and Student Affairs committee meeting.
