University of South Carolina Libraries
■ < ' ;• .- i" r, . .J ferring funds within the accounts of stu dent organizations, and administrating the funds in the “senate special projects account.” The major duty of the com mittee is the allocation of money. This happens in the fall and spring semesters. In the fall process, the majority of the budgets are carryover budgets, which means that clubs turn in a budget for the amount of money that was not spent in the last fiscal year. The committee re views each budget and verifies the amount budgeted. In the spring, all clubs submit a new budget for the next year. The committee receives $2.15 per full time student; this money is allocated to undergraduate student organizations. This process is much more difficult and can span up to three weeks. Each bud get is reviewed and prioritized by the committee based on the project’s value to the club’s mission and to the entire student body. Each organization is also given the opportunity to present then budget to the committee and explain any program. In all, the Finance Committee funds approximately 280 clubs, which includes undergraduate, graduate, law and medical school clubs. The Finance Committee also reviews all finance leg islation that does not originate in the committee. The chair of the commit tee is responsible for a portion of the treasurer’s workshop in which the fi nancial codes are explained to treasur ers of all student organizations. Along with the treasurer’s workshops, the Fi nance Committee plans to meet with each organization to discuss any prob lems or concerns prior to the spring al location process. The committee also concerns itself with current case law re garding the legality of mandatory stu dent activity fees and the administration of those fees to student organizations. The results of these decisions are con stantly compared to the current finan cial policies of our university to deter mine whether adaptations need to be nwlp The Judiciary Committee The Judiciary Committee reviews all legislation (except for finance bills) before it comes to the senate floor in or der to ensure that bills don’t conflict with existing codes or the SG constitu tion. Other responsibilities of the Judi ciary Committee include making rec ommendations for changes to the SG constitution and codes and, if needed, to serve as the court of impeachment. Currently, the Judiciary Committee is working with the Elections Commission toward the implementation of online voting. Multicultural Affairs Committee The Multicultural Affairs Commit tee was established in order to further the interests of minority students at USC. Members of the committee include Sara Buxton, Melinda Corasol, Sheena Ellis, Brian Hunter and Angela McCurry. The committee is planning to begin an an nual forum on race relations and involve Student Government in Black History month, Hispanic History Month and oth er programs coordinated through the Of fice of Multicultural Affairs. Also, we are planning to fomi a multicultural pres idential panel. Presently, the Multicul tural Committee is designing a survey to determine the diverse interaction of all cultures among students at USC. We want to know, as a whole, whether we are regressing or becoming more unit eu. ivdcuuy, wc nave uccunic awoic ui the interest in a Spanish television chan nel. In response to Spanish-speaking stu dents’ requests, we are working with the Department of Housing to add Univi sion, the largest Spanish TV channel, to Gamecock cablevision. If you would like to support this effort, all senators have petitions. If you have any further comments or concerns, please e-mail us at sgovem@vm.sc.edu or contact Chara ka Cook at 544-0115. Powers & Responsibility Committee The Powers and Responsibility Com mittee has been working very hard this year. Our duties include reviewing and making recommendations for appoin ments to ail SG positions arid filling all vacant senate seats. We also serve work in public rela tions for the senate and conduct the Stu dent Representation Program as outlined in the SG codes. To this date, we’ve been very successful in filling all open senate seats. Our biggest project this semester has been Meet Your Student Government day. All members of the P & R Com mittee served as active members of the Meet Your SG Day task force. We are also encourging senators to speak to stu dent organizations to inform them about SG and to get feedback from students about campus issues. Wfe are also working on the creation of a video documentary about SG that would be shown on RHA channel. Some of our other 1999-2000 goals are to encourage senators to work closely with the administration in their prospective colleges, and to create pub uc iorums in wmcn so can De accessi ble to all students. Members of the Pow ers and Responsibly Committee include Jotaka Eaddy, Erin Shackleford, Ashley Dantzler, Dentavius Barber, Jake Ward, Chris Ballou and Rachel HollowelL Feel free to contact any of us at 777-2654. Rules Coim'rttcc The Rules Committee is comprised of the chairpersons of all the commit tees. We meet at 4:15 on Wednesdays before the Senate meeting. During these meetings, each of the chairs gives a re port of what his or her committee has been working on. Also, one of the du ties of the Rules Committee is to keep track of senate absences. Wfe are in chaige of excusing or not excusing senators for missed meetings. If it becomes necessary, the Rules Committee has the duty of notifying sen ators who have missed four meetings that they are subject to involuntary res ignation. The Rules Committee is a very flexible committee compared to the oth er Senate committees. The Rules Com *mittee acts as a home base for the chair persons. It gives them a chance to bring back opinions of the committees on cer tain issues, as well as providing anoth er channel of communication between the chairpersons and Senate. Being that the Rules Corr.:.'.ittee is largely an administrative body, we can help work on any project and sponsor legislation on anything. The Rules Com mittee serves the Senate in a way that lends to the smooth running of the body in and out of the Senate chamber. Student Services Coovir,ittee The senate Student Services Com mittee is responsible for-promoting the activities and goals of Student Govern ment among the student body. We also strive to create projects that will bene fit the students and improve campus life • at USC. This year, Student Services has been working on several major projects. As a result of recent safety con cerns, the committee is exploring the option of a shuttle around campus to provide a safe way for students to get around at night. tl___:_i..j_:*i_l... I 11^0^/ upuuiu UlViUtA/ WUIU U JI1UI tie around campus or a central parking location where students can park at night and take the bus to their residence hall. This addition to campus safety can greatly decrease safety issues and al low students to feel safe at USC. In conjunction with Cabinet’s Di rector of Special Projects Timothy Clardy, Student Services is creating a proposal for “Adopt-a-Sidewalk.” This project will allow student organizations to adopt an area of campus to keep clean. Signs will be placed in each area to recognize the participating organization. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail sgovem@vm.sc.etiu. The Student Services Committee is co-chaired by Melissa Fletcher and Rebecca Payne. Members are Corey Ford, Joey Forten berry, Bree Goldberg and Jessica Lenti ni. Special to The Gamecock SG Vice President Brandon Anderson, President Pro Tem Leigh-Anne Travers and senator Dentavius Barber