By Amanda Alfanos, Editor-in-Chief
A new senator joined the Student Senate body Tuesday to vote on a bill.
Sen. Katie Alsup (sophomore at-large), was sworn in by Chief Justice Zane Anderson. Alsup is a political science/history education sophomore.
Katie Alsup
She filled the vacant seat previously occupied by Neil Cooley, political science sophomore.
Senate allotted funding to the Miss Indian OCU Pageant through SB 039, written by Sens. Chris Macella (mathematics) and Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan (international).
The event was funded $365, but students initially requested $690.
The appropriations committee, lead by Sen. Scott (business) and committee chairman, recommended a cut of $350, which would allot $340 to the event.
Initial funding requests included food, theater rental and various gifts. The committee’s adjustment cut food and contestant giveaway requests.
“We decided to cut the food considering it’s not necessary to have considering the event is later in the evening,” Scott said when explaining the committee’s cuts.
Senators proposed two amendments to counter the appropriations committee’s changes.
Sen. Caleb Howard (freshman at-large) proposed an amendment to cut funding by an additional $40. He said he didn’t think it was necessary to pay for emcees.
Ashton Glover, cell/molecular biology senior and pageant representative, said it’s American Indian tradition to honor community members through gifts at the pageant, including emcees.
The amendment failed by a vote of 3 to 13.
Sen. Macella authored Amendment 2, which reallotted funding for contestant flowers and gifts and removed funding for additional “flowers and gifts.”
The amendment passed 11 to 3 and the adjusted bill allotting $365 passed by consent.
Miss Indian OCU was funded $450 last year, said Justin DaMetz, president of the Senate.
There is about $4,600 left in rolling appropriations, said Sen. Sarah Cook (Greek, president pro-tempore).
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