Cauldron

Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Front Page

Senate Bill 31, which passed last semester, has gone into effect with what some student leaders have described as unexpected results.

The bill was originally passed by the Student Government Association, and, after being contested in a Referendum filed by the Cauldron, was upheld in May by the Judicial Council. The provisions of the bill call for a three-way division of the student activity fee, creating separate funding for student publications, the Office of Student Affairs and student activities. The latter continues to fund the Student Organization Committee members, but a publications fee was created to fund both the Cauldron and Laurels literary magazine.

Formerly, the publications were part of the SOC, but the bill effectively removed them from that group. The bill also called for the creation of a publications committee headed by John Hittinger, vice president of academic affairs. As of press time, no committee has yet been appointed.

According to Cauldron Editor Amber Chemam, this poses a problem because, without a committee formed, allocations for the student newspaper cannot be officially approved.

"I'm not sure how they are going to handle this situation," Chemam said. "It's my understanding we do not yet have a budget approved for this year. The idea was that a committee would do that, but there isn't one yet."

Laurels Editor Joseph Colvin said he also has doubts concerning the bill and the Laurels' subsidy for this semester.

"Initially, I was afraid that Laurels wasn't going to get enough budget to print," Colvin said. "Things are still up in the air. I still don't know if we are approved for the budget or not."

Other SOC leaders have also expressed concern regarding the effects of Senate Bill 31's passage.

Student Government Association President Josh Gautreau, who created the bill, said that although he expected rough patches with the implementation of Senate Bill 31, he is concerned with the current situation.

"We are partially happy," Gautreau said. "When we first wrote the bill, the idea was that Cauldron and Laurels would still get funding, just from a different office. We didn't know that organizing the committee wouldn't happen over the summer. Cauldron and Laurels haven't received funding yet, and that's the main problem."

Council of Clubs Chair Marcella Vasquez said she supports the affected organizations but also agrees with Senate Bill 31's stated purpose. "I think the Cauldron and Laurels are a very important part of the student body," she said. "But, on the flipside, I understand there should be a separate entity for publications, activities and student affairs."

Continued...

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