At the final meeting of the year, senators held mid-term elections for all chairs, and Student Senate proudly announces its new executive committee:
        
Academic Affairs: Evan Osheroff
Business Affairs:  Jared Itkowitz
Campus Life:Megan Larcom
Internal Development:Gerrit Betz
Communications:Lauren Hudock
Finance:  Alan Eaton
Senate Chair:  Joel Bergstein

The Senate also reworded one of its funding bylaws so that groups who come for allocations to reimburse them for expenses already incurred may only get funding at the discretion of the Finance Committee. This should encourage groups to approach Senate for money before their events take place, but still leaves discretionary room for those events that are urgent or otherwise couldn't make it to the Senate floor before they occurred.

The week prior, discussion and internal matters dominated the agenda in the General Body Meeting. One external matter was decided, which was the passage of the Elections Board slate. For the fall/winter referendum, the elections board will include HSS fifth-year Franklin Williams (last spring's elections board president) and SCS senior Joe Arasin.

The referendum will ask students if they are in favor of a smoking ban on campus by 2010 as outlined in the Healthy Campus 2010 policy. Senate encourages all students to read the recommendation and form an opinion on it. Send any feedback to Gerrit Betz with "Senate" somewhere in the subject line.

Senate heard several reports from officers and committees. Student Body President and HSS senior Karl Sjogren reported that there will be a gender-neutral housing pilot study, in which students can list preferences to live with opposite gendered roommates or may pick "no preference." Business Affairs reported good news on computer kiosks in the University Center: we may be able to receive funding assistance from University Advancement. 

$421 to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 100% Free

Date: November 19, 2006. 7:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. DH 2210, Connan Room, Danforth, Peter Room.

Request: 100% Free was an alternative to the TBA showing that Sunday. IVCF had showings of Batman Begins and provided free food and board games for students to play. This event was a joint effort between various religious organizations on campus, but has no religious aspect.

Committee Decision: The Committee decided that while this is a good event and provides a great alternative, the Finance Committee would like to see IVCF seek money from AB Films as well as many of their other co-sponsors.

General Body: Passed unanimously by voice-vote.

$100 to S.H.A.R.E for World AIDS Dinner

Date: November 29, 2006. 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Rangos 3

Request: S.H.A.R.E. was seeking $100 for AB Tech for its World AIDS Dinner. The primary purpose of the event will be to educate the Carnegie Mellon community and raise awareness about how AIDS is affecting various cultures around the world. The event will include live music and entertainment.

Committee Decision: The Finance Committee very much wanted to fund this event, but it was clear that ticket sale profits did go to charity. Regardless of this fact, the Committee wanted to bring this motion before Student Senate under the reasoning that the Student Senate money would go to the functionality of the event, not to charity.

General Body: Some in the general body felt that this motion would go against funding principles: it is against Senate's bylaws to spend the Activities Fee on charity, since it raises various dilemmas. However, most senators felt that since the money paid for AB Tech fees and did not directly go to charity, the event was acceptable. It passed 13-2-4 on a 3/4th majority vote.

$500 to International Student Union for Booth 2007 (Postponed Definitely)

Date: Spring 2007

Request: International Student Union, composed of all of the international students on campus, is entering the blitz booth competition this year and needs money for purchase of lumber and materials to get its booth off the ground.

Committee Decision: The Committee decided to fund the ISU $500 which is a standard allocation for a blitz booth. Last year we provided BioSAC with $500 for its blitz booth. The Committee feels that all blitz booths should receive equal treatment, just as all independent groups receive equal treatment from Joint Funding Committee (JFC).

General Body: During questions, it became clear that this booth was not actually a blitz booth; that was merely a miscommunication from Carnival Committee to the group. So, the motion was tabled until Senate's first meeting of the spring session.

Vote: Simple Majority
Media Restriction: none
Original Request: $2,500

$500 to Dance Marathon for Dance Marathon Operations

Date: February 3-4, 2007

Request: Dance Marathon is looking for supplementary income to its JFC budget to account for unforeseen costs. This arises from two different causes. The first is that Dance Marathon is no longer donating to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, which means they lose inkind support. In addition the organization is now holding the event in the spring semester. When the event was held in the fall, AB Tech did not charge full price because the event was used as a time to train new members. Because the event is now in the spring, the training is no longer needed, and the event if fully charged by AB Tech.

Committee Decision: The Committee thought this was a good allocation, and is glad to see that Dance Marathon is seeking funding from other funding sources. The Finance Committee believed that a $500 supplementation to their as far as a recommendation to JFC is concerned. Also the funds are justified, and the event provides a great service to campus.

General Body: The general body passed the motion unanimously because the change in cost was unpredictable for Dance Marathon's budgeting, and Dance Marathon is a popular event.
 

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