By Kevin Pottebaum
Tuesday night Student Government held its weekly meeting to discuss their usual committee reports and to hear new business, which centers on organizations of the college asking for financial support for student life on campus. This week, Student Government found themselves in heavy debate regarding a couple of music related groups on campus in need of funding.

The first order of new business brought to attention was that of the Music Educators. The Music Educators is a group that couldn’t have a better name to suit themselves as they aim to provide extra opportunities outside of Morningside’s curriculum for those students wishing to become music educators. The group brought their request to the Student Government hoping to receive funds to help them attend the Iowa Music Education Association Conference (IMEAC) in Ames.

The IMEAC is a conference that is held over a weekend and the Music Educator’s budget can not afford for their group to attend the conference as the cost of registration and hotel fees goes above and beyond their estimated $150 that the group has in their personal budget. After hearing their case the Student Government later granted a motion that the group would be allowed $900 that was requested by the group but that any extra funds not used for registration and hotel fees be returned to the Student Government’s budget to be used for other student organizations.
           
The only other order of new business brought in front of the council was by yet another group dedicated to music on Morningside’s campus. SMAC (Student Music Advisory Council) has asked for help from Student Government to support the variety show that they will be putting on for the campus in March. Last year SMAC raised $700 with the show, all of which was donated to the Food Bank. Once again SMAC is planning on donating their entire proceeds as the cost to get in to the variety show is a free-will donation that will be donated to Mary Treglia this year.
           
SMAC’s request for funding from the Student Government was just over a hundred dollars for music that would be used in the show and over $580 that would go for advertising including printing and delivery costs as they hope to send out flyers to a 45 mile radius of Morningside Alums along with supporters and sponsors of Mary Treglia.

The first motion brought to voting by the senators was to support the group by covering the estimated cost of the advertising which was denied by a strong majority. After some discussion the Student Government then put forth the motion that half of the estimated cost of advertising would be provided to SMAC which was a much closer vote but again voted down by the senators.

The Student Government at that point went into heavy discussion of the topic and in a final decision voted for the motion that the business would be tabled until the topic could be brought forth in front of them again as they felt the information they had was not strong enough. They hope that Nick McGraw, who is one of the leaders of SMAC and has most of the information of costs for the variety show, can attend the discussion as he was unable to make it to this week’s meeting.

Other topics at the Student Government meeting that were addressed focused on many topics brought up in previous weeks. One big one was the idea of a speed bump in front of the student center which is at a standstill as the issue would have to go to the city not the school, since the street is city property. Also ideas were being discussed as to new ideas for gifts to be put in student mailboxes before breaks and students should be able to look forward to Mustang bracelets finding their way into the mailboxes, similar to the “Livestrong” bracelets but they will be black and show support for the school.

The Student Government would also like to acknowledge Kyle Bubb for receiving “Super Senator” of October for his involvement last month. The Super Senator honor is given to the member of Student Government that stands out for their attendance and effort within the group.

Funding
 (As reported at the Student Government meeting)

Student Government
Balance= $49,562.18
Left to Allocate= $25,000

(Nov. 12)