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Minnesota State University, Mankato
MSSA Budget Meeting
CHELSEA MILLER & ALLISON MATTHEWS | staff writers MEGAN KADLEC | news editor
Student activity fee appeals were the topic of debate at MSSA’s Wednesday meeting. Three groups of students appealed their budgets: Student Activities, Greek Life and the Reporter. Appeals made for Greek Life and Student Activities were minor arguments involving less than $2,000 each while the Reporter appeal was more substantial and required extensive debate. Associate Director for Student Activities Greg Wilkins appealed the budget recommendation for the Student Activities Committee. Wilkins wants approximately $1,906 more than what was proposed. The extra funds would go to salary benefits for the CEO as well as health insurance for staff. The senate asked if there was any other funds that Wilkins could pull from, since the student activity fund is nearing its cap. “I just don’t have any more dollars,” Wilkins said. The extra funding for Student Activities was approved by MSSA.
Assistant Director of Greek Life John Bulcock also came before the senate Wednesday to appeal the budget for Greek ife. Bulcock said the money would go towards a new program called, “Emerging Leaders.” The program has not been approved and is at a very early stage but a syllabus has been made. Greek life would use $500 towards the chartering fee for bringing the program to the University. “The remaining $500 would be for operational expenses that could be incurred,” Bulcock said. The appeal made by Greek Life was ultimately passed by the Senate. The Reporter is the studentrun newspaper on campus, and asked for a budget increase of $96,800, as opposed to the $62,000 they asked for the previous year. Editor-in-Chief Kyle Ratke presented his appeal in which he said the money being asked for would go towards directly funding a full-time ad sales manager. The full-time ad manager
Budget Hearing / page 7
chelsea miller • msu reporter Gregory Wilkins made his appeal for Student Activities in front of MSSA Wednesday. Greek Life and the Reporter also made appeals.
inside: Voices.........................................4 Sports.............................................9 A&E...............................................12 Classifieds...................................15
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The results are in: Shrestha and Schieler
megan kadlec • msu reporter Soyal Shrestha, left, was elected President for the 80th MSSA Tuesday evening. David Schieler, right, ran unopposed for Vice President. Voting took place Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ALLISON MATTHEWS
staff writer
It was students’ turn to express their voices Tuesday as they elected Soyal Shrestha and David Schieler as the new leaders of MSU’s own “Voice for Students,” the Minnesota State Student Association. The 80th MSSA will boast Shrestha as president and Schieler as vice president for the 2012-2013 academic year. Shrestha was not overly emotional when he heard the news, yet he gave maximum effort when it came to campaigning, he said. Shrestha, currently a College of Science Engineering Technology senator, garnered 811 votes while current Off-Campus senator Mike Ramirez got 562 votes. Schieler, currently an Allied Health and Nursing senator, drew 1,068 votes for the vice presidential seat. Approximately 11 percent
of students eligible to vote turned out at the polls. “It was obvious that we’re not going to get the voter turnout as big as last year,” Shrestha said. “Last year, we had three big parties with big number of candidates running for various senate seats as well as the athletic teams campaigning against the cutting off of their department.” Schieler said the Maverick Ticket party hung 450 posters, while Shrestha hung more than 400 posters as an independent party. He also said that despite an overf low of student emails, CSU tabling, open forums and social media efforts to engage students, voter turnout was still dismal. “I ran for student senate wanting to advocate for students, wanting to do what the students want me to do,” Schieler said. “But I’m concerned that regardless of the efforts of the student senate or its candidates, student apathy has set in.
I encourage students to be active and take a stance on anything at this point. Our ears are open, but students need to voice their opinion.” Shrestha hopes to engage with students as well continuing the transparent approach that the 79th MSSA has heralded as one of its biggest efforts. Some of the hot topics Shrestha says he wants to tackle for the 80th MSSA will surround prayer spaces on campus, extended learning and student participation in University sports. Schieler said his goals for the 80th MSSA involve clear leadership, enhancing school pride, development of student services and more community involvement. “I would like to thank everyone who supported me during this process, and I would also welcome any suggestions, criticism and ideas for the 80th MSSA to better the student life on campus and future of our students,” Shrestha said.
DID THE TIMBERWOLVES GIVE US FALSE HOPE EARLIER THIS SEASON? PAGE 4