The Student Government Association (SGA) awarded Pre Student Osteopathic Medical Association (PreSOMA) and Habitat for Humanity contingencies during their Jan. 14 meeting. While PreSOMA was only awarded a partial contingency, Habitat for Humanity was awarded the full amount they asked for.
PreSOMA is a club that was founded this year for students planning on majoring in the Pre Health field. While Pre-health often means Biology or Chemistry, any major can eventually lead to pre-health. For example, Augustana recently sent a student on a full ride to Harvard medical school after that student majored in Dance Choreography at Augustana.
The money PreSOMA asked for would cover travel expenses to a national conference in Washington DC, national registration, guest speaker travel, and miscellaneous expenditure.
SGA decided on granting PreSOMA $500 to cover guest speaker travel with a vote of 26-5-0.
The logic behind the SGA’s decision revolved around the fact that PreSOMA was a new club. They thought that it would be good for the club to establish themselves on campus before expanding so much. When it came to the Washington DC conference, SGA thought that it would be better looking at Midwestern conferences to begin with.
David Sommers, president of SGA, encouraged PreSOMA to try and expand locally before branching too far out. “We’re for the club doing a little bit more research on their end of what the Quad Cities and closer access to resources they may have.”
Sommers was also very encouraging to PreSOMA to return later when they have become more established. “We’re more than willing to help them in the best way possible and the best way the senate feels is to give them a liaison to outline a very good plan for the future,” said Sommers.
SGA also said that PreSOMA needed to make their contingency a little more specific. They greatly encouraged them to come back with another contingency asking for the money not granted at this meeting.
Habitat for Humanity approached SGA with a contingency to help fund their spring break trip to volunteer and build houses in Birmingham, Alabama. They were granted the full amount of money asked for in their contingency.
The only hesitation SGA originally had towards their contingency was the amount dedicated for gas. They asked for $3.50 per gallon of as they would use, which some members thought was high. Augustana’s Habitat for Humanity president, Lauren Becker, clarified that that amount was precautionary due to weather. In past years, the drive has sometimes lasted an extra seven hours, meaning that more gas could be needed. It is also in the SGA constitution that any money not used would be returned.
The SGA passed the contingency on a voice vote. All 31 members voted yes on granted the full contingency to Augustana’s branch of Habitat for Humanity.
Committee meeting highlights included Campus Improvements wanting to start a service where instead of using ACES, students could have an escort walk them home and Student Activities wanting to give out chapstick and/or handwarmers to students.