SGA allocated $324.15 for UCA’s Interdenominational Christian Council’s event supplies and heard from Kevin Carter, associate vice president of facilities, who provided updates on campus renovations Oct. 30.
SGA initially denied the ICC’s request for funds but reconsidered and passed a motion after the ICC said its events are held on campus.
“We thought they were considered off campus which is why we didn’t allocate their supplies, but they clarified that their events were held on campus,” Senator Matt Moix said.
After the motion passed, Senator Lily Moritz expressed dissent, which is against SGA’s rule that discussion cannot take place after passing a motion. However, SGA adviser Taine Duncan said Moritz had raised her hand but no one saw.
“From my understanding of our reason as to why we didn’t fund — not only was because the events were off campus — but because a large portion of their event supplies are handouts,” Moritz said.
“They’re giving out rubber ducks to encourage interaction with the people who come to their events, which from my understanding, there were several other organizations that wanted to do events to appreciate those members on campus by giving out things to them.
“So based on the precedent we’ve already set, and the rules we’ve already set,” she said “If we are not allowing handouts for some, we cannot allow handouts for others.”
SGA adviser Duncan said, “Unfortunately, we can’t have discussion after the motion has already passed. We yield to a question or two, but it shouldn’t be an ongoing conversation or debate after the motion has passed.”
She said when an RSO requests to be reimbursed, it goes through a secondary review process.
“So if anything is stored off campus, or they do have the event off campus, then Vice President Vu going to be able to catch that and not reimburse for that as well,” Duncan said.
Kevin Carter said the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund gave UCA $7.8 million to renovate Schichtl Studio Arts building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Carter said McAlister Hall received several changes in the past year, including a new roof, expanded main lobby and renovated restrooms.
There will be a wheelchair ramp on the south side of the building.
He said UCA is also working on upgrading Irby and recently changed the lights to LED flat panels, which are brighter and more energy-efficient.
“It’s not one of the buildings getting a full HVAC renovation,” he said. “But we are about to start paying for projects in there.”
Carter said the Harding Centennial Plaza’s broken fountain recently received a new pump, which was on back-order due to pandemic-related supply problems, and should be fixed within a couple of weeks.
The naming ceremony for the wooden bear chair in the Ronnie Williams Student Center will be Nov. 14.