At the Student Council meeting that took place Tuesday night, Feb. 9, in the Student Center, Eastern Michigan University’s NAACP chapter was awarded an allocation of $639.17 after it presented a Business and Finance Appeal to the Senate. The allocation passed 16-0-3.
The organization was denied an allocation for $1,513.19 from the Business and Finance Committee at its Tuesday, Feb. 2 meeting. The allocation will be used to host the annual Image Awards. The allocation was amended during the Senate meeting to cut the EMU catering costs of $874.02.
NAACP President Elizabeth Lang said the Image Awards are not just an NAACP event, “it’s a community event.”
Recipients of the Image Awards go to students of color who help the local community. Senator Tanisha Morton said the award ceremony is similar to the EMU Gold Medallion Award Ceremony.
Lang said the event usually costs around $3,000 but the organization has made an attempt to cut down on costs this year. The NAACP is currently looking to fundraise approximately $2,000 more for the event.
The Senators also received an update regarding the 2016 Student Government Election from Jacob Butterfield from the Election Commission. The deadline to apply for any Student Government position is Feb. 22. Active campaigning begins on Feb. 29.
Senators Joseph Pernicano and Michael Gee accepted nominations as Election Commission Representatives. After speaking before the Senate, Pernicano was elected 10-5-2.
Speaker of the Senate Kiera Fegan updated the Senate on the Energy and Sustainability Commission. She said the commission now has its main objectives and will host the “Get Off Your Glass” event at noon, April 2. Participating student will work to clean EMU’s campus. Students will meet at the Student Government offices, room 342 of the Student Center.
During her report, Vice President Anjali Martin said the EMU Day in Lansing will happen April 12. Availability for the event is 20 people from the EMU community. Martin said the day will give attendees experience with laws effecting the university.
“You learn a lot about the issues Eastern is facing at the state level” Judicial Sergeant John McAllister said.
The Senate also received a recap of the Sexual Assault Prevention week. Martin also said over 550 people from EMU signed the Sexual Assault Prevention Pledge.
Provisional Senator Travis Tharp was voted in as a senator.