The Associated Student Government (ASG) usually holds meetings from 3-5 p.m. on the first and third Monday of every month. This meeting was on Feb. 12 in the Boardroom of the 1000 Building. Students may attend if they would like to meet their representatives or voice an issue. In addition, students may meet with their representatives in the Student Life Office on most weekdays on the third floor of the PUB.
The next meeting will be Feb. 26.
Recognition
New Mini-grant Template
A revised mini grant template was recognized. Program Support Supervisor Micaela Smith presented a simpler version of the mini grant request form. The newest addition to the request form is the itemized list of expenses, which includes tax, shipping fees and summary of expenses.
Cambodian Student Club
Cambodian Student Club member and representative Socheata Long explained that their club’s goal was to share Cambodian culture, food and language with the SCC community. Their first club activity will be March 1 at the Global Showcase, where they will share information about Cambodian games, desserts and possibly traditional clothing.
They plan to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays in Room 1725 (1700 Building).
Drama Club
Drama Club President Danny Bracy and club member Cassia Ward spoke about the club’s goal of allowing less experienced actors, writers, directors, creative designers and more to have a chance at expressing what they’re most interested in.
Bracy said he wants to give more opportunities to their members so they are not overshadowed. He also plans on producing one show every quarter, led completely by students and directed by himself. Numerous workshops surrounding costume design and writing will be available to students.
Meetings are planned for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 4112 (4000 Building).
Fencing Club
Fencing Club representative Brian Tansil talked about the club members’ passion for fencing and their goal to share and teach the sport to anyone interested in learning. The club states that fencing is a good way to relieve stress and is not a dangerous sport.
The Fencing Club was established in the fall quarter, but has only now been recognized due to the initial lack of proper coaches to teach members the art of fencing.
Meetings are planned for 1:45-3:15 p.m. on Fridays in Room 3025 (3000 Building).
Mini Grants
Japanese Culture Club
Although absent from their previous mini grant request meeting, Japanese Culture Club (JCC) President Rouen de la O and Club Adviser Laura Fujita came promptly to request $401.50 to visit the Grand Tsubaki Shrine, one of North America’s rare Japanese shrines.
However, since the club began in the fall quarter, JCC had a baseline budget of $595 instead of the amount they thought it was, $333. Fujita said $50 has been continuously taken out of the budget to provide food for JCC members. De la O was unsure of how much their true baseline budget was.
The JCC representatives said they are planning to advertise the opportunity to visit the shrine with four large Costco pizzas on Feb. 28 from 12:30 until all slices are eaten. The journey to the shrine would be on a charter bus and de la O said he did not expect the trip to exceed five hours.
With a new understanding of JCC’s budget, the requested mini grant amount was amended to $415.50 instead of the previously requested amount.
The Grand Tsubaki Shrine mini grant request was approved and the trip will take place on April 21.
Requested: $401.50
Granted: $415.50
VCT Club
Visual Communications Technology (VCT) Club member Robin Oliver brought forth a revised mini grant request from the previous meeting. The VCT Club plans on holding their 2018 Portfolio Show at the A/NT Gallery, a venue they have used and enjoyed before.
Oliver presented a marketing request of $770 so the VCT Club can print 200 postcard invitations, postages, and printing programs to add information about artists on the cards. With the budget fixed for cheaper production within Shoreline, the VCT Club has compromised to request a smaller amount in order to reach their goal before the exhibit begins on May 1.
The VCT Club was granted all of their requested funds, after ASG members thanked them for dropping the amount down.
Requested: $770
Granted: $770
Hiking Club
The final mini grant request saw representative Zachary Peeples of the Hiking Club and their request of $1,610 for their next hiking trip to Wallace Falls State Park in Goldbar on March 3.
The Hiking Club’s previous request of the same amount of funds, which would cover a luxury hiking bus and a snack list, was asked to be revised for this meeting. Although not physically stated in the mini grant form, Peeples offered two plans.
Plan A was to go with the original asking price of $1,610 with BusBank, a trusted bus company that the Hiking Club had used many times and built a good rapport with, according to Peeples. Plan B was to drop the amount to $831 and the Hiking Club would instead use the First Student bus company for a cheaper price, putting their entire request amount at $1,016 including the snack list.
However, Peeples said that they did not expect to be denied their request, as there had been a trend between the Hiking Club receiving funds and the ASG approving them. Before being granted funds, the Hiking Club booked a bus with BusBank. The cancellation fee would amount to $420 — an amount that exceeds their baseline budget of $167.60.
Social Justice Officer Cheri Coleman called for an amendment of only $420 to cover the cancellation fee. Vice President Nam Phan (who sat in for ASG President Yorrin Anggari) stated that it was “irresponsible” and “disappointing” for the Hiking Club to make their move without being granted the funds.
By bringing SCC’s reputation with BusBank into play, there was the risk of burning bridges with a trusted company, according to Peeples.
The discussion between ASG members following the proposal bounced between paying for only the cancellation fee or paying the cancellation fee and the Hiking Club’s second option of going with First Student.
Director of Student Life Rezina Habtemariam called for a ten minute recess to assess the situation amongst the ASG members.
After deliberation, Club Affairs Officer Fatoumata Jammeh once more called upon the “irresponsibility” of the Hiking Club’s decision to book a bus without any money. By informing Peeples that this type of situation should try and be avoided for the sake of all parties, the board came to their vote.
The Hiking Club received all $1,610 in hopes they’d learn from their previous mistake.
Requested: $1,610
Granted: $1,610
By Frances Hui,
Staff Writter