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Senate refuses funds to international festival
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Clearing his throat and choking back emotion, Sen. Eliot I struggled to remain composed while debating during the Associate Students of Boise State University Senate meeting Thursday, March 5.
Tensions rose among Senators concerning tabled Senate Bill No. 21, “Supporting International Food, Song and Dance Festival.” The bill, proposed in the previous Senate meeting, would have appropriated $1,000 to the International Student Association for their annual fundraiser. The Budget and Finance Committee killed the bill indefinitely after examining it.
During gallery comments, International Student Association Advisor Christy Babcock spoke about the need for the organization’s
need for money.
“This festival raises funds for scholarship money, helps students take trips in our region, and showcases who the international students are,” she said. “We need this money to help event happen. Without this money, we’ll be in the red and have to take money from the scholarship fund to pay for the Aramark services we use.”
Sen. Joel Henretty explained the reason for killing the measure.
“This club did not get matching funds because they didn’t get in their service projects,” he said. “We don’t want to send the message that if you’ll go to the Senate we’ll forgive you for not getting your projects in. We’ve also noticed a lot in the past that clubs and organizations with recurring events are going outside their budget and coming to us to supplement that.”
Sen. I fought back, saying the group had met the service requirements, and the issue arose from confusion about when the required paperwork was due.
“It was a clear misunderstanding,” he said. “International students were not clear [about due dates].”
Sen. I, an international student himself, argued that the students should not be penalized for their confusion.
Instead, ASBSU should make international students feel more supported and valued.
Following the heated discussion, the Senate motioned to pass Resolution No. 10, which expressed support for the festival but no finances, and moved that the issue regarding funding to the judiciary for further review.
Despite the outcome of the debate, most senators agreed with Sen. Geo Engberson.
“We recognize [the international students] are doing an awesome job,” he said. “I want to give praise to the food and dance festival. We should all go and support them."
AMANDA STEWART
Arbiter Journalist