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The Undergraduate Student Government will continue to fund travel expenses for Registered Student Organizations to attend off-campus events.
USG voted against a bill that would no longer allow the Finance Committee to fund travel for Registered Student Organizations.
The bill to amend the guidelines was drafted due to prior concerns about the use of the Student Organization Activity Fee. Finance Committee chairwoman Jennifer Jones said a decision had to be made before the end of the fall semester.
"We needed to approve it so we could have some sort of guidelines to go by for when we do spring allocations next semester," Jones said. "We need to know whether or not we are funding travel, so we could have something to tell the RSOs next semester.
"If you want to keep travel, you will vote against this bill. If you do not, then you will vote for it."
Earlier this year, USG passed a previously failed bill that would fund traveling expenses for the Black Fire Dancers to attend a competition at Tennessee State University. Several senators were concerned on funding events for organizations that only apply to a selective portion of the SIUC student body.
The current maximum amount for travel RSOs can ask for is $250. The guidelines currently state that if proof is presented for travel means, the groups will be funded.
Senator Rob Taylor said restricting SOAF funds is a recent procedure for the Finance Committee.
"Remember, the Finance Committee is still in a very new process of holding this money back," Taylor said. "It only started 36 months ago. A lot of the groups still don't even know that this stuff is there. Once other people see other people doing this kind of stuff, it's going to increase."
Taylor also said USG should continue to impose limits on the account money.
"To say this is unprecedented and we have this money now and it's always going to be that way is a mistake," he said. "The other thing is to say it's only $250 and it's not inclusive. What is going to happen if something comes that's only $100 non-inclusive? Or $300 non-inclusive? Because certain people think that it would benefit their group, which will benefit the University. That is really what the argument is. It's a benefit to the University because our group will go show itself. The fundamental thing here is we are trying to move toward all-inclusive events here in Carbondale."
Senator Ryan Fraley said he believes SIUC students should be able to venture out to off-campus events.
"The basic thing is that getting people outside of SIUC, outside of Carbondale outside of the campus, is one of the best things we can do," Fraley said. "Getting people to see what is going on. There is a lot out there."
