Volume 59, Issue 9  - October 16, 2006

SGA to promote early voting
By Michell Godinez
Staff Writer

Elizabeth A. Perez/Collegian

Senator for the School of Education Celeste Dela-Garza reports on the air-conditioning problem in the library study rooms during Thursday’s meeting.

The Student Government Association has set aside $500 to help promote early voting on campus.

In a unanimous vote Thursday, the SGA approved a resolution authorizing a grant to the Voter Registration Committee. Proxy votes in favor of the resolution were cast for Senators Oscar Lee Garza and Cristina Alaniz, who were absent.

After some confusion as to what the monies would be used for, President Abraham Ponce explained the purpose of the grant.

“I just want to clarify that it’s not to do voter registration, it’s to promote voting on campus [and] provide incentives for students,” Ponce said.

The resolution states the grant will “be used for promotional products and activities associated with these assigned tasks.”

Any funds left over will be transferred back into the SGA account.

Election Day is Nov. 7; early voting begins Oct. 23. The campus polling station will be in the lobby of Cardenas Hall North.

Resolution 9, authorizing the use of no more than $300 for advertising in The Collegian, also was passed. The ad will help raise the awareness of voters on important topics and information on the candidates. Twenty-one members voted “for” and Mario D. Gomez abstained.  

In other business, Senator Jessica Reyes, a member of the Finance Committee, reported a balance of $13,733 in the SGA’s budget. Reyes presented the finance report because Vice President of Accounting and Finance Erick Vallarino resigned last week, 

Senator for the School of Education Celeste Dela-Garza reported that her continuing requests for the air-conditioning to be repaired in the library study rooms have resulted in two e-mail responses, including one from Douglas Ferrier, Dean of Instructional Support.  Both responses stated that the university was working on a solution, but as of Thursday’s meeting the problem was still unresolved.

“It’s still incredibly hot,” Dela-Garza said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with the study rooms, [so] I would just encourage students to take a fan.”

Besides Garza and Alaniz, absent from Thursday’s meeting were Gaby Sosa-Zavaletta, vice president of policy and procedure, and Crystal Olivo, senator for the School of Education.