Five special appropriation requests, including one for AIDS Awareness Week, and one conference request were proposed and funded at last week's Student Finance Board meeting (SFB).
Angel Hernandez, vice president of PRISM, and Emily Winch, PRISM's AIDS Awareness Week coordinator, presented their request for $1,004 for PRISM's annual AIDS Awareness Week programming. PRISM's request was fully funded in a unanimous vote.
AIDS Awareness Week is co-sponsored by the Progressive Student Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries, the Black Student Union and Union Latina. It was created about 10 years ago to increase awareness of AIDS in the community, the country and the world.
This year, PRISM is offering a showing of "Rent," two HIV-positive speakers from the Rainbow House, a group home in Trenton for young HIV-positive men and women, and a benefit concert.
PRISM is also having a "Wellness Fest" in conjunction with Sodexho, where information will be distributed and cupcakes will be available in Eickhoff Hall.
The College Latin Ballroom Dance Club (TLBDC) originally asked for $7,980 for ballroom dancing instructor fees, transportation and competition costs.
SFB excluded the competition and transportation expenses due to confusion among club members in regard to the request form and when to submit it. In a unanimous vote, SFB funded TLBDC for $705.The funds TLBDC were allocated will go to cover the cost of the instructor. Members will be charged $5 for each lesson.
In the only conference request, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) requested $550 to attend the AMSA Regional Conference in Pittsburgh at the end of November. After an adjustment in the funds requested, SFB funded AMSA for $250 in an 11-3 vote.
AMSA requested that 11 students, including six seniors, attend the conference at $50 per person.
"The board wants to see underclassmen go," Jon Borst, SFB executive director, said. Because of this, SFB allowed funding for only five people and suggested that AMSA take as many underclassmen as possible. Underclassmen will have a chance to bring back what they learned to the College community.
The Japanese Club requested $270.50 to host Banzai!, "an introduction to Japanese culture," according to Japanese Club treasurer Ryan Biczo. After a deduction of a rice cooker from the expenses, SFB funded the request for $180.50 in a unanimous vote.
Last year, Banzai! was a fundraising event for the Japanese Club. Since the club is SFB funded this year, the Japanese Club wanted to increase its funds to have enough food for the event. Traditional Japanese dishes, such as sushi, soba (noodles) and onigiri (rice balls), will be served and crafts such as origami, calligraphy and Japanese henna will be offered.
Circle K requested $110 for a Late Night Service Project to be held Nov. 11 in the Decker Hall main lounge. SFB fully funded Circle K's request in a unanimous vote.
Circle K has found that many students are busy during the week. Therefore, the club plans to have this Late Night Service Project on Saturday nights, when students tend to be less stressed.
This service project will include knitting and crocheting squares for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that donates blankets throughout the community, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and making cards for Hugs and Hope, which sends cards to sick children.
Every semester, Voice of Hope has a concert. This year, the club asked for $107 to subsidize the Mayo Concert Hall fees to put on its a cappella concert on Saturday, Dec. 2. In a unanimous vote, SFB fully funded Voice of Hope's request.
Voice of Hope's concert is a culmination of the singing group's efforts for the semester. Its members will perform a mix of contemporary Christian and secular genres. The concert has been running biannually for about 10 years.
