The green light was given to University Board to pursue better-known speakers.

At Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting, a $20,000 allocation was approved by a 14-5-2 vote.

UB looks to bring Jody Sweetin of “Full House” fame to speak about overcoming her methamphetamine addiction.

A documentary and discussion called “Inside Iraq” is another lecture UB looks to bring to campus.

“I Can’t Believe You Asked That” is also planned. It allows students to ask questions that would not be asked on a regular-day basis.

UB Lectures Coordinator Kendall Patterson addressed Student Senate before the vote.

Students want big names brought to campus, and they also want controversy, she said.

Student Senate member Jeff Lange repeatedly said he wants a guarantee these speakers would be coming.

“We’re giving money to a possibility, like a dream,” he said. “It’s not a matter of who they’re going to get. I think they’re going to get a quality speaker, but I’d like to know who that speaker is, how much it’s exactly going to cost before I give them $20,000.”

The support for the appropriation was too much to tilt the vote.

To negotiate a contract with a speaker without the funds is illegal, said Student Senate member Richard Luce.

“Stephanie Tanner (Sweetin’s character on the show) will bring a ‘Full House,'” said Dave Keyes, student vice president for academic affairs.

It will improve student life, and it gives students something else to do besides drinking, said Student Senate member Isaac Sandidge.

In other business, an allocation for $964.84 to pay for eight students to attend the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee meeting was tabled. The funds would pay for travel and two hotel rooms for two nights at the December meeting at the University of Chicago.

The Diversity Requirement deadlines for Student Senate has passed.

Twelve Student Senate members did not complete the requirement. They will be charged with one absence, but that did not remove any members from the Student Senate. If any members receive three unexcused absences, they are removed.

Also, Student Senate member Leslie Restaino resigned from her position, citing academic reasons.

Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News Kendall Patterson, the lectures coordinator for University Board, speaks to Student Senate before Senate Resolution 06-07-20 was voted on Wednesday evening in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. Univer

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