After a lengthy discussion, the Apportionment Board voted 7-1 to approve an allocation of $9,915 for a winter wonderland, which was proposed by Student Body President Cole Rogers.

Two AB members, Eric Wilber and Travis Bounds, abstained from the vote.

“I like the idea, but I’m concerned about Student Government moving into event productions,” Wilber said. “I think Student Government has better things they can be working on and leave these things to the University Board.”

If approved during next week’s Student Government meeting, the Winter Wonderland will be on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in the South Quad. The $7,275 for professional services was Wilber’s concern. He said the Winter Wonderland is nearly as expensive as the recently approved UB production Spring Fling.

“I am completely against Student Government doing (event) programming,” Rogers said. “I do believe that Student Government is more of a policy changing (organization), but I want to emphasize that we will have informational tables under the tent. We’re more than slapping our name on the event, because we want to utilize the event.”

AB member Ashley Nolan agreed with Wilber and said Student Government should be more informational and should be less concerned with major productions.

Despite having a seemingly one-sided discussion, Nolan was the only member to vote against the proposal.

“I’m worried that in the future there may be a stepping on toes between UB and Student Government,” Wilber said.

A heated tent will be rented for the event at a cost of $900, sleigh ride services will cost $725, fire-eating performers will be contracted for a cost of $2,300 and $2,350 will go toward customizable snow globes for students to make. Rogers said he hopes to attract at least 500 students to the event.

He said the proposal resulted from a committee comprised of himself, three student senators and two representatives from the Residence Hall Association. The committee began in October and met weekly until the end of the semester.

Account Technician Laurel Fuqua informed AB that a remainder of $10,038.53 from last fiscal year has been added to the current budget. A fiscal year starts on July 1, but Fuqua said the rollover took until now for the university to confirm all transactions and outstanding bills before they could reallocate the funds.

The Student Activities Reserve account now has $119,025.01.

Rick Kambic can be reached at 581-7945 or at rwkambic@eiu.edu.