The Apportionment Board met for the first time this semester on Thursday to discuss authorizing a line-item transfer concerning a leadership conference held in Texas for select Student Senate members.

A handful of members annually travel to the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, for four days to participate in the Conference on Student Government Associations. There, delegates partake in roundtable discussions to compare differences on campuses across the country, including how various universities conduct elections, as well as how to counteract student body apathy.

This year, however, following significant budget cuts, the Student Senate realized funds in the reserve account were too low to finance the trip.

“There was a tremendous amount of panic throughout Student Government over whether or not we could go,” said Tiffany Turner, student speaker of the senate, who addressed the Board Thursday night. “I’ve been on Student Government for seven semesters, and we’ve gone every year since I’ve been on.”

Prior to the meeting, Turner considered all expenses and estimated the Senate would have to come up with $2,829 to send three student delegates as opposed to six in the past, as well as an adviser to the conference.

The money would cover four flights, totaling $976, three hotel rooms at $420 each, meals summing to $412 and transportation to the airport, as well as overnight parking at $181.

In order to fund the trip, Turner looked to the Student Senate budget to determine the best course of action.

“We kind of butchered our budget to figure out where to trim the fat,” Turner said.

Aside from a $300 contribution from the student relations committee budget that was half of its total funds, Student Senate members dedicated the $2,500 originally intended to purchase T-shirts to distribute at First Night back in August to the COSGA effort. Instead of having to purchase the shirts, Turner said the Eastern athletic department donated them, thus allowing the Student Senate to save the money.

“Because athletics so graciously donated them, we didn’t have to use that money, so we have that extra money in our account just sitting there,” Turner said, who appealed to the AB for permission on behalf of the Student Senate to spend it on COSGA. “We’re not asking for any money, we’re manipulating the budget so we can go.”

In a unanimous vote of 11-0-0, the Board approved the request.

Yasmin Taylor, a sophomore English major and member of the AB, vocally supported the Student Senates’ endeavor.

“I think we should definitely allow this,” Taylor said. “The Student Senate’s been going to COSGA for a long time, and it seems like a very beneficial experience. If you’re not familiar with the idea, it must be a pretty positive event.”

Before deciding which Student Senate members to send, the Senate must secure the funds to send them and get each potential delegate approved by the AB.

Those delegates who may be employed through Eastern as resident assistants or in the dining halls will be classified as “employee travel.” Those who are not are considered “non-employees,” and must be discerned as such before the funds are divided among the delegates in the line-item transfer.

Student Body President Michelle Murphy expressed enthusiasm for the COSGA decision.

“COSGA is really important,” she said. “The idea for First Night is something we brought back with us from the conference, and it’s introduced us to other programs that makes our Student Government more competitive. It gives us a chance to give back.”

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7492 or elwhelan@eiu.edu.