The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Media Credit: Neha Choudhary Neha Choudhary/The University News President of Alpha Eta Rho Brandon Jones (left) and Executive Vice President Paul Mulchek request spot funding at the senate meeting Wednesday night for a trip to Oklahoma City. [Click to enlarge]

SGA passed two bills to allocate $663 in spot funding in the brief meeting last night.

Alpha Eta Rho was granted $548 to fund a trip to Oklahoma City. A group of 16 from the aviation fraternity, including 15 students and one chaperone, will depart in a little over a week to attend High Altitude Training with the Federal Aviation Administration.

From the back of the senate chambers, President Brandon Jones, Parks College of Engineering and Aviation Technology senior, defended the $548 request and spoke briefly on the value of this firsthand experience.

"We wanted to take as many active members as possible. It [High Altitude Training] is beneficial to watch, but better to do," Jones said.

The funding will be used to rent two SLU vans for two days and also to provide overnight accommodations for the group.

The finance committee did not review the bill before it was proposed, and therefore, debate was sparked when several senators voiced concern over the costs. An amendment was passed that subtracted $24 from the allocation.

The Undergraduate Social Service Association was also granted $115 in spot funding.

Chelsea Merrell, senior in the school of social science, spoke on behalf of the USSA.

Merrell said the group was not aware that spot funding was available to them until recently and would like to use the money to allow the organization to "be more active on campus."

"We have been approached by several groups to participate in activities, but we do not have the funding," Merrell said.

The money will also allow the group to host monthly movie nights, guest speakers and a picnic.

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