Student Veterans Organization Budget Tabled Until Next SFC Meeting

One of the most-discussed issues at the Tuesday, Nov. 18, senate meeting was the Longwood Student Veterans (LSV) organization's budget. LSV requested about $9,000 from the SGA for 2009-2010. According to the group's event planner, Dustin Meadows, "A lot of this money is not an overestimation and it will be used".

The money requested would go towards the three educational forums that LSV intends to host next year, which will be open to the public. The requested funds would also bolster the current LSV project, Operation Help A Hero. This project is targeted towards soldiers currently over in Iraq and Afghanistan who will not be celebrating the holidays stateside. Donated items will be assembled into care packages and sent to companies currently deployed.LSV is a group meant to help veterans transition from soldiers at war to college students, and more specifically to aid soldiers coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Meadows pointed out that the closest help centers for veterans are in Norfolk or Richmond.

Although the senate vocalized their support for this organization, they decided to table discussion until LSV presented their budget to the finance committee. The main problem with the money request was that it did not break down the lump sum into line items so that the senate could see exactly where the money is going. Preparing the budget in this manner is a requirement that all student organizations must meet.
For more information about LSV , check out their Web site at longwoodstudentveterans.org. For more information about Operation Help A Hero, check out the Longwood Student Veteran Facebook group.

Courtney Edwards, founder of the Longwood 32 group, made a presentation about her group to the senate. Longwood 32 protests the gun show loophole, which allows someone to purchase a gun at a gun show without undergoing a background check. The group intends to hold four protests next semester and will be featured in two different film projects. Longwood 32 came to the SGA to look into other ways to publicize these protests to students. According to Edwards on the group Facebook, "I lost a good friend of mine at VT (Nicole White), and because of that I have been given the drive to make some changes in our government." For more information, check out the group "Longwood 32" on Facebook.

 Senators are talking about possibly keeping the gym open later, until midnight, to match the library and student union hours.

 Students have expressed their concerns about security on campus. According to Sen. Amanda Mason, who presented these concerns to the senate, "There have been car break-ins and a sister of mine was held up at knifepoint. I haven't received any emails [from the police]." Mason suggested that the SGA speak with the police about them showing us how secure the student body is.

 Chick-Fil-A should be opened before students arrive back to school in January. There have been some contractual issues with Moe's Southwest Grill, according to Executive Sen. Cameron Patterson, which the University is currently trying to resolve. There is no set date on when Moe's will open.

The Math Club constitution was approved.

Money Watch: $3,071.75 allocated to the Senior Class and J-Board.

 The senate allocated $1,951.75 to settle unpaid bills from last year's senior class commencement. The money originally went mostly towards food. It was speculated that money was set aside last year but the bills arrived too late.

 $960 was re-allocated to the Class of 2009 for a wine and cheese party for those graduating in December. The by-laws restricting the SGA from allocating money towards buying alcohol were overturned by a vote.

 J-Board is to receive $160 in order for four members to attend a conference. According to Sen. Jordan Miles, the group intends to present the information they learned at the conference, which should make J-Board the first group to do so under the new SGA law. This law requires that all student organizations attending a conference make a presentation to their organization and send proof of this presentation to the SGA.

 Alpha Phi Omega, a coed service fraternity, came before the senate requesting $1,428 in order for two members to attend a national conference this year. When asked by senators why Alpha Phi Omega came before them, President Jessie Loweth said, "Our organization's dues are not made to make money, but to pay dues to nationals. This is a huge expense and we only have the bare minimum right now." The finance committee voted in October against allocating the money because Alpha Phi Omega is a closed organization where a private ritual is involved in order to become a member. Tuesday, senators voted against allocating the money once again.

 The president and vice president of the SGA are working together on creating a new by-law which will restrict the SGA from giving funds to closed organizations with private rituals.

 The SGA is hosting a fundraiser for the service project titled "The Big Event." For one day, students, faculty and staff will gather to complete various small service projects aimed towards the helping the Farmville community-i.e., painting houses, raking yards and trash pickup. The goal is to raise $5,000, and students can purchase a $4 Sheetz coupon for a free made-to-order meal and any size Fizz City fountain drink. SGA representatives will be tabling at D-hall.