After the first reading of a bill that would allot $5 to buy facial tissues for the senate office, Student Government Association advisers recommended the senate look at easier ways to buy the tissues.
Joe Wert, SGA adviser and associate professor of political science, said writing and voting on a bill could take longer than just using the president’s discretionary fund.
Seuth Chaleunphonh, dean of Student Life, said a concern raised by Wert was valid.
“I think Dr. Wert’s point is that whoever might be sick [now] might get well by the time the bill is passed,” Chaleunphonh said.
The president of SGA can spend less than $25 without any prior confirmation from the senate to buy supplies, such as office needs.
James Bonsall, treasurer, said he thought the bill showed how SGA was trying to be professional with its spending.
“We’re trying to do everything as official as we can,” Bonsall said.
Richard Young, senator, said the senate should look for other ways to buy the tissues so they wouldn’t have to wait so long.
“Maybe this isn’t the most efficient way of going about it,” Young said.
Jeff Martin, chief justice, said it might be better for the senate to write out a list of supplies they need for their office and give it to Flo Gonya, SGA president, so she could purchase those items.
Bonsall said he thought no one in SGA should have the free range to do any spending.
“I personally don’t like the idea of anyone having the discretion to spend $25,” Bonsall said.
Following the protest on Oct. 16, Wert gave an update on the status of Barnes & Noble’s promise to post International Standard Book Numbers on the IUS Bookstore’s Web site.
Wert said there’s a new federal law that requires schools to give information about textbooks so students can shop for better prices elsewhere.
Wert said IU Bloomington is looking into ways to comply with the new law.
Jonathan Moody, senator and chair of the Police Blotter committee, said the survey on the police blotter would continue until Nov. 7.
In other business at the meeting, Gonya said she had been weighing the portions of food served at the Food Court in The Commons.
Gonya said the chicken filets served were between 2.5 and 2.9 ounces, and at a cost of $3.10 for the chicken filet sandwich, the cost equaled out to about $1 per ounce.
Gonya said the prices of food don’t seem fair.
“Either the portion has to go up, or the price has to go down,” Gonya said.
Gonya said she would begin weighing portions of food from local fast food restaurants and compare those results to the portions served on campus.
By JEROD CLAPP
Senior Editor
jlclapp@ius.edu