The Associated Student of Fort Lewis College met on Wednesday to discuss budget cuts, the effect of DACA at Fort Lewis, and RSOs.
Budget Cuts ‘17-18
ASFLC approved resolution 17-063 which allows for a new budget.
The budget has been cut because there is 4 percent less revenue than was originally projected, said Noah Dodson, ASFLC senate member.
ASFLC will be cutting RSO I event and travel grants by 45% and reduce the salaries and benefits reserve for RSO III’s staff, he said.
“There is a total shortfall of $19,558 that will come from salaries and benefits reserve, grant fund and/or the contingency fund,” he said.
ASFLC will be using money from the new budget to add $2,360 to rebuild the fund balance and $2,500 to fund a new software platform, he said.
DACA
ASFLC passed resolution 17-062 which states public support to the FLC student population who is protected by DACA.
The board of trustees and President Dene Thomas have both publicly supported DACA, vice president of student affairs Glenna Sexton said.
“Terminating DACA not only punishes these students for reasons beyond their control, but robs our school of some of it’s best and brightest minds, ” ASFLC senate member Brenner Parriot said.
The college has students who only speak English, have family and friends here and have no home outside of this country, ASFLC vice president Ian Fullinwider, ASFLC vice president said.
Freshmen Ambassador Position
ASFLC passed resolution 17-051 which opens up an ASFLC senate seat for a freshman.
“The current ASFLC Constitution does not allow any position to be held by a first-semester student,” ASFLC senate member Walter Potter said.
They weren’t allowed a seat because they weren’t considered to have enough knowledge about the college, he said.
As a group of representatives, ASFLC must get input from all demographics on campus, Potter said.
First-semester students will not be able vote or bring in discussion topics or resolutions to the table, and will only be allowed one speaking term per action item or discussion topic, he said.
Percussion Club Travel Grant
ASFLC passed resolution 17-059 which gave the Percussion Club a $1,400 travel grant.
With this grant money, the Percussion Club will attend the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, president of the percussion club Ben Smith said.
“This conference basically gives us access to performers who we have looked up to our entire lives,” he said.
RSO Renewals
ASFLC passed resolution 17-060 which renews all RSOs who have been approved by the Financial Allocations Board.