Ball State University's Student Government Association on Wednesday approved three amendments to a proposal made last week to reorganize the executive branch, following a Senate debate. The two main amendments determined the committees on which the president will be an ex-officio member, as well as the stipend that executive members will receive each year.
In the original proposal, the president was made an ex-officio member of student caucuses, committees and ad-hoc committees - meaning that he will be a non-voting member. After students such as Senator Ethan White expressed concern over separation of powers, the article was rewritten so that the president had no position on caucuses and committees and was an ex-officio member only on ad-hoc committees.
"We left in the ad-hoc committees because I will be needed in them some way," President Steve Geraci said. "It makes sense for an ad-hoc more than it does for a caucus and committee."
The second amendment concerned the executive stipend. Currently, the president receives full tuition while the vice president receives five-sixths tuition. The treasurer, secretary and president pro-tempore receive two-thirds tuition. The money comes out of the SGA budget. Treasure Michael Gallion said the budget is currently $74,284.
The concern was tuition rates are increasing approximately 5 to 6 percent annually. Geraci said the SGA budget may only increase by 3 percent annually. Under the new amendment, the stipend would be set at a certain amount. Geraci suggested $6,000 for the president, $5,000 for the vice president and $4,000 for the other positions.
"Expense goes up faster than our budget goes up," Geraci said. "We want to set a cap on the stipend. We want to make sure SGA is maximizing their budget and not just dumping more and more into executive pay."
The suggestion sparked debate about whether a set amount was better than a percentage.
Senator Tristan White maintained that paying a fraction of the tuition that would fluctuate with the changing tuition rates would be more practical. Senator Mark Murphy suggested compromising.
"If the budget increases 3 percent, wouldn't it make sense to fix it at, say, $5,600 and raise it 3 percent a year?"
However, Geraci said the 3 percent increase is not guaranteed, and SGA may not receive it. He said that if there was a set stipend, the amount could be amended sometime in the future when tuition was higher.
Senator Ashley Johnson suggested another way that involves setting a cap on the stipend.
"If you guys came to Senate right now and asked for an increase in tuition, I don't know if I would be willing to give you that," Johnson said. She was in favor of an annual increase not to exceed 3 percent.
The article was added, with half of the senators in favor and the other half split between being against and abstaining. Geraci later said that the article might be further amended at the next meeting along the lines of Johnson's suggestion.
"We didn't even think about it, but it does make a lot of sense," Geraci said.
The third amendment determined that the secretary of justice will automatically serve on the University Review Board.
SGA also discussed Campus Clean-Up set for Oct. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. Community and Environmental Affairs Chair Katie Bills said they are looking for volunteers to work two-hour shifts.
Vice President Chris Kurtz also suggested giving a bag to each car as they paid for a tailgating space to minimize trash from home football games.
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