Nate Mertens, fine arts senator, posed a challenge to the Student Association at the end of the Feb. 13 budget hearings in the Wilson Auditorium. As senators, we have a responsibility on behalf of the students who elected us, he said, after observing his fellow senators working on homework, disregarding budget debate and making statements like “I don’t want to be here.”

“When there’s that sum of money, people become passionate,” said Billy Dunbar, Student Association adviser and coordinator of student life and leadership. “That could create some animosity. However, those people hold responsibility for a reason.”

There are 26 senators representing the HC student body-approximately two percent of the campus population. They are allowed over $90,000 per semester as part of student fees, although the full amount isn’t released until after budget hearings, when the total budget for HC is finalized. This semester the SA budget was approved at $84,647.90. [Read more...]