Student Senate proposed approval of travel expenses

 Student Senate members presented a resolution to approve $90 in expenses for a co-sponsored community service project with the Big Brothers Big Sisters registered student organization at their meeting Wednesday.

Those volunteering for the project will be helping underprivileged kids learn hygiene and grooming tips at 4 to 6 p.m in the University Bowling Alley in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Phillip Love, the diversity committee chairman, said 29 African American, Hispanic and bi-racial kids between the ages of 4 and 16 will be attending.

“Hygiene is a very important thing for children of that age, especially since boys of that age are dirty,” Love said.

Volunteers will also be teaching these kids the importance of good self-esteem

“They might not hear the positive qualities that they have in them,” Love said.

He said we hope to bring those qualities to light.

Love said Big Brothers Big Sisters is asking for a minimal amount of money.

“We have got donations from different health centers around here,” Love said.

They have also have proposed a resolution, which will approve the budget for $583 to allow the Student Action Team to drive to Springfield on Oct. 23 to lobby on behalf of Eastern.

Lauren Price, a junior biological science major, said the 16 students going on the trip have been selected.

Including the expenses for travelling, the budget will also be covering a luncheon with alumni who work in Springfield.

Student Body President Kaylia Eskew said they are still seeing if the alumni’s schedule works then.

“If we don’t have enough people to make this worth it, we are just not going to do it,” Eskew said.

If so, the money will go straight back to the student government budget, she said.

Student Senate Speaker Jesse Green said the budget to go there was relatively the same price as last year, but this year there will be more students going to lobby.

The senate members also tabled a resolution to approve $155 in travel expenses for four senate members to drive up to Springfield on Nov. 2 to attend the Illinois Board of Higher Education- Student Advisory Committee meeting.

Eskew said it was very similar to past resolutions covering the traveling expenses to go to the meeting.

Eskew said they will be cutting down on cost by going early in the morning and heading back to Eastern late so they will not be paying for hotel rooms and food.

All three resolutions will be voted on at the next meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Arcola-Tuscola room in the Union.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]