The Washburn Student Government kicked off the semester with a host of new bills and resolutions last Wednesday night.

‘Save our Pool’

The first resolution up for the night was on Garrett Natatorium. In light of the Washburn Board of Regents making a decision Friday afternoon between Garrett Natatorium and Whiting Field House for the new Strength and Conditioning Facility, WSGA passed a resolution for their organization to encourage the Board of Regents to vote for renovating Whiting Field House.

The resolution also encourages supporting the pool more by increasing the number of hours it is in operation and having effective advertising.

Theatre Research Committee

Senators Emery Wright and Daniel McElroy introduced a bill to form an on-campus movie theatre research committee.

“The research could be done in a couple of weeks,” said McElroy.

Wright and McElroy said they have been doing their own research for a awhile, and they are hoping to test out the idea of an on-campus theatre in March, when they will show a movie in Garvey, with the help of the Campus Activities Board.

WSGA passed the bill, and Wright and McElroy said they would welcome anyone to help them with their trial run.

Spring Philanthropy

Last semester it was all about canned goods, and this semester, WSGA will focus on toilet paper.

The organization’s spring philanthropy will be a toilet paper drive to help community members in need. WSGA unanimously, without discussion or questions, approved $400 for the purchase of buttons, which they hope will encourage students to donate toilet paper.

Funding policy changes

WSGA made two changes to their funding policy for student organizations. In the past, WSGA has only paid for one vehicle rental on trips, and there wasn’t flexibility in the constitution to allow more. The new policy would give the organization 40.5 cents per mile for any number of vehicles, and can fund any number of vehicle rentals.

Some senators expressed concern over organizations abusing this policy – for example, four people going to a conference, and taking four cars.

Members of the finance committee said they considered all options two weeks ago at the committee meeting, and still believed the unlimited number was best, and the reason the finance committee existed was to check for those kinds of abuses.

The second change to the funding policy was changing the maximum amount that any student group can receive for meals for one trip or conference from $240 to $500.

Organization funding approved

WSGA allotted three organizations – College Republicans, CMENC and Delta Chi – money to host events and go to conferences.

The College Republicans will be attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in May, and were approved for $2,000 for the trip.

CMENC requested funding to attend the KMEA In-Service workshop in February, and were approved for $2,000 for the trip.

Delta Chi will be hosting an Ugly Sweater Party on Jan. 30 in the Washburn Room of the Memorial Union for all Washburn students. They were approved for $1,100 for the party.

All were approved unanimously.

Election funding

The WSGA Communications committee introduced a bill to get a jump start on the next WSGA elections. In order to promote the elections, WSGA approved $2,400 for the costs of T-shirts, headbands, food and water bottles.

I Love WU Week

A week that celebrates Washburn will take place from Feb. 12-16. The WSGA spirit committee was unanimously approved to spend $450 to purchase spirit supplies and food to distribute to students throughout the week.

Get on the Bus

The WSGA spirit committee will sponsor a yellow school bus to the Washburn vs. Emporia basketball game Feb. 17. They were approved for $500 from the spirit committee budget to rent the bus and to buy 50 general admission tickets for the game. Chelsea Chaney, WSGA public relations director, said they will be allowed to decorate the bus before they leave for the Emporia game.

New Senators

WSGA also introduced six new senators to the senate, and they were all unanimously approved. They are: Caleb Reid, freshman; Kylie Gilstrap, freshman; Jacqueline Moseley, a transfer student from Coffeyville Community College; Joelle Jasper, sophomore; Grady Kesler, sophomore; and Alyssa Morse, freshman.