At its Wednesday meeting, the Duke Student Government Senate allocated more than $50,000 from its programming fund.
The Senate passed 13 of 14 requests approved by the Student Organization Funding Committee for a sum of $46,705, along with two other funding requests that did not go through SOFC and instead went straight to the Senate. In total, the Senate allocated $51,680.
Duke Sangeet—a South Asian classical music group—had requested $2,200 for an event to be hosted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Although the budgetary statue had been approved by SOFC, it did not pass the Senate.
SOFC chair Alexa Soren, a senior, said that the budgetary statute was highly contentious even within the funding committee, but that it was ultimately recommended because it met all necessary guidelines.
Senators cited concerns regarding transportation for the roughly 100 people Duke Sangeet estimated would be at the concert. Sophomore Jackson Dellinger, senator for Durham and regional affairs, said the concert venue was still too far away even if the Robertson bus was used.
The 13 SOFC-recommended budgetary statutes DSG did pass include allocations for: Duke University Improv, Duke Splash, Duke Diya, Relay for Life, the Statistical Science Majors Union, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Street Medicine, Students of the Caribbean Association, Pi Kappa Alpha, Duke Chinese Dance, Blue Devils United, duARTS and On Tap.
A $4,725 budgetary statute for the What I Be photo project—which takes photos of participants to help them embrace their insecurities, according to its website—was introduced to the Senate without going through SOFC first. But it passed by a 21-17 vote, with seven abstentions. The statute pays for photographer Steve Rosenfield's services and provides for 30 to 40 students to have their photos taken.
Senior Tanner Lockhead, vice president for Durham and regional affairs, spoke against the allocation. Although he had participated in the event previously and had found it meaningful, he said that the national exposure is marginal and that similar services could be offered for less money.
DSG also funded $250 for a library headphones program, another statute introduced directly to the Senate and not through SOFC. Executive Vice President Illana Weisman, a senior, expressed concern about funding requests bypassing the normal SOFC process.
“I would strongly recommend and look favorably upon student groups following the funding procedure and going through SOFC,” Weisman said. “That’s the most efficient and effective route that both makes sure the student groups are not only requesting the proper funds, but are allocated enough funds.”
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