IUSA approves 2010-11 budget

IU Student Association Congress approved a $97,996 operating budget for the 2010-11 school year at a meeting Tuesday and tabled a motion to appoint junior Hannah Kinkead to a vacant Supreme Court seat.

The approved budget was first reviewed by the Congressional Finance committee. IUSA Treasurer Sierra Hsieh introduced changes in the budget and heard questions from the congress during the meeting. The budget was approved by a vote of 31 to 1.

The resolution to approve Kinkead’s appointment was tabled and sent to the Congressional Rules committee. Several Congress members expressed concerns that the resolution was drafted in breach of the IUSA Bylaws, since the resolution listed an executive as sponsor and Chief Justice Tara Maloney as co-sponsor. The resolution, according to the Bylaws, must not be sponsored by an executive or justice. It should be sponsored by a member of congress.

The proposed appointment also caused debate between Maloney and IUSA President Michael Coleman.

Maloney said the court recommended Matthew Bower, rather than Kinkead, be appointed to fill the spot of junior Mikaela Shaw, whose resignation is still up for approval by congress. Coleman recommended Shaw resign from her position when he was informed that she would be studying abroad this year. Maloney said Kinkead’s position as a member of the legislative relations team within the iUnity administration constituted a conflict of interest.

Coleman argued that Kinkead was an alternate for the position and thus his choice to fill the vacated position. He said she had done minimal work within the administration.
Additionally, nine new congress members were sworn in to fill spots vacated by University Division students who have now matriculated to other schools.

— Claire Wiseman