Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: News

Junior sociology major Jerrion Shell, right, speaks during the audience participation portion of Wednesday night's student government meeting about an upcoming diversity conference being organized by EIUnity. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

Good fortune is smiling on student government through the generosity of the university.

Jill Nielsen, vice president for external relations, the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union and other campus organizations donated about $1,300 to $1,400 for the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee meeting.

The meeting will be held Jan. 24 to 25.

Nielsen donated $1,000 for Panther Dining. The union also donated about $300 for books, notebooks and writing utensils.

Other various campus organizations gave student government funds. The Office of Admissions is going to give packets to interested students.

Student Body President Levi Bulgar is grateful for the financial assistance.

"Amazing is the easiest way for me to put it," he said. "Having the administration put full faith and backing to our planning of this conference shows their commitment to excellence and the student government."

Bulgar said it saved time and energy for the student senate as they were working on an emergency expenditure proposal concerning the conference. The contributions will cover the conference so student government will not allocate their money to the meeting.

"That is why the bills concerning the conference were removed," Bulgar said of the modified agenda.

In his executive report, Bulgar stated there would be a no homework policy enforced for senate members during office hours.

Members have to complete two office hours a week.

"The Student Activity Center is for doing office hours, working on committee work," Bulgar said. "As executives, we have to delegate some of our load to the senators.

"I could promise you that if I see a senator doing homework instead of work, I'll turn them around and take them to my office and give them work to do because it is unacceptable of elected or appointed officers."

Bulgar emphasized why senate members have to work during office hours.

When he served as a senate member, he once quickly checked his Facebook and he was put against the wall and yelled at by the student vice president of student affairs. Another time he did homework and the student senate speaker asked him why he joined the organization.

"I hope people will understand there is a time for senate work and a time for homework," Bulgar said. "If you get your two hours done, that's fine. But until then, you have work to do."

In other news, student senate member Ron Jordan was sworn in by student government adviser Ceci Brinker at the beginning of the meeting. Jordan, an elected junior off-campus representative, is also a running back for the Eastern football team.

"It was a pretty cool experience," Jordan said. "I was involved with the Ohio legislative process for a long time. I worked in the Ohio House of Representatives and saw a few inaugurations there."

As a senate member, Jordan wants to make student government more appealing to the student body.

"Many people don't think student government is something that could make a difference and be cool," Jordan said. "I think me being on the student government would help change that and turn around the view of the organization."


Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajeck@eiu.edu.