You might think that UMaine Student Government is a bunch of Political Science majors gathering to discuss politics, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Student Government is actually a committee of undergraduate students who control and manage student clubs and organizations, and your money.
According to the University of Maine Student Handbook, “Student Government, Inc. is the representative and governing body for UMaine’s undergraduate students. Students are the decision-makers and policy-shapers. They are involved in hundreds of University of Maine programs and policies.”
They are made up of 35 senator seats, President Nelson Carson, Vice President Anthony Ortiz, and an Executive Board, all elected by students. Carson and Ortiz were unavailable for comment.
“We’re responsible for every club and activity that wants funding from the University,” said Student Senator Josh O’Donald. “Our financial committee decides how much to give each student club and organization. For example, last night we gave away thousands of dollars to people like the American Marketing Association, and Equestrian Team.”
The funding is decided upon by who comes to ask for it, and how much they’re asking for. According to O’Donald, they try to be fair in amounts given from club to club, and like to see clubs fundraising on their own, so that Student Government is not the only one supplying them with money.
“If they show us that they’ve put effort in to fundraise and contribute, then we’ll be more apt to give them money,” O’Donald said.
With more than 200 different student organizations and clubs, Student Government has a lot on their hands. Some recent organizations they’ve given money to is Club Field Hockey, Club Baseball, Greek Week, and the Beta Sleep Out.
“We’re important because every student pays a student activity fee, and therefore contributes to our funds,” O’Donald said. “A lot of undergraduate students aren’t aware of who we are, and what we do, but we are controlling a portion of their money.”
And control the funds they do. They have given out as much as $50,000 in a meeting, according to O’Donald.
Student Government also has sub-divisions, which control different events on campus. The Executive & Administrative Branch is responsible for four divisions, Financial Affairs, Student Organizations, Student Entertainment and External Affairs.
The Vice President of Student Entertainment is on the Executive Board, which is responsible for bringing such acts to UMaine like Ludacris last semester, and Tosh.0.
Student Government meets every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Bangor Room of the Union. The meetings are open to the public. It is important that students attend the meetings, because they get to witness UMaine democracy in action, and it’s your money they are giving away!
To learn more about UMaine Student Government, visit www.umainesg.org, or follow them on Twitter, @UMaineSG.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Maine chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.