The Undergraduate Student Government Senate passed the budget for the 2007-2008 school year 18-2 on Tuesday night. The USG Senate ended the meeting 45 minutes early.

The Muslim Student Alliance received $3,245 after asking for $25,000. NYPIRG received nearly a $25,000 decrease in funding, when club member Cheryl Lynch was asked why they had lost so much money, she responded,’ ‘they had to cut money somewhere.’

Amnesty International did not receive any money; no budget application was submitted from the organization. The Asian-American E-Zine suffered a 29% decrease in funding. Blackworld lost about $21,000 in funding for the coming year. Men’s Rugby received about a $15,000 increase in funding.

Also $11,000 of the budget was allotted to an emergency fund that was left over and could be used to fill in any of the holes that the current budget had not filled.

Senators made it clear during the meeting that if clubs need more funds they may apply again during fall revision. ‘
President-elect Joseph Antonelli commented on the fact that USG had no money to send to Virginia Polytechnic Institute after the tragedy had taken place, and this fund is there for such tragic events.

Senator Robert Romano, who has had a long tenure in the senate, remarked upon the fact that this is one of the few times that the budget has gotten through the USG Senate in recent years. ‘There have been three impeachments and a passed budget’hellip; this has been the most successful senate ever.’