At the April 23 Senate meeting, the Faculty Student Association Resolution was passed unanimously. It was presented by Thomas Kirnbauer, a senior and Vice President of Faculty Student Association, presented the resolution.

Kirnbauer explained that the resolution calls for an amendment to FSA bylaws to include one undergraduate student as an executive council member for FSA and two undergraduate students to take part on the Board of Directors. Out of these students, according to the resolution, one must be a commuter.

Kirnbauer said under the resolution, it was pointed out that “full time undergraduate students account for 60 percent of the entire student population here are Stony Brook, so that’s a significant portion.” He continued, “We put [in the resolution] that commuter and resident interests are not well-represented on the Board, meaning the FSA Board, and that’s because the people who are there are really there for USG and it’s just kind of a side note that they have to be a resident or commuter.”

Kirnbauer recently went to SUNY Buffalo to see how its FSA operates and found that six of the twelve members of their Board of Directors are students trained to be knowledgeable about FSA.

He added, “That just goes to prove to the Board of Directors here that it is impossible to have students on a large FSA. This isn’t just something that we’re making up. If Buffalo can do it, and they have a larger FSA than we do, there’s no reason why this can’t happen to really represent the students properly.”

The resolution pushes to change the Board of Directors’ bylaws to restructure its undergraduate format to add more seats: three would be held for two years by a student appointed by Commuter Student Association, RHA and USG senate, and one would be appointed by the USG Executive Council for a single year term.

Kirnbauer explained, “We’re trying to have more two-year spots so that there’s more chances for students to get involved. RHA and CSA particularly…they have their own respective meetings to attend to and would be able to really communicate what FSA is doing…”

The senate also passed the 2013-2014 USG budget proposal, presented by USG Treasurer Allen Abraham. The budget, which slightly exceeds $3 million, accounts for the Student Activity Fee’s increase to $99.50 and increased enrollment. Changes in club budgets varied compared to last year’s budget. $70,000 will go toward grants; however, rollover funds will be added to that amount, predicted to increase significantly.

The USG Administration budget increased due to an expected insurance increase.

The FSA management fee also increased by about $40,00 due to a requirement of 8.2 percent of the total USG revenue. According to the budget, there will be $56,000 of unallocated funds, which Abraham told the senate he is  “very comfortable” with.

Senator Ying Zhao asked why there is a $10,000 decrease for PASS tutoring. Vice President of Academic Affairs Derek Cope explained, “The $20,000 will most likely be enough if the future VP of Academic Affairs budgets very carefully for the fall.”

In regard to the Student Activities Board budget, Senator Emily Alcott asked why there is an increase of $2,000.

Treasurer Abraham explained that the the change was made in hopes to put on more events, like the popular Bill Nye lecture and obtain wanted artists for events like Rock Yo Face.