WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 gdgo'uQ by spencer ricks SpencerRicks Dixie State University student senate has been passing a record numthe"2014-1- 5 ber of bills in school year in an attempt on to increase its influence to campus and reach out re students. The senates job is to help fund projects, equipment and activities for all 0f the academic departThe ments. There are eight senators representing academic DIXIESUNNEWS.COM NEWS femdSnafi departments for the senate. Samantha Tommer, a senior integrated studies major from La Habra, California, is the vice president of academics and is over the DSU student senate. As of Monday morning, there had been 21 bills passed so far this year, totaling $24,865. The senate passed 27 bills last year and spent a total of $21,283. This money helped finance bills like sending students to the American Chemical Society Conference in Denver, buying posters for seniors capstone projects, research no gd ing, double checking and triple checking to get a bill passed." The bill must be signed off by the department senator, two investigators within the senate, Tommer, the student body president, Sharp, and dean of students before the students can touch the money to make sure all the fiscal claims and information is accurate. Although the process is remainder goes to operational costs, said Jordon Sharp, DSU director of student involvement and leadership. Any funds that are not used after the school year revert back to the main DSUSA account," Sharp said. The money is watched closely on all fronts to make sure there is no foul play in getting a bill passed, Tommer said. I take the student fees very seriously because I have to pay them too, Tommer said. Its a very lengthy process of check for the physical sciences department, and buying new cameras for the Dixie Sun News. We still have $11,000 left in our budget for this year, Tommer said. So we are well on our way for breaking some records. The money for the senate bills comes entirely from student fees paid at the beginning of each semester. 85 percent to 90 percent of the senate budget funds goes directly toward funding the bills, 5 percent to 8 percent is used for senate events like advertisements and promotions, and the WGD1 QGODD U Hunt, a senior communication major from St. George. Hunt is receiving and help- straight-forwar- d ful for students, it is often challenging to receive the money and can be said Skyler time-consumin- g, DIXIE STATE SENATE FUNDS L Psychology Music Int. Studies Political Science Biology Humanities Chemistry Physical Science j mc Education V -- funds from the senate to go to a conference in April. In my situation, Im being reimbursed a certain percentage only after paying each fee in full, which can be difficult for some students, Hunt said. But Im incredibly without them. The senate has been hosting events like Meet Your Senator Breakfast each month and Legislative Day competitions to try to get more students reaching out to the senate "booming" and coming in faster than the senate had planned, Tommer said. My hope is that more students will reach out to their senator and ask for funding, Tommer said. Were here for the students and want their money to go back to them to help them accomplish their academic goals. u Communication Business Health Science $24,865.46 Although students arent socializing as much in real continued from Page life, almost half of the incoming freshmen surveyed said a school providing , lent data from the Dixie social events was a very state University website, e almost half of the important part of deciding students in the fall 2014 if they attended that college semester were freshmen, so or university. The study said these to DSU isnt immune this may be because stunumbers . dents need more structured One big cause of stress for social atmospheres given freshmen is not having an their declining experience immediate academic plan. with less structured forms of socializing due to social 'Picking what classes to when take is a hard decision media use. DSU freshmen have the you dont know your major, said Rhiannon Ahmed, option to take First Year educata freshman Experience classes, which general Slesk said are a good way ion major from Cedar City. for students to ease into col Picking a mjor so early social I is lege academics and very stressful because life. dont know what I want to do. Some of the assignments is in there are going to be like, Academic advisement one attend the football game way to give a student more direction and ease the this Saturday, Slesk said. We have a lot of people Jressure. that come in here and say, Tyler Slesk, an academic adviser who helps first-yeSt. George is boring. Well have you been out of your students, said one of the hardest things for freshmen dorm? Have you left your ie meets with is they dont computer? I think the FYE know what to expect. class is good at that, too. It the oppoints out some of Really what we want to do here is tions around here. just empower the DSU freshmen who feel a students with knowledge soof where depressed or unable to they are going, resources Slesk said. Some students cialize have many dont understand where on campus. The Health and Wellthey are going so they feel kind of like ness Center is located near theyre in a pit. East When campus at 34 N. 600 they come here we can and has a staff specifically give them that knowlefor mental health services. dge and send them out the door with a little bit of Students who feel depressed wait confidence. are encouraged not to The HERI study also to make an appointment. showed that students are Academic advisement, the Health and Wellness Center, spending the most amount f time on social media and information about student the least activities and all other reamount of time sources can be found on the socializing with friends DSU website. compared to past years. grateful for the senate. Getting to this conference would have been difficult and significantly more stressful for funding. Legislative Day is a competition for senate funds and has been organized twice before. It has been successful in receiving multiple applicants, Tommer said. However, the Legislative Day planned for March 2 has been canceled because individual bills have been HOW IS OUR SENATE SPENDING MONEY? j- y- -- 3- RESHMAN 1 v 4 dixiesunnews com SUN NEWS DIXIE OF DIXIE THE s STATE UNIVERSITY VOICE f y full-tim- JOIN DIXIE SUN NEWS! SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVALABLE FOR THE 2015-201- 6 SCHOOL YEAR. The following positions are available: Editor-In-Chi- ef Section Editors (News, Sports, Opinion, Features) Photo Editor Multimedia Editor Copy Editor AnchorsMultimedia Reporters Staff & Sports Writers Photographers ar Graphic Designer You must register for I or COMM 22103210 - Dixie Sun News Production at least 12 credits and at least a 2.5 GPA. II Must have You may resume. be asked to submit a portfolio andor a TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, VISIT http:bit.lyxRNQfn APPLY! YOU HAVE UNTIL MARCH 15 TO For more information, please contact Rhiannon Bent 435-652-78- 16 or bentdixie.edu