In a vote of 25-0-2, the Senate approved $25,220 to go toward funding the Big 12 on the Hill Conference, located in Washington, D.C.
“We’ll be hosting a conference for Big 12 student leaders from across all schools in the Big 12…Collectively, we represent 285,180 students total from across the entire Big 12. This is our chance to give students an opportunity to share their voice in spaces where they’re typically not heard,” President Colby Brandt, a senior majoring in agricultural and rural policy studies, said.
Before Senators began questioning the bill, Brandt clarified that the estimated 93 participants would be charged a $125 registration fee, which is expected to cover half of the conference’s operating costs.
While the total of the bill is $25,220, Brandt emphasized toward the end of the debate that the Student Government would most likely be paying around $11,000.
The largest line item in the bill amounts to $10,600 for a welcome reception for the roughly estimated 93 attendees that will be held at a local restaurant in D.C. In addition, $2,000 has been allotted for Metro transportation to and from the restaurant for all attendees exclusively for that evening.
Brandt also noted the cost compared to when Iowa State hosted the Big 12 Conference on campus last year.
“It was $37,000 to host the conference here in Ames, Iowa. So this is a significantly scaled-back version of what we originally had planned to do. We want to be mindful. So that’s why this amount is what we settled on. But this is a very low amount for Washington, D.C.,” Brandt said.
While the majority of the Senate approved of the bill, many voiced concerns over the cost of attendance and the decision-making process of choosing only eight Student Government participants to attend.
Sen. Samantha Jones, a junior majoring in elementary education and a member of the finance committee, noted that this bill is not the only funding that Student Government will receive for the conference.
“What you’re seeing here is not the full cost, because they’re taking funds out of the legislative account for their travel for Iowa State students. Just keep that in mind,” Jones said.
Sen. Jake Snyder, a senior majoring in public relations, voiced his concern that students would not have equal representation at the conference, with only eight senators and four faculty members able to attend, besides the president, vice president and the director of governmental affairs.
While the list of attendees is unconfirmed, Brandt assured Snyder that there would be “proportional representation.”
The conference will be held from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25.
The following special orders were passed without dissent:
- Funding ISU Theater Contract with a total of $211,000 spread over four years.
- Funding $6,975 to the National Society of Black Engineers.
- Funding $11,599.38 to Trend Magazine.
The following internal matters were passed without dissent:
- Seating Ethan Fligge, a sophomore majoring in supply chain management, as an Ivy College of Business Senator.
- Seating Noah Srenaski, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, on the finance committee.
The following bills have been read for the first time and will be discussed and voted on at a later meeting:
- Funding for the Wildlife Society Student Conclave Travel.
- Funding for Gamma Rho Lambda Pride Prom.
- Funding StratAA.
- Honoring Wendy Wintersteen’s Service and Retirement.
- Confirming the Fiscal Year 2027 Priorities and Criteria.
- Funding for Lunch and Learn series.
The final Senate meeting of the semester is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Memorial Union.