After arguing 45 minutes over the amount to allocate for refreshments at NIU art show openings, the Student Association did not have enough members present last night to pass the Campus Activity Boards Visual Arts budget.

Sen. James Mertes questioned the committee’s request for $850 for refreshments and tried to amend the budget to $480 before the SA went out of quorum.

The senate approved other budgets, including a $600 budget for CAB public relations, less than one-third of the requested $1,896.45.

Member Tanya Smith said the amount was recommended because of the committee violated SA bylaws by alloting more than 10 percent of their budget last semester for a full-page ad in The Northern Star.

The highest appropriations approved by the SA were $12,500 for mid-level speaker fees and $10,000 for comedians during comedy week.

The senators heard CAB department presentations and, based on the finance comittee’s recommendations, revised or approved the budgets.

CAB budgets, requests and approvals include:

BULLETRecreation – requested: $1,439.65, approved: $1,243.90

BULLETPublic Relations – requested: $1,896.45, approved: $600

BULLETSpeakers – requested: $28,765.20, approved: $36,715.20

BULLETSpeakers, Mid-Level – requested: $17,878.24, approved: $18,151.24

BULLETSpecial Events – requested: $19,658.94, approved: $18,240.62

BULLETSummer Programming – requested: $8,226.35, approved: $7,539.50

BULLETUnity in Diversity – requested: $5,891.14, approved: $4,801.74