The Student Association Senate approved nearly $1.6 million worth of budgets for 72 student organizations at its Sunday night meeting.

Although the finance committee makes budget recommendations, the senate has the power to amend any organization’s budget and gives final approval.

Very few changes were made to the finance committee’s recommendations. Sen. Jason Looney sponsored a failed amendment to deduct $700 from the ultimate frisbee team’s initial budget of $2,500 and divide it among four other organizations.

“After going through, I found a reason for why for every budget. This is the only thing wrong in the budget,” Looney said.

Looney’s amendment would have given $100 to NIU Veteran’s Club, $303 to the Burma Interest Group, $182 to NIU Paintball Club and $115 to Women’s Alliance. Looney said that more money to the paintball club would help the organization in its national tournament, and it would help Women’s Alliance fund its Take Back the Night campaign.

However, other senators – including those on the finance committee – were not supportive of Looney’s, or any, changes to the budget.

Treasurer Ricky Garcia disapproved, noting the increases in funding to all except for the Women’s Alliance. The 10 percent drop in funding, Garcia said, was a result of denying funding for food.

“We did not fund any organization for food,” Garcia said, stating that had the committee done so, there would have been “skyrocketing costs.”

Winners and losers

Some organizations received all of the funding they needed. Campus Child Care, which requested $17,000 in supplemental funding earlier this year to cover the minimum wage increase, received all of the $108,624 it requested. Forensics also received all of the $23,000 it requested.

Recreational Services received $325,849, a 70 percent increase from last year. Despite the increase, Garcia described the service as in dire need of funding, echoing a statement he made in a Feb. 8 Northern Star article on funding.

Other organizations lost funding money. Campus Activities Board received $227,949, nearly half of what it requested for this year.

Speaker election

The meeting was also notable as Speaker Rob Batey’s last. The senate voted Sen. Matt Venaas as next year’s speaker. Batey gave a glowing recommendation of Venaas.

“I feel that when I leave tonight, I leave the senate in good hands,” Batey said.

Venaas was the only nomination.

Venaas described himself as a proven student leader, having been involved in the senate and the Residence Hall Association for two years.

“I believe my experience would be a valuable asset,” Venaas said.

One goal of Venaas’ for next year is to increase campus awareness of the SA and its functions.