Faith and Technology Awareness

• Associate dean of students Matthew Hooper asked for feedback on the Faith and Technology Awareness week and passed out surveys to senators. Sophomore Rebecca Gallacher, Alpha West senator, suggested bringing up the idea of abstaining from technology again at Sabbathing this Saturday. Hope South senator sophomore Camryn Hudson mentioned establishing a day or week of action where students could shut off their phones or abstain from Facebook.

“I really appreciate that we address this topic here at Biola … not many other schools discuss this topic,” said sophomore Evan McGee, Emerson Hall senator.

VP of Finance Update

• Senators will be voting on next semester’s general and senate budget on Dec. 11 — as well as an increase to AS payroll, though they did not say by how much — announced junior Evan Tan, vice president of finance. As it is drafted now, the payroll would be increased $5,000 for the entirety of AS employees. The funding would come from the AS budget — which is funded by the student fee — and would be divided among more than 50 students. If passed, this would take effect in Spring 2013, according to Tan.

This will not be a conflict of interest because Laura Igram-Edwards, AS Adviser, will be approving the increase, he said. Tan further said in an email those voting on the wage change are trustworthy and their primary interest is the the good of the student body.

PENDING

• A proposal from senior cinema and media arts majors Jesse Bauder and Sam Smith requesting $600 for the premiere of the student film “Away” was the only outside proposal this week. This is typical during the holiday season, since proposals must be submitted one week ahead of time, according to Cook. Batter and Smith are hoping to rent the Whittier Village Cinemas, a 200-seat venue where previous student film premieres have been held. The funding would go exclusively toward renting the theater. Bauder explained that if the money were passed in partial, the students would be forced to pay for the theater themselves.

“[If the money was] passed in partial, the funds would have to come out of student’s pockets, which we don’t really want to do, but we will if we have to,” Smith said.

PASSED

• Senators passed a proposal requesting $450 after Sigma Hall senator, senior Samuel McRae, submitted an updated request to buy a Blu-ray player for each Sigma lobby. McRae complied with the senate’s request that he do more research, which caused this proposal to be delayed. McRae previously talked to Julia Stanton, Sigma resident director, who said that there was not enough room in their dorm budget for the Blu-ray players He also spoke to Beth Braley of Residential Facilities, who said that their department did not pay for such things.