The Student Government Association’s new spring budget is $207,665, about $18,000 more than the budget last spring.

The SGA’s Fall 2006 semester brought many accomplishments, such as the hiring of a Vice President for Student Affairs, the first open forum with board members and student leaders, the establishment of the Council of Presidents, the first President’s Cabinet and Student Leaders Dinner and the establishment of the SGA Help Desk. Other accomplishments that affected Loyola students were the Drop-Add period extension, a minimal tuition increase for 2007-2008 and extended library hours for finals.

According to SGA President Daniel Green, political science junior, last semester was a great success.

“We wanted to make sure students and student leaders felt a connection to the leadership of the university. We’ve accomplished this by creating events such as the President’s Cabinet and Student Leaders Dinner,” he said. Green also said the dinner will take place each semester, giving the President’s Cabinet and Student Leaders more interaction.

SGA also has many goals for Spring 2007 to enrich the lives of Loyola students each day.

Green said SGA is planning a number of new activities, such as the SGA Community Service Competition.

“This is a competition between students and organizations. Each student can submit community service hours, and each organization can submit hours from their members. We are trying to get students more involved with rebuilding the city,” he said.

Though the details of the prize are yet to be announced, Green said that the prize will be a dinner with a community or civic leader.

SGA will also be initiating the Student Leaders Scholarships. The scholarships will go to four students – two sophomores and two juniors -who are committed to leadership on campus and in the community.

Some of the budget will be used for the Danna Center Space Study, which SGA leaders hope will show the university they wish to give students a quality place to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Extra money will be used to revamp Senior Week. About $6,000 from the President’s Office will go to this cause.

As for the rest of the organizations, Green said, “An allocations meeting will be held this weekend to discuss budget packets (the organizations) will be receiving. All student organizations formed before Jan.1 are eligible to receive funds for this semester.”

Barbie Cure can be reached at [email protected].