In the first wave of approving annual budget request appeals, the Student Government Association’s general assembly approved two appeals to supply funds for student organizations’ events during their Feb. 9 meeting. The total amount of appeal money requested this semester is double SGA’s remaining budget. 

The first of the two appeals comes from Jimmy’s Travelling All-Stars, an Emerson comedy troupe. The All-Stars appealed for $9,804 to pay for plane tickets for their trip to the University of Southern California’s sketch comedy festival, Sketchella. Sketchella is the biggest sketch comedy festival on the West Coast, originating in 2018. Colleges and universities nationwide are invited to perform sets over the weekend-long festival. 

In addition to Emerson’s All-Stars, past attendees have included troupes from the University of California Los Angeles, Stanford University, and University of California Berkeley. The All-Stars allocated approximately $2,200 from their annual budget request to pay for rooms, transportation while at the event, and meals. Zoe Seitz, a member of the troupe, attended Friday’s meeting to advocate for the appeal money. 

“Whatever we don’t end up using, we will give back [to SGA] because we really want to go on this trip,” Seitz said. “We will do anything that will help push us to Los Angeles.” 

Seitz also said the All-Stars’ set at the festival is longer than the average and will allow them an unprecedented level of exposure.

“We get to perform a half-hour set,” Seitz said. “Some festivals are like ten minutes, and if that were the case, I would have some debate, but [USC] takes very good care of us.”

The appeal was officially approved in a 9-0 vote. 

The next appeal that faced the general assembly was Emerson’s Black Organization with Natural Interest’s (EBONI) appeal for $15,000 to fund their 55th-anniversary celebration. Stephyne Weathersby, president of EBONI, was also present at the meeting to advocate for the appeal. She explained that the money would pay for an off-campus venue, a DJ, merchandise, decorations and memorabilia, and a meal for all attendees. 

Nandan Nair, SGA’s executive treasurer, countered concerns over the request for a large sum of the remaining budget.

“The total cost of the event is $15,000. However, they have gotten over $8,000 in contributions,” Nair explained. “And so the appeal they’re asking for is just around $6,400.” 

Before going to a vote, Nair expressed that the significant decrease in the requested amount makes SGA more comfortable approving the appeal, as the remaining appeals budget remains a subject of concern. 

After a brief recess, the appeal was officially approved in a 9-0 vote. 

The next item on SGA’s docket was the appointment of Christian Sullivan to the non-traditional senator role. After attending SGA meetings this past month, Sullivan was officially nominated for the role at the meeting, granted after a unanimous 9-0 vote. The Student Experience Senate is a collection of nominated leaders representing the Emerson community’s personal affiliations.

In the role, Sullivan will serve as the voice of students who identify as non-traditional as a member of the Student Experience Senate.