BTC recommends Catalyst to SA for student funding

By Anita Alem     2/10/16 6:43pm

The Student Association General Election ballot proposals this year include amendments to the SA Constitution related to blanket tax as well as amendments to the University Court Constitution.

Blanket Tax Reform

The blanket tax-related amendments to the SA Constitution will revamp the process of funding for subsidiary organizations and oversight. The amendments, proposed by the SA Blanket Tax Crack Team, call for a flat $85 blanket tax fee per student (not including the IM fee), which will then be allocated to subsidiary organizations. Current blanket tax organizations are assigned subsidiary status. A standing committee, comprised of students and advisors to subsidiary organizations, will review the blanket organizations’ annual budget and expenditures. The committee can decrease an organization’s funding by no more than 25 percent. Any surplus greater than 125 percent of the organizations approved funding will be returned to a pool of unallocated funds; this acts as an initiatives fund for other organizations to apply for further funding.

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University Court Constitution

The amendments to the University Court Constitution eliminate the position of graduate student representative, remove term limits for Court members and explain the process for choosing members. Additionally, the amendments clarify procedural rules, revise the Court’s relationship with Student Judicial Programs and review the Court’s mission and purpose.

To read the full text of the amendments and campaign statements, visit sa.rice.edu/ballotreferenda.

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