ASME gets its money
Student government approved funding for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to attend the Regional Professional Development Conference but denied funding to a separate request from a senior design group at its meeting March 4.
ASME has attended the conference at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. every year.
“This year there are more than double the people attending,” said Nathan Sailer, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.
The club has been self sustaining in the past, but with the large amount of interest they made a contingency request to student government to help with travel, entry fees and hotel costs.
“I applaud this organization for being self-sustaining,” said Sarah Beck, senator of human development and education.
The organization asked student government for $1,396 for the conference.
Because a club budget had not been submitted at the beginning of the year, there was a debate about whether the contingency request should be granted.
Clara Presser, senator of arts, humanities and social sciences, said the student government shouldn’t punish ASME because they did not submit a budget — if they were self sustaining they would not have anticipated this cost at the beginning of the year, which fits under the definition of a contingency request.
“ASME is a well represented organization and member of the CSO,” off-campus senator Brian Dahl said.
“I think a zero budget is called for because they did not submit a budget. Looking back in the past, student government has given zero dollars to organizations who have not submitted a budget,” Robert Foertsch high-rise senator said.
Several senators commented they should not look to the past. The request was granted.
Twelve students will be attending the conference and eight will be competing.
“Three of the eight are members of a senior design group, who have designed a human powered water distiller which could be used in third world countries,” Sailer said.
The second senior design group was denied funding from student government. Their plans were to compete in the man-powered vehicle competition in California.
“I think even though they were two separate causes, it was tough for both to be supported,” Sailer said. “The second senior design group still wants to attend the competition and is seeking funding through the department.”
At the conference students will compete in several categories including oral and website competitions as well as participate in other activities.
“There is an impromptu design contest. We also get to meet with other regional ASME groups, listen to speakers and attend a small career fair,” Sailer said.