The Undergraduate Student Congress appropriated funds to registered student organizations, appointed new members of the election commission staff and passed a resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month resolution
The news: Congress passed a resolution acknowledging the importance of the celebration and recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15th-Oct. 15th.
The bill encourages students to participate in cultural appreciation events such as those planned by the Hispanic American Student Association in collaboration with other Hispanic and Latinx student organizations on campus.
What they’re saying: Alexandra Toyos-Perez, co-author and Arts and Sciences representative, said she initiated the creation of the bill because she hadn’t seen anything recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month during her year and a half as a congress member.
“The last time this bill was written was in 2020, so it’s been about four years,” Toyos-Perez said. “Since then, we’ve seen a women’s month resolution and black history month, among others, so I wanted to shine a light on (Hispanic Heritage Month).”
Regina Pranin Guillen, co-author and Hispanic American Student Association president, said that this resolution is important with the rising Hispanic population in higher education.
“That’s so important,” Guillen said. “For Hispanic students, it is significantly harder to get into higher education because of cultural differences, language differences, discrimination, and not having enough help or resources.”
Lilian Higareda Castillo, co-author and Journalism and Mass Communications representative, highlighted a few Hispanic organizations on campus, specifically recognizing that the Hispanic American Student Association was established 44 years ago.
The authors addressed how this bill would operate in the context of new university-wide Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies.
“The work that we do here in student congress is not affected by any of the new limitations regarding DEI and universities,” Castillo said.
Toyos-Perez said that the bill highlights diversity rather than historical systemic discrimination.
“This is not giving funds to anyone,” Toyos-Perez said. “This is more getting people out there and getting people to recognize (Hispanic Heritage Month).”
The vote: Congress unanimously approved the resolution.
Appointing election commission staff
The news: Congress appointed five members to the 2025-26 Election Commission staff.
The new members will serve on the commission until the end of the Spring 2025 semester.
Newly appointed members include:
• Allyson Burwell
• Milton Chamblee
• Emma Seager
• Hannah Smith
• Kennedy Smith
What they’re saying: Baylor Savage, election commissioner and co-author of the bill, explained that the election commission staff helps him make decisions throughout the election process.
“Most importantly for (the candidates) running, (election commission staff) are the ones that are voting on different rule breaks and infractions that happen during the election process,” Savage said.
Kyle Martin, congressional administration committee chair and co-author of the bill, said that candidates were interviewed and considered using a graded rubric system. He said he is proud of the staff selected.
“We were just looking for passionate people, willing to help with the elections and make them the best that they can,” Martin said.
Savage said the committee received a total of 44 applications and extended 22 interview offers. Savage was present at every interview.
“We had about six (applications) last year,” Savage said. “Maybe this year, with encouraging younger people to apply, people felt more open to it.”
Burwell, newly appointed election commission staff member, said she was excited to be a part of the team and learn more about how the election commission team operates.
“I’m excited to give people a chance for their voice to be heard,” Burwell said.
The vote: Congress approved the appointments with a vote of 42-0-0.
Appropriating auxiliary funding
The news: Congress passed a bill appropriating auxiliary funding to registered student organizations.
The amounts allocated and to which organizations are:
• Crimson Cinema Club, $500
• Energy Management Student Association, $500
• Getting to the Root, $200
• International Security Student Association, $300
• Law Students of Texas, $250
• OU Skate Club, $500
• OU Women’s Soccer Club, $500
• Psychology Graduate Student Association, $480
• Speech Team, $500
• Undergraduate Anthropological Society, $500
• Women in Business Association, $180
The appropriated funds total $4,410.00.
All unspent money remaining at the end of the fiscal year, which ends May 8, shall return to the SGA general account, and remaining appropriations shall be canceled.
What they’re saying: Jacob Schonfield, ways and means committee chair and author of the bill, explained the committee’s decisions on how to allocate funding.
Schonfield said that the six organizations that received $500 of funding were new organizations with no fiscal history.
“New orgs are not able to apply for primary (funding) yet,” Schonfield said. “We wanted to make sure that we gave them an opportunity to show that they can spend money, hence the $500.”
Schonfield said new organizations used to receive $700, but due to limited funding, they were allocated $500.
Schonfield said the Women in Business Association received the lowest amount of funding due to their lack of spending in previous years.
“Women in Business have a fiscal history of not spending any of the money given to them over the past three years,” Schonfield said.
No organizations were denied funding, but no organizations were granted the full funding they requested.
Schonfield said although the committee rarely grants full funding, it adheres to the priorities of the organizations.
“They are the ones actually doing the events, doing the on-the-ground work,” Schonfield said. “We want to stick as closely to their priorities as we can.”
The vote: Congress approved this bill with a vote of 42-0-0.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour.
