Student Government Association provides for campus in more ways than one.
"A lot of our programming comes from our budget as well," said Curry Stevenson, SGA treasurer and senior in civil engineering. "There's a lot of important things in our budget from different areas."
This year SGA received $303,432.72 from the Student Activity Project budget, which is drawn from student fees.
The organization uses its budget to provide students with opportunities like higher education days and collegiate leadership programs, which provide services for students such as copies of USA Today and Birmingham News.
The budget also pays for textbooks for all core classes that are available in the library and contributes funds to the University's graduate school programs.
"We also have legislative affairs that lobby in Montgomery," Stevenson said. "There is a full-time lobbyist in Montgomery that lobbies for higher education for the state."
SGA sets aside $30,000 each year for student organizations, which must apply through the organizational board of the SGA senate for funds.
"Any registered campus organization can come ask for money," Stevenson said. "Each organization gets a varied amount of money depending on how much they can provide for themselves."
SGA holds approximately 30 events each semester, including programming events, Tiger Tuesdays and initiative forums.
"The largest event with regard to participation is The Big Event, which receives student fee allocation as well as national grants and sponsorships from corporations," Stevenson said.
Although SGA's events can be expensive, many are self-funded.
"Events such as Hey Day, Fall 5K, the High School Leadership Conference are self-funded through T-shirt sales and outside sponsorships," Stevenson said.
The majority of SGA's budget goes toward student representation, promoting student issues and concerns and providing student services, Stevenson said.
SGA's spirit program is the most expensive item in the budget, costing $37,800.
"We provide shakers for all the football games on campus," Stevenson said. "It also includes pep rallies and events and all the supplies that comes along with that. Especially last year being the SEC champs, we had to provide more shakers for the fans."
Only a small portion of the budget goes to member salaries.
"Only our five executive officers get paid," Stevenson said. "The president, VP, treasurer, executive VP and chief of staff."
Each staff member is paid $250 per month.
The five executive officers also attend an annual student government conference hosted by Texas A&M Univerisity, and the trip is funded by the SGA budget.
"We pay for that through revenue that we make through programs and outlets, where we don't need student fees for it," Stevenson said.
SGA is open to all students and doesn't require fees.
"We promote the individual students and we provide leadership opportunities," Stevenson said. "We impact the commitment of involvement and enhance student life."
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