The ASUI Senate voted 11-4 Wednesday night to transfer $750 from its allocations budget to the Homecoming Committee to finance the University of Idaho’s annual homecoming fireworks display.
The bill, authored by Sen. Tanner Beymer and sponsored by Sen. Haleigh Sims-Douglas, originally would have transferred $1,000 to the committee, but was amended to $750 before it faced the senate that night.
Sen. James Howard argued against the bill. He said during his experience at the fireworks show last year, he heard multiple students say, “Oh hey, there goes my tuition,” and, “So that’s why my tuition is so high,” as the fireworks exploded in the air.
Howard said last night’s meeting was the only place he has heard any positive sentiments about the fireworks display, other than from faculty and alumni. He said he could not support the bill as a representative of the student body.
“If the students were here right now, I think they would vote this bill down,” Howard said.
After the meeting, Beymer said ASUI’s allocations budget consists of student fees, not tuition money.
During the debate, Beymer said his committee met with members of the Homecoming Committee to discuss the display and ASUI’s role as a sponsor.
“We did inform the Homecoming Committee that we would not be a regular source of consistent funding,” Beymer said.
In addition to decreasing ASUI’s funding from $1,000 to $750, Beymer said he will also offer a “Dear colleague letter” to the homecoming fundraising chairs and the homecoming adviser to encourage them to seek other sources for funds and use ASUI as a secondary source only.
The fireworks display has historically received funding from three sponsors — Latah Credit Union, Best Western Plus University Inn and ASUI, said Associate Alumni Director Tim Helmke.
He said recently ASUI has been the only sponsor to decrease its funding. Helmke said ASUI has donated $1,000 to the committee the past few years.
“We view ASUI as a very important sponsor,” Helmke said.
Helmke said the Homecoming Committee started raising money for the show last October. It currently holds $6,500, with about $4,000 in a reserve. The show is put on by Pyro Spectaculars Inc., and will cost $7,500, Helmke said. The payment is due the day of the fireworks display, Sept. 30.
Senators said the show would go on whether the ASUI passed the bill or not, and Helmke later agreed.
Sen. Zachary Spence countered Howard’s statements and supported the bill.
“I thought it was interesting what my colleague mentioned — that students were complaining that when the fireworks go off, there goes their tuition,” Spence said. “But I would also point out those students were actually at the fireworks display in the first place.”
Debate on the floor lasted almost an hour as senators wrestled over the issue.
“This is the longest debate on a single bill I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve been here for four years,” Beymer said.
Dean of Students Blaine Eckles attended the senate meeting for the first time since he’s been with UI, and said he will make an effort to attend the meetings once a month to learn more about ASUI’s interests.
Eckles also added his opinion to the mix before he left the meeting.
“I think any way that we can create a vibrant campus community is benefit to the institution, and any way we can create a strengthening relationship with the community members around us, I think that’s a benefit to our students as well,” Eckles said.
Taylor Nadauld
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