The American River College Associated Student Body Senate met Nov. 15, to vote on the ARC Model United Nations Funding Bill. 

This was the main, and for the most part only, topic that ASB discussed in their meeting. The bill allows the senate to grant ARC’s Model United Nations Club $6,000 to cover its five day conference trip in San Francisco from April 17 to 21, 2020. 

The money would be used by the club to cover its stay at the Hyatt Hotel. The club has 15 students and one faculty member, and they plan to book nine rooms total. 

Out of the 10 ASB senate members who voted, nine approved to give the club funds for the trip. The senate member who voted against was Ramses Galvez. 

According to Galvez, ARC’s Model United Nations comes to the senate every year for this conference and asks for money. However, Galvez said this time around they asked for more money than they have in the past. 

“I feel they asked for too much money this year,” Galvez said. “We want to support them, but I don’t see how giving them this much money benefits us or makes an impact for the campus.”

Despite Galvez’s feelings towards the bill, the majority voted yes and the bill was passed to give the club its fundings for its conference. 

ASB President Aesha Abduljabbar said supporting clubs going to conferences is important enough to spend money on. However, Abduljabbar said ASB also “demands” that clubs bring back proof of how these conferences will benefit the campus.

“These clubs are going to these conferences to represent ARC,” Abduljabbar said. “Due to how many students are going, I feel $6,000 is an appropriate amount to give for the trip.”

The next ASB senate meeting is on Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Center Boardroom.