Rodeo team gets touring allocation

The SUUSA Clubs & Student Involvement Assembly passed two bills Wednesday in support of athletic and occupational opportunities throughout Utah for SUU clubs.

The SUU Rodeo Team received $2,733.23 for entry, travel, equipment, and boarding fees needed to attend five rodeos this spring.

According to the bill, the team will be “competing for points in order to represent SUU at the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo”.

The competitions will take place March 5 and 6 at Weber State Univeristy, April 15 to 17 at Utah Valley University and April 22 to 24 at the College of Southern Idaho, as well as two Rcoky Mountain regional competitions.

Open forum time was extended by five minutes to allow the delegates to question club representatives in depth.

Justin Reeve, freshman information systems major from Panguitch, spoke on behalf of the team at the meeting. He said the members will be contributing over $4,000 in addition to the funds allocated by the assembly.

Reeve also noted that the team is part of the National Intercollegiate College Rodeo Association and has been competing for SUU since the 1950s.

Arts & Entertainment Delegate Mary Tague, who supported the bill, said the events would provide “national and state recognition to the school.”

The SUU Rodeo Team participates in community events such as the Great American Stampede and parade and currently displays an exhibit in the Cedar City Library in the Park.

The assembly also passed Bill 031-10 “UMEA Conference” and allocated $146.95 to the MENC Club, which supports students in the music education program.

Amanda Merrill, a junior music education major from Syracuse, represented the club and said students attending the conference will “meet music educators from all over Utah” and learn the newest techniques for teaching.

For the second week in a row, assembly rules were suspended to allow the delegates further questioning of a club representative.

Professional Development Delegate Colby Presley expressed concern over the club’s decision not to use their merit money, which is money earned by a club for their involvement in student activities.

Merrill said the club would prefer to save earned money for potential future educational workshops hosted by the club.

Athletics & Recreation Delegate Preston Leavitt defended the club’s decision, and said the bylaws permit funding regardless of merit money accounts and the conference would be a great opportunity for experience “outside the classroom.”

The bill passed unanimously.

The assembly also considered a new bill sponsored by the Association of General Contractors on campus, which is seeking $1,335.76 to attend a regional competition.

In appealing for the funds, Mark Taylor, a senior construction management major from West Jordan, highlighted the multiple charitable services the club has provided for the school and community.

He said they recently donated over $1,000 worth of labor in constructing a podium for the track team and are currently building toys and shelving units for the daycare on campus.

The competition occurs annually and includes the entire Western region of the US, including Alaska and Hawaii, Taylor said.

Even against such fierce competition, the club took second place last year by half of a point.

“We’re the little fish in the big pond,” Taylor said, “but we definitely pull our weight despite being small.”

The assembly will continue debate on the bill next week following investigation.