 "Photo: Jessica Burdge")
The SUUSA Senate unanimously bill Wednesday allocating funds to theatre students for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival conference.
The senate allocated $2,195 to 37 Theatre Arts & Dance Department students attending the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at Dixie State College Tuesday through Saturday.
According to the bill, this is a nationally recognized theatre festival that allows students to compete, network, showcase their talent and attend workshops.
The conference also provides internship, summer job and graduate school connection opportunities for students.
The bill lists conference expenses, including registration, transportation, food and department fees and expenses, totaling $6,806.
The Theatre Arts & Dance Department paid student registration fees in past years for those participating at the conference, but the department does not have the funds to do so this year, according to the bill.
Co-sponsor of the bill, Sen. Shandra Worthen, College of Performing & Visual Arts, said the conference is an integral part of a theatre student’s education and offers exposure and experience that students can’t get in Cedar City.
She said five students attending the conference have been nominated to compete for scholarships and 15 students have been invited to perform in the Fringe Festival during the American College Theatre Festival Conference.
Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Richard Bugg addressed the senate, conveying the size and prestige of the conference and the importance for students to attend.
“It is a wonderful chance to interact and make those professional connections that our students need,” Bugg said.
The introduction of the SUUSA election bylaws was on the agenda, but Sen. Dominic Yeager requested to postpone the ratification for one week, Graduate Studies, because of changes made to the bylaws that had not yet been voted on and needed to be investigated.
Elections Director, Alex Francis said the changes made to the election bylaws are primarily to conform to the new constitution, currently waiting for the student vote before final approval and ratification.
Specific changes to the bylaws include the reduced number of senators to be elected, elimination of delegates and power of the elections committee to resolve possible conflicts between candidates without them having to file a grievance with the judicial council.
In other business, the senate heard a request from students on the Mock Trial Team to consider a bill that would fund 50 percent of their trip to Fresno, Calif. for regional competitions.
The bill requests $960 for conference and travel expenses.
Francis spoke on behalf of the Mock Trial Team and said they have been working on the case all year and will compete against schools like Standford, University of California Berkeley and University of California Los Angeles.
The senate will investigate the bill for one week.
The senate discussed new Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application Operators Exchange bill and will investigate the bill for one week.
The bill requests $249.50 for two students’ travel and lodging to attend the CATIA Operators Exchange conference in Las Vegas in April.
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