Members of the WKU Student Government Association gathered together on Tuesday, after a week-long hiatus, to discuss budgets, pass new bills and welcome a guest speaker to the podium.
Chief Financial Officer Gabe Jerdon provided the chamber with a Spring Budget Update. Jerdon said that despite writing more bills in the fall than in previous years, they did not reach 50% of their budget for the semester. Current standing for organizational aid is a remaining $10,100, Jerdon said.
The SGA spending budget is as follows:
Legislative Budget:
- Organizational Aide – $10,100 remaining
- Scholarships – $11,500 remaining
- Legislative Discretionary Spending – $6,865 remaining
- Vouchers – $1,300 remaining
Executive Budget
- Stipends – $13,500 remaining
- Discretionary Spending – $2,296 remaining
- Projects Fund – 4,135 remaining
Overall, the organization spent $4,573.73 in the Fall 2025 semester. Jerdon encouraged senators to collaborate on bills, “think big”, and vouch for legislation they believe in.
“We had a lot less waste, which is good, but don’t be shy when you’re writing bills…Don’t be afraid to ask for a large amount of money if you think it’s actually worth it,” Jerdon said.
SGA also voted to pass a bill to fund an event for Black History Month.
Bill 28-26S, drafted by Intercultural Student Engagement Center Senator Jaiden Marshall, was designed to fund a collaborative event called Black History Trivia Night. The bill, which passed, requested that SGA cover funding for food, drinks and a room rental fee to a total of $65. Marshall said the bill was “a long time coming.”
“Ever since I got into SGA, I noticed the gap between SGA and ISEC,” Marshall said, adding that he has thus taken the initiative to increase collaboration between the two.
Marshall also invited representatives from Black Women of Western and Why Knot Us to the SGA Chambers to discuss future collaborations between ISEC and SGA.
(Corinne Tucker)
Kylan Patterson, president of the Why Knot Us initiative, arrived at the podium to discuss the student organization’s mission and community outreach. Why Knot Us provides a plethora of social, academic and athletic opportunities to Black males through events such as barbershop talks and powder puff as well as partnerships with Jonesville Academy, the Warren Day Treatment Center, Boys to Men and more.
“We increase retention rates of Black males by providing academic support and accountability, personalized career coaching and leadership development,” Patterson said, adding that he hopes to see collaboration between the groups in the future.
WKU Librarian Sara McCaslin also gave a speech to the chamber regarding dwindling student library usage. Librarians are often brought to speak to various WKU general education classes in a student’s first or second year, McCaslin said. Rarely, however, do students utilize the resources consistently afterward.
“We are very much like vampires,” McCaslin said. “We have to be invited into your classrooms.”
However, library services are always at a student’s disposal. Students can schedule an online or on-campus appointment with their librarian through WKU’s website. Students can also use the website’s service directory to find the librarian that specializes in their major.
“Each one of you has a dedicated, discipline-specific librarian,” McCaslin said. “You can make an appointment with us on your own. We are the ones who can help you get started, help you along the way, and finish strong.”
(Corinne Tucker)
