Student Government Association Bill # 12.06.2015.03 Sponsoring Senator: Esmeralda Alejandre Requested by: LEAD Office- Taylor Juniel Whereas: The LEAD (Leadership Engagement and Development) Office's purpose is to create and provide leadership development opportunities and actively engage students into the Western State Colorado University and local community. The LEAD Office provides students with opportunities for direct participation in activities involving their academic, emotional, physical, spiritual or career-related development. They provide the student body with many programs that benefits them throughout their college career. The LEAD Office's main purpose is to provide each student with the best support they can receive to succeed here at Western State Colorado University. Whereas: LEAD Office is hosting an alternative spring break service project. The LEAD Office would like to select 6 students and send them to Selma, Alabama during the 2016 Spring Break. While down in Alabama, students will be participating in a service project. While being down there they will be helping make a kitchen, help built a house or help provide better water use for a less fortunate family. It really depends what they want to do. The will be teaming up with the Freedom Foundation, which is administered by Gwen Brown, a Western alumni and recent guest for the 2014/15 Leadership Speaker Series. For students that want to make a change this could be a great opportunity to do so. This trip will give students insight to personal weaknesses and strengths, student leadership skills, experience working with a more diverse group, the opportunity to give to others and have a very meaningful personal experience. All of these skills can be brought back to Western and used to create an environment that influences others to do more for the people around them. An advisor will attend the trip with the students. To prepare, the students will meet weekly with the advisor to discuss the theory behind service-learning, historical context of Selma, Selma & diversity today, racial issues & privilege, and how we might bring back our learnings to campus, and the transference of what an experience might mean for the participants in their personal lives. The group has also asked Melanie Hulbert, vice president for Academic Affairs and Sociology professor, to meet to help provide a sociologic & academic lens to the project. Whereas: If SGA helps us fund this trip they will be able to positively impact the student body in more ways than just one way. The project will give a diverse student group, hand on cross cultural experience in a place where racial tension has historically dominated the culture. Students will learn valuable leadership, teamwork and peer bonding skills that can be utilized later, when back on campus. Also after the trip participants will come back and give a presentation on their individual experiences as well as team experiences in Alabama. This trip will demonstrate that few can make a change and inspire others to make a change in their lives big or little. “Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned” that is why students are preparing now. Whereas: The LEAD Office will be taking 6 students and one advisor. Each person will need a total of $790 for a five day trip. The cost of the trip includes food, lodging, diversity training, Freedom Foundation administrative costs, transportation, and a day to visit some important civil rights historical sites in Alabama to help provide the historical context for the work. The

trip in total will be $5528 (inc. advisor). The group will be flying out of Denver and will be renting a car to get to the service project site. Car rental will be approx. $700/5 days. Gas mileage to Denver will be $200. Food will be $735 for five days. Lodging will be $350 per 5 nights, plus two nights in Denver which will be $400. The service project will be $455, this includes Administrative and Safety, plus Non-Violence Training. The remaining balance will be $168, which will be used for the group to spend on a historical day. Montgomery Excursion and Birmingham Excursion, $84 each.

Budget Breakdown The Spring Break Service Learning Trip is asking SGA for $2000. In total, the trip is approx. $4744 for the entire group, not including the advisor. Cost for each person $790 if SGA provides support the total will only be $457/person. (The advisor’s costs are not included in this budget.)         

Administrative $ Safety- $210 Non-Violence Training- $180 Lodging in Selma- $300 Hotel-$400-2 rooms/2 nights Car rental-$700 Airfare to Atlanta- $2100 Gas Mileage to Denver & parking- $270 Montgomery & Birmingham Historical Information trips: $144 Food-$630

Total $4744 (not including advisory) If SGA helps with $2000 the group would only have to be responsible for fund raising $2544. The group already has begun fundraising and has a plan for Spring Semester, including asking for department/office sponsorship, a Go Fund Me campaign, seasonal fundraisers, etc.

Be it enacted upon this signature of the President, Ryan Paul, and the support of the Senate and from advisory Committee the allocation of $2000 for spring break alternative trip is approved by the Western State Colorado University Student Government Association. Amended: Advisory Committee voted to amend bill to $2200 on 12/7/15.

Signature __________________________________________ Date ____________________________