The Student Bar Association Senate unanimously approved a bill Tuesday returning leftover organization funds to students in need.
Senators unanimously allocated $7,286.29 to either the Student Assistance Fund – which helps students in need pay for emergency food or transportation – or to a laptop program that would allow law students to check out laptops for short durations from the Jacob Burns Law Library. The final determination of the funds depends on whether the Dean of Students agrees to fund the purchase per the bill.
SBA Sen. John Tuley, the chair of the finance committee, said the SBA donated $18,000 last year to the Student Assistance Fund, which did not reach the fund until “a couple of weeks ago” – meaning next year’s student can use that $18,000. He said students might lose or break their current laptops and may not be able to afford to purchase a new one, and the programs can allow students to survive their school day.
“Why not figure out something right now that we can give that will positively impact students where they need it?” Tuley said. “Something that has been said by multiple senators is that we need to meet students where they’re at.”
SBA Sen. Delaney Gatine said they will purchase 10 HP laptops with 12 GB of storage and insurance protecting them for three years, with more than $200 left for the maintenance and upkeep of the laptops. She said the SBA would work with Burns Library to establish a system for checking out laptops similar to the current system for checking out laptop chargers.
Law students may borrow chargers from the library for up to four hours.
Senators also unanimously agreed to allocate $1,710.79 to GW Law Soccer so they can purchase new equipment like nets and soccer balls, and they unanimously approved $800 to go to the Muslim Law Student Association to fund an Eid dinner with between 30 and 40 attendees planned for April 22.
The senate also unanimously agreed to allocate $1,210.80 to cover the cost of 20 need-based tickets for the SBA’s annual Barrister’s Ball.
“We are in a profession that is entirely grounded in ethics and honesty,” SBA Sen. Cody Ingraham said. “And I think that we’re also a body that values equity. Regardless of whatever income bracket you come to, or whatever you come to law school with, that shouldn’t keep you away from a law school tradition simply based on that.”
Senators unanimously approved the founding of the Disability Law Society, which seeks to provide a space for law students interested in disability law. Mary Zenger, the president of the Atypical Student Society, represented the Disability Law Society and urged senators to recognize the new student organization.
“I was diagnosed with a permanent disability at the end of this past summer,” Zenger said. “And so it’s always been really important to me that there was a voice for people like myself on this campus.”
Senators also unanimously agreed to approve the creation of GW Law Squash, which will organize weekly squash games, and GW for the People, an organization focused on prosecution and providing opportunities for students to connect with attorneys practicing different types of prosecution.
The next SBA Senate meeting will be held April 18 at 9:15 p.m. in the Law Learning Center.
