Despite the strained relationship between the E-Board and Student Senate, the Senate approved the activity fee increase in one of its shortest meetings of the year.

The E-Board manages the $8.2 million Rensselaer Union budget. The Student Senate represents the student body and oversees the E-Board. The E-Board has completed budgeting on weekends during the last two months.

In recent weeks, the two bodies have warmed towards each other as their interaction has increased. Early in the fall semester, the Student Senate refused to approve E-Board appointments made by President of the Union Lucas Johnson, triggering the initial animosity between the two bodies.

"I think the Senate in their vote recognized all the hard work done by the E-Board in striving to do the best work that they can. The action by the Senate tonight was a nice cap to a two-month process," said Johnson.

Grand Marshal Joe Greco said the vote was "indicative of what the Senate and the E-Board wanted to see in budgeting at the beginning of the year. The Senate wanted to see the numbers worked over a little bit more throughly in advance of GM Week. The Senate membership was at the meeting and there was no reason why this should have taken more time than it did."

Graduate students have paid a smaller activity fee for last 15 years because as a group they generally participate less in Union funded activities, clubs, and services.

Rick Hartt, director of the Union, explained how the Executive Board reached the activity fee: "Prior to 15 years ago the fee was set in an arbitrary manner with anecdotal information. Previous Student Senates would refuse to increase the activity fee, triggering a larger 20 percent fee increase in latter years. Today we use a formula format to reach a fair and equitable activity fee. Instead of sudden large jumps in the fee, we have consistent steady increases."

One of the biggest increases seen in budgeting was a 16 percent increase in intercollegiate athletics. The increase addressed several issues including leasing a replace the current, often-broken-down team bus. NCAA Insurance increased by $40,000, and $20,000 was allocated this year for the five-year plan to bring women’s hockey to Division I status.

Several newly funded clubs were budgeted for the first time including the $15,293 initial investment for the Aquarium Club and $2,589 for Habitat for Humanity. The E-Board expects the Aquarium Club to operate with zero-subsidy in the future.

In summing up the budgeting process, Johnson said, "We were fair to all clubs in getting them what they really needed. At the same time, we cut some of the niceties to be accurate in budgeting."