The Associated Students Inc. senate voted to allocate $30,000 of their budget to a pair of projects at their meeting on Mar. 6.

The first proposal passed is a memorandum allocating $20,000 from ASI towards students pursuing research in the 2024-25 school year. The amount will be split evenly between graduate and undergraduate students, and comes from a preexisting budget line set by ASI on a yearly basis.

The item also serves as a partnership with the Division of Research and Graduate Studies, which will assign a staff member to work directly with an ASI representative, and allocate $20,000 of their own money to match the senate’s amount.

“Every increase [in funding] is a win,” said Ronald Dzerigian, a graduate student support specialist. “If we can give students more [money] when they’re awarded, and if we can give [money] to more students overall it’s a victory.”

Dzerigian spoke in front of the senate, fielding questions and voicing his excitement about the partnership formed through the memorandum. He specifically touched on the fact that his department has previously held a relationship with ASI and that the two working together would be a positive step forward.

“ASI used to offer support, but over the years that’s sort of changed. Our current dean reached out for this collaboration,” Dzerigian said. “Everything that’s been said sounds like good news to me, I’m looking forward to the relationship.”

The item passed unanimously with all 15 senators present voting in favor.

The next program accounted for one third of the total budget issued at the meeting, with the senate granting $10,000 toward a project that will provide meals to residents in Fresno State’s student housing during spring break.

The plan, spearheaded by ASI President Karen Carrillo, will serve two meals a day to more than 200 students that will remain in the dorms during a period when the residential dining hall will not be open.

“This initiative has flourished since 2020, starting off by feeding just 10 students, to now potentially serving 200 students,” Carrillo said. “I think it’s a big step forward and will be helping out a lot of people.”

Now in its fourth year of service, the project could become a regular occurrence for dorm residents if it proves successful.

“The goal is to first feed these 200 students during spring break,” Carrillo said. “If it’s a success I’d like to check the budget and see if it’s a feasible option. If it is, I want to present a [module of understanding] by the end of the year for us to continue to support students for future spring breaks.”

13 out of the 15 present senators present approved the allocation of the funds, with one abstention and one no vote.

Christina Macias, professor in the Kremen School of Education, presented an update on the development of the SECREd Garden project, a green space intended to positively influence students’ mental health on campus.

Macias has worked on the project for the past six years alongside a team of her peers and the group has fundraised more than $150,000 in support. However, a string of setbacks pushed back the intended groundbreaking that was set to take place this past winter break.

“The groundbreaking ceremony did not happen,” Macias said. “The bid came out much, much higher than we intended due to inflation from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are currently at a deficit of about $50-$80,000.”

Another obstacle is in the intended location of the garden, with the originally planned plot of land between the Kremen School of Education building and Laboratory School now intended for the future construction of a concert hall.

Despite the setbacks, Macias still expressed a passion for pursuing the project and the benefits she believes it will bring to the campus. Her main focus currently is the promotion of the impending construction.

“It’s definitely important to market this project to the public so more people will know about it,” Macias said. “What we do know is that there is a lot of interest in garden and environmental education, and I think it would be a great way for Fresno State to showcase all of these abilities and interests in one space.”