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GW FEED an organization chaired by SA Sen. O.G. Oyiborhoro (CCAS-U), had at least 60 supporters that flooded Post Hall after the junior initially requested $15,000 - none of which will go toward food for the District's homeless.
"We set a precedent which has never been done before," said Oyiborhoro, who chairs the SA student life committee. "It is not my campaign. It is sponsored by the SA."
Despite receiving the Senate's endorsement, not all the SA senators were content with the body's decision.
SA Sens. Matt Cohen (SoB-U) and Nathan Brill (SoB-U) supported the idea of GW FEED, but were unhappy that the bill did not follow the normal committee referral process. A two-thirds vote brought the bill to the Senate floor without review by the finance committee.
"I think GW FEED is a phenomenal cause that should be funded," said Cohen, vice chair of the finance committee. "However, I think as it stands today, the money should come out of the finance committee. I think it is a lot of money for the student life committee to use at its discretion. That is why there are controls and a finance committee."
Oyiborhoro insisted the reason the bill did not follow normal legislative procedure was because the student life committee did not receive the funds Oyiborhoro said funds were allocated last year to the student life committee by former SA President Lamar Thorpe and the SA needed to act since GW FEED begins this Tuesday.
"I was forced to create a last-minute bill," Oyiborhoro said. "I introduced this bill so we could pay."
Cohen did not sympathize with Oyiborhoro.
"I think that is sweet as sugar," said Cohen, a senior, during the meeting. "But the process is being railroaded. Just because he is a senator doesn't mean he (should) get $6,000."
