The Student Government Association is currently seeking to fund items from various campus departments. Faculty members received e-mails asking them to create a wish list for necessary items for SGA to purchase, Brent Callais, SGA president, said.

“Every request that comes to us is weighed heavily,” Callais said.

According to the e-mail, the requests must meet certain criteria in order to be processed, including the number of students the item would benefit.

Through a survey developed by SGA and Dr. Martin Simpson, professor of sociology, the organization learned what students wanted addressed this year, Callais said. 11.5 percent of the students surveyed requested SGA help in funding different departments.

The survey also showed that students wanted SGA to fund campus organizations and help with campus improvements, both of which SGA has done, Callais said.

The SGA has $12,000 available to spend on different projects, $3,500 of which has been earmarked for departmental funding, Callais said.

The amount of money set aside for departmental funding is not permanent and may be adjusted accordingly, he said.

According to SGA bylaws, the most money it can fund any one department is $2,000, Callais said.

SGA’s funding comes from the student-assessed fees that students pay each semester. Every student enrolled with seven or more hours is assessed $5 toward the SGA, he said.

“Everything we do buy, the departments could buy, but they do not have the money. We could buy anything as long as it benefits the students of Nicholls,” he said.

“We buy items that teachers need in the classroom – things that will help them teach,” he said.

The money will not be used to fund personal items for the teachers, Callais said. Anything that is purchased must be for the benefit of the students, he said.

This project initially began two years ago, but “fell by the wayside,” Callais said. However, this semester has been very successful, he said.

“We had 22 (e-mail) responses the first day,” he said.

As of right now, SGA has received eight written requests for items. About 30 people have expressed interest in the funding, Callais said.

SGA expects to hear from the majority of departments on campus, he said.

They also expect a wide variety of requests, everything from maps and televisions to biology mannequins and headphones for computers, Callais said.

Lacy Picou, arts freshman from Cut Off, supports SGA’s efforts.

“By making sure the teachers have the necessary materials, SGA is helping the students,” she said.