Student Senate approved decisions to fund travel expenses for the Mock Trial’s trip to nationals Tuesday afternoon.

Mock Trial won two bids inviting its A-team and B-team to compete in nationals this year. The team presented its request to Senate for $8,216. Last year, Mock Trial only had enough money to send its A team, which won fourth place at the event.

The program took many steps to reduce the amount of money needed this year by hosting a regional tournament in Dallas and asking individual teammates to contribute around $200. Members of the team explained that receiving funding was important because every hour spent on fundraising is an hour taken away from preparing for the competition.

After much debate, Senate decided to grant the team $6,055 for expenses including airfare, hotel rooms and rental cars.

In other business, Senator Ben Hatch discussed the possibility of revising the financial support Student Senate provides for The Daily Campus. He was discussing the possibility of shifting some backing to Hilltopics. Senator Hatch said this would be an “opportunity to create viable competition for The Daily Campus.”

Some senators think that this would support a marketplace of ideas. Many senators also think a little bit of money could do a lot of good for a publication with less circulation.

“The amount we could help Hilltopics by shifting a small amount of money away from The Daily Campus makes it a very attractive idea,” said Engineering Senator Al Zinkand.

No final decision has been made, and a budget is still in the works. Senate plans on inviting Mark Norris, editor in chief of The Daily Campus, to a future Senate meeting to discuss the plan.

Later in the meeting, revisions to the Student Senate bylaws were proposed. The Senate is concerned that a previous amendment to the bylaws was passed illegally.

Student Issues Chair Cheyenne Rogers and Communications Chair Taylor Armstead spoke about the Senate’s public relations. They suggested several ideas that would help students get to know their senators and help them understand how to bring issues to Senate.

These ideas included wearing Senate shirts to help put faces with the organization, utilizing banners to show Senate’s support for school functions and coordinating a meet and greet for incoming freshmen for the following school year.

Student Senate has also filled the diversity chair position. Kyle Bennett was approved for the job Tuesday night. He will begin training this week, and attends his first meeting March 6. Bennett will serve as the Diversity Chair until the next Senate inauguration.