The University of Iowa Student Government passed a bill on Tuesday to contribute money to Senior Week, something the organization has not done in the past.

A majority of UISG senators voted to allocate $10,000 to support the Campus Activities Board in preparation of Senior Week, which will be held in May.

UISG President Patrick Bartoski said all branches are excited to support the board in promoting Senior Week and are eager to see how things will improve with this increase in funding.

“We will continue to support [the board] because seniors are important to the UI community,” he said. “The event will have a positive impact on the students because they will now be given an opportunity to reflect on their experience at this university.”

Bartoski said the program saw less success last year because of logistics, an inability to reach out to students effectively and the lack of advertising.

“Most often, when an event that was newly thought of gets introduced, there will be problems,” he said.

UISG Sen. Elizabeth Baer said this is the first year UISG will contribute funds to support Senior Week.

“It was important that the bill was passed,” she said. “During their first year, incoming freshmen got to have a great experience during the On Iowa program, so I think seniors should also have a similar experience if they want to.”

Baer proposed an amendment that created a liaison between UISG and the Campus Activities Board, ensuring effective communication between the groups.

“The motion passed, which means that things will now work as they are supposed to,” she said.

Senate Speaker Sam Wampler said he was pleased with the bill because the senators who helped prepare it “gave it their all.”

“I’m all about initiatives and projects,” he said. “It’s so good to see that the people who are working so hard to prepare Senior Week now have the funds to do so properly.”

Wampler said Senior Week will be free for seniors and will serve as a great way to send everyone off because it will serve as a thank-you for every student who had to pay their tuition and fees.

“Graduation for seniors should be more than just purchasing a cap and gown,” he said. “They need to know that their experience is not necessarily over, and that they’ll be a part of a long lasting society.”

Baer said there were a lot of people who had different opinions about Senior Week, but that the purpose of its existence is only to serve those students who wish to participate.

“Senior Week should create a long-lasting, positive feeling with students leaving the university and make them feel like their time was valuable,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how [the Campus Activities Board] will play this out and how the new funds will be used.”

UISG Sen. Zach Peterson initially disagreed with the idea of contributing such a large sum of money to support Senior Week.

“I was a bit skeptical at first,” he said. “However, I felt better when I reread it. Not to mention, the executive branch and the advisers already approved it, and now I’m glad it passed.”

UISG Vice President Jeffrey Ding said the collaboration among UISG, the activities board, and Students Today Alumni Tomorrow helps to build a strong UI community.

“With Homecoming Week going on, I’m even more excited for Senior Week,” he said. “The purpose of Homecoming is to provide a homey feeling for UI students, and now seniors will have a great way to be sent off from their great home.”