Marquette Student Government has funded over $40,000 for student organizations, obtained additional student seating for men’s basketball games and offered an array of late-night programming in a semester “fueled by team effort,” according to MUSG.

The student organization allocations committee granted $44,320 to 35 student organizations who requested funding for events this semester, said senior Blake Wallace, MUSG financial vice president and head of the committee.

Resulting from repeated student demands and work by MUSG, the athletic department added five new sections to student seating in the Bradley Center to bring the total number of seats to 4,600, according to Ingrid Adashun, Marquette intercollegiate athletics ticket manager, as reported in the Nov. 25 edition of the Tribune.

Senior Mary Kate Havlik, MUSG legislative vice president, said she sees the extra seating as a big deal for students.

“It means the administration is taking us seriously and shows that students do mean a lot to the university,” Havlik said.

According to junior Nicole Garland, MUSG communications vice president, MUSG has also expanded the Varsity Theatre Films program by increasing showings from two to three times a week and has seen a dramatic increase in attendance.

Wallace said a new development that he was pleased about was the university’s decision to include a student representative on the University Budget Committee this year.

This decision “has reinforced the university’s commitment to student input,” Wallace said. “We are happy to report that throughout the budget process the students’ best interests were put at the forefront of every decision from fees to tuition increases.”

Although admitting there is always room for improvement, Kate Agnew, MUSG president, said she feels the organization was successful in addressing students’ issues.

One of the big issues faced by student government this semester was with the proposed student health fee increase, Agnew said. MUSG ran an online survey in November to gauge students’ feelings about extra costs due to the possible implementation of a tobacco cessation program and more hours for a registered dietician.

Garland said the survey has closed and MUSG will be releasing its findings in the future.

Among MUSG’s actions taken this semester, Agnew feels the flag display in front of the Raynor Library is “the most visible representation of what MUSG does.”

According to Garland, MUSG had been trying to create this display for two years before funding was finally approved last year. She said wording for a commemorative plaque has recently been approved and plans to install the plaque are pending.

Agnew said the governing body — with legislative, financial, communication and entertainment responsibilities — is interdependent.

“We couldn’t have events without the communications department, who provide publicity, and the financial department to write the checks,” Agnew said. “Without the senate, we would never talk about the ideas or issues.”

Of all that MUSG has done this semester, Agnew said there were many things she was proud of but one highlight.

“One of our biggest accomplishments was reaching out and working with different groups on campus,” she said.

As for next semester, Agnew said an issue she would like to address is increasing student organization publicity around campus, especially near the academic buildings.

“Also next semester, we’d like to continue to work with the athletic department on the re-seating process and obtain more resources for club sports and student organizations,” she said.