The Student Government Association passed two bills after an unusually lengthy open forum at last night’s meeting.

One bill gave the Student Activities Board an additional $3,000 in spot funding from SGA. Each semester, chartered student organizations can apply for spot funding. This semester, $4,000 was available.

“If any student organization deserves this money, it is SAB,” said Village Senator Matt Morrissey. “They put on more events for the entire campus than any other organization.”

Also, Lubna Alam was seated as the Marguerite Hall senator. Alam, in addition to being involved in many other student organizations, was a candidate for the executive vice president in last week’s SGA elections.

During the open forum, Joe Clever, School of Medicine senator, spoke about his meeting with faculty and staff of the School of Medicine. The school is moving back to the admissions policy in effect prior to August 1998. This will require a four-year escrow account with enough funds for tuition and expenses for all international students.

“They feel this is what protects every student involved,” Clever said.

SGA recommended a two-year escrow account for international students.

Also during the open forum, Commuter Senator Angela Haas gave the accounts of a report from the city of St. Louis. The report disclosed that the University actually owns 405 various buildings, including some farmhouses, 21 residential homes and 203 vacant lots. The buildings are spread throughout both St. Louis city and county and Jefferson County.

The estimated value of this property, if sold, according to Haas, is more than $166 million.

“That’s a lot of money,” Haas said. “If they’re using our tuition to buy land and tuition keeps rising, there needs to be some balance.”