At its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, the Student Government Association Senate backed plans for one of the largest entertainment events in the University’s history-and it put its money where its mouth is, too.

Senators unanimously voted to grant almost $50,000 in additional funding to the Student Activities Board, which will use the money to expand its annual Spring Fever into a kick-off extravaganza for the Chaifetz Arena. Set for April 26, 2008, plans for the day’s festivities include a concert by a national act and a carnival featuring rides, booths and music.

“The primary focus is to get students excited [about the new arena]. To celebrate the same way we do every year would seem anticlimactic,” SGA President Andrew Clifton said.

Total costs for the event are projected to exceed $159,000 and may approach $180,000, according to figures compiled by Clifton and SGA Financial Vice President John Curry.

The approximately $50,000 allotted at Wednesday’s meeting will supplement the $80,000 that SAB had already received for Spring Fever. This money derives from funds collected by the student activity fee.

Clifton said that additional revenue would come from selling concert tickets to non-students, as well as hoped-for corporate sponsorship and possible support from the University administration.

The arena will be able to hold approximately 8,000 spectators at the concert. Clifton said that 5,000 free seats will be reserved for students and that the remaining 3,000 seats will be for sale.

Clifton said that tickets for the general public would probably cost between $30 and $40; faculty, staff and alumni will receive a discount.

SAB President Ainsley Onstott said that her organization planned to budget $70,000 to $80,000 to hire a band, allowing SAB to book a performer from “a little bit higher tier” than it usually does.

Onstott told senators that examples of groups that might appear at the event include Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty and Nickleback. In an interview after the meeting, Onstott emphasized that plans for booking a band were still very preliminary.

While the Senate unanimously agreed to grant SAB the funding, some senators did express skepticism about the bill. Some said that they had not been given adequate time to consult with their constituents about the proposal.

“Many senators wish they would have been more involved in developing the idea and plans for the events,” Commuter Senator Lucie Swain said.

“We were surprised that the bill came up so quickly . It was coming before us without a lot of deliberation before more members of Senate.”

Clifton said the University will also hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the arena in May.

The April event, however, is intended to introduce the arena to the student body.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

 Academic Vice President Tyler announced the recipients of this year’s Upper-Class Scholarship.

Seniors Tony Friedrichs, Patrick Devney, Courtney Nelson and Sarah Kuehnle and junior Justin Gimotea will each receive $1,000 to offset the cost of tuition next semester.

A total of 37 students applied for the scholarship, which was awarded to upperclassmen who “have demonstrated exceptional involvement and service to the SLU community,” according to SGA’s website.

 Senators granted $1,660 in spot-funding to the Indian Students Association.

The funds will go toward a trip that some members of the group are making to California, where they will participate in a national Indian-dance competition.

 The Senate approved a $960 spot-funding request from KSLU.

The on-campus radio station will use the money to purchase a data-storage device, which will be able to record and archive a year’s worth of programming.

 Senators voted to allot $500 to help junior Megan White, a member of the executive board of SLU’s chapter of the American Meteorological Society, to attend a conference in New Orleans.