Student senators decided to shell out about $5,500 during Tuesday night's Senate meeting to four student organizations.
But while senators tried take care of business, tension from the upcoming Student Government elections seeped in and slowed down progress.
Controversy arose during the UF Paintball Team's presentation to convince senators of the group's need for funding.
Independent Sen. Brandon White, who represents the Warrington College of Business Administration, accused Orange and Blue Party Sen. Ben Dictor, who represents the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, of campaigning while he spoke on behalf of the team's monetary need.
White is running for Student Body treasurer with the Orange and Blue Party, while Dictor is running for Student Body president with the Progress Party. "This is outrageous," Dictor said. "This senate is sleeping on the job, and this has nothing to do with campaigning. Wake up. Please give the gentleman who came here from the paintball committee respect that you didn't give me."
After tempers settled, UF senior Ross Marshman, the paintball team's representative, tried to lighten up the atmosphere.
"I hope this presentation is worth it since it brought about a lot of emotion," Marshman said.
In the end, the majority of senators voted to give $3,274 to the team so they could attend the national paintball championships.
White, who is also the Budget and Appropriations chairman, cautioned senators against excessive awarding.
"I want us to keep in mind, as a senate, that the money we are giving out is supposed to benefit everyone," he said. "We're not giving out money just because we have it."
UF graduate student Matt Martz also came by to say he will not publicly apologize for creating the Facebook group, "KICK OUT the Gator/Unite Party."
Martz was ordered yesterday to apologize by SG's Elections Commission, an act that infringed upon his constitutional rights, he said.
"It's my political opinion," he said, adding that he expects to be disqualified because of the act.
