At last night's ASUA Senate meeting, leaders approved funding for UA clubs and voted to offer senate representation to all clubs interested.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona approved $11,196 for funding to 94 clubs and still has about $80,000 more to give this year said Sara Birnbaum, executive vice president of ASUA.

An additional $50 for T-shirts has been included in the money given to clubs, funding that hasn't been available in the past, she said.

"T-shirts show a club's presence on campus," Birnbaum explained.

Club leaders who haven't requested funding yet can do so anytime this year, she added.

The money is given to clubs for expenses such as posters, supplies and copies, Birnbaum said.

Due to complaints from clubs, the process for funding requests changed from last year to a more simple and quick procedure, Birnbaum said.

"We have removed the bureaucratic loops," explained Birnbaum.

Clubs approved for funding can pick up their money beginning today.

ASUA improved the way clubs will be represented by assigning each club a senator, said Stephanie Hartz, ASUA senator.

"Clubs will now have direct representation in ASUA," she said.

Club leaders can go to their assigned senator and discuss problems or ask questions, Hartz explained.

"We hope this makes ASUA more approachable," Hartz said.

She said senators hope this opens the doors for clubs to get in touch with other clubs with similar interests.

"This will be a good marketing tool," Hartz said.

Each senator will represent 40 to 50 clubs and report back to the senate with club concerns, Hartz said.

A proposed position on the ASUA Supreme Court would act as a mediator between justices and parties involved in cases, said Cody Ortmann, ASUA senator.

Ortmann said parties don't have the assistance they need to present evidence and create briefs to present to the supreme court.

"A lot of times, parties don't understand what they can bring in for evidence," Ortmann said.

He said that implementing a clerk position would eliminate past problems.

In the past, when parties have needed help, the chief justice has had to step in to help, Ortmann said.

"It is unethical for the chief justice to have connections with both sides," he said. "The chief justice has a conflict in interest."

Ortmann said interviews will be conducted Friday for vacancies in the court, and the new clerk position will be discussed with the new justices.

Other business in ASUA included discussion of campuswide activities and upcoming speakers.

President Alistair Chapman said ASUA is trying to increase civic engagement in an election year by inviting various political speakers to the UA.

"We want speakers with all (political) backgrounds," Chapman said.

Chapman mentioned filmmaker Michael Moore who will speak at the UA Oct. 11, and said he is working to get conservative speakers to come as well.

Senator Matthew Carr said he is working with the UofA Bookstore to solve problems with textbook availability.

Carr said the system is inefficient, and that the bookstore hired a person to address this problem.