ASUA approves funding leadership conference

University of Arizona's version of the Norwest Collegiate Leadership Conference, now in its 10th year, has always been free to participants and supported without Associated Students money - until this year.

ASUA approved $500 in funding for the conference last night in a 6-0 vote. Sens. Cisco Aguilar, Rosanna Savone, Justin Klump, Stephanie Lyons and ex-officio Sen. Brian Seastone, a university police commander, were absent.

"We lose money every year," said Lisa Inman, a representative of the Department of Student Programs, in her appeal for funds. "At this point we're looking for funding from any and all sources."

The day-long Feb. 28 conference in the Memorial Student Union includes workshops on team building, collaboration and communication. Any UA student can attend.

"This year we're trying to get a more general cross section of the campus community," Inman said. "In the past it has been more of a convention of students who are involved and hold positions on campus."

Conference organizers added a $10 attendance fee this year. The proceeds will go toward purchasing T-shirts for participants, Inman said.

The conference is also supported in part by Norwest Banks - funds that are scattered among other similar conferences on colleges across the nation, Inman said.

The money will go in part to bring Empower X, a New Jersey-based motivational speaker, to the conference, Inman said.

"These people are incredible, they're not going to be your ordinary keynote speaker," said Sen. Leslie Hunter, in an appeal on the conference's behalf.

Inman said any students interested in attending the conference may pick up an application in Room 101 of the Student Union.