Senator seeks to involve busy students on campus
As a music therapy major, Mary Whyte understands the challenges that come with being a student of the arts. On top of normal classes and homework, she also has to attend her daily rehearsals to practice regularly the four instruments she plays – bass, piano, guitar and drums – and her evenings are usually filled by playing in one of USU’s music ensembles.
“The students of the college of the arts just don’t have much free time,” Whyte said regarding her college life.
During her junior year, Whyte said she realized her schedule as an arts student had taken its toll on her involvement at USU. She said she had almost no knowledge of what was going on outside of her college and wanted to know more about Utah State life.
“I wanted to know more about involvement opportunities at USU,” she said. “And I wanted other students in my college to know about them, too.”
When Whyte decided to run for Arts senator, she said she didn’t know anything about ASUSU.
“The main responsibility of a student senator is to be the voice of the students,” she said. “I knew that was something that I wanted to do.”
This year, Whyte is the student senator representing the College of the Arts. She said she has been involved in planning some of the college’s largest events, such as Arts Week and Aggies for Change, along with other activities.
“We’ve had a range of different department events this year, and mostly they’re focused on getting people from the different colleges to meet each other,” she said.”
Since the College of Arts is only two years old, she said she has also pioneered the creation of an Arts Council made up of students who have agreed to help organize events and give voice to student concerns.
“The council has had a really positive response from the students of the college and the students who were involved in it,” she said. “We’ve done a lot of great work, and the people on the council have all really enjoyed it. Most of them are planning to do it again next year.”
Whyte said her focus as student senator has been to provide students with opportunities to socialize with other classmates, such as college-organized lunches. She said it can be challenging to facilitate events that coincide with the busy schedules of arts students, but there are plent of opportunities to do so.
“It’s hard getting participation. We’re all barely finding time to do everything in our own majors,” she said.
However, she said overall she’s pleased with the response to the events and is hopeful about future events.
Whyte also helps spread the word to students across campus about events going on in the College of the Arts. She said she hopes more students from every major will support the work that is going on within the college.
“We have a lot of talent in the college but not a lot of people outside of it know what we do,” she said.
Whyte said she believes the experience she has gained as a leader on the student senate will prepare her for her future career as a music therapist and other possible endeavors.
“Being a music therapist, you have to facilitate groups,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of practice doing that this year, especially with the Arts Council. Even though they don’t seem directly related, being a student senator has helped me a lot in my major. It’s helped me learn to work with other people, work on a team and figure out people’s strengths and how to use them so it’s best for everyone.”
Whyte said her days are typically busy with her many responsibilities. Between classes and homework she said she still has office hours when students can express their views and problems with the college to her.
“The information I get from students, I then relate to the dean and department heads,” she said. “Students can come talk to me about things that aren’t working for them, and I can help fix them.”
She said these concerns can range from issues in the classroom to helping students get funding for competitions, activities and other events. She also spends a lot of time attending meetings with the dean, department heads, academic senate and arts council, she said.
“I’m constantly working on things,” she said. “My work is never done.”
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