ASUSU VIEW: This year’s council set a high standard
Each year, elections for the new ASUSU officers are criticized for being immature, biased or a waste of time. However, the importance of this week is often overlooked. The election period chooses the student leaders for our next year as Aggies. These few chosen individuals have the chance to become collectively influential on the future students of USU. The trust bestowed upon these students is far superior to most universities in the nation.
This year’s council has been chastised more than once for being ineffective. However, the argument only stands if you say the legislative bodies haven’t been as loud as previous years. Looking back, this year’s council will be heard for years.
We will be heard over the radio waves from the student-run radio station that is currently heard over the Internet. Moreover, this station is forecasted to be on FM waves by the end of next fall semester.
We have been heard all year in Salt Lake City during the legislative sessions. Student support has been credited in assisting the overwhelming support for USU from the Legislature.
We have been heard over and over again through sighs of relief when we have told students they are going to receive a scholarship sponsored by ASUSU.
We have been heard all over the globe by more than 60 students doing research presentations and competitions representing USU that have been financially assisted through the Academic Opportunity Fund, a line item fund of ASUSU.
Furthermore, this fund displays the diligent working relationship between students and administration. When this fund began to diminish at the end of Fall Semester, the Academic Senate worked with Vice President of Research Joyce Kinkead to find a private donor to replenish this fund to allow more students to benefit.
Students will be able to hear professors better through the work of the Academic Senate. The Classroom Improvement Fund was established through Tier II Tuition student initiatives with the Academic Senate as its steward.
After researching rooms in need of improvement, the AS proposed eight rooms to be improved with equipment or technology. A collaborative effort of the AS, working with Provost Coward and Vice President of Information Technology Kay Jeppesen, was established with the goal to improve as many classrooms as possible. Combining funds for this common goal, administration contributed 40 percent of the total fund to allow for 12 rooms to be improved instead of the original eight. It is a striking example of the working relationship and trust that ASUSU holds with administration.
This column can’t even begin to describe the issues that were resolved with the help of ASUSU within the individual colleges. The effectiveness displayed by this year’s council has set a bar for future councils to reach for.
It states in the Constitution of ASUSU that the role of student government has been established to conduct all of its operations for the purpose of improving the quality of student life at USU. Time and time again, the student leaders that you elected last year strived to perfect this role. Many times, legislation was not needed.
It is for these reasons that President Albrecht has made ASUSU feel that they are part of central administration. During Staters’ Council (where ASUSU presents legislation to administration), Albrecht stated student initiatives take a priority and were guaranteed to be funded.
We, as student leaders, take these statements and work each day to keep this trust. I commend ASUSU for the leadership displayed this entire year and the effectiveness that characterizes this council. As you head to summer, know that in the few minutes you spent a year ago voting for us, you made the right choices. On behalf of ASUSU, we also thank you for giving us the opportunity to improve USU and make student life better for you.