USUSA officers encourage students to make their voices heard
The button on the bottom right corner of the “MyUSU” web page is utilized as a connection between students, Utah State University Student Association (USUSA) officers and university administration.
Started by then-USUSA president Doug Fiefia in 2013, the MyVoice feature was designed to give students an opportunity to voice their concerns without having to physically approach an administrator.
“It’s so intimidating to walk into someone’s office without an appointment to give a suggestion,” Fiefia told the Statesman in 2013.
Since then, the MyVoice feature has been utilized for a variety of issues.
Matthew Clewett, the USUSA student advocate vice president who oversees the MyVoice system, said he receives different comments based on the time of year.
In the beginnings of each semester, Clewett said his most common responses are questions about finding classes and using the Aggiemail and Canvas systems.
In the middle of each semester, Clewett said the comments can be “anything and everything,” including campus facilities and technology issues.
At the end of the semester, Clewett said the majority of his comments relate to finals and class registration.
However, Clewett said his most common response deals with parking.
“Parking is something everyone struggles with. No one likes the parking situation on campus,” he said.
Clewett said he appreciates receiving MyVoice responses from students, but would encourage them to utilize USU’s website whenever possible.
“I’m not telling you not to use MyVoice, I’m just saying if you think there’s a simple answer on the Internet, there probably is,” he said.
However, Clewett said he would advise any student considering sending a MyVoice request to do so.
“If you have a complex issue that really needs to be addressed or you feel like your voice isn’t being heard, submit a MyVoice,” Clewett said.
Bridget Baldwin, the unopposed candidate for the USUSA student advocate vice president position, said she thinks the MyVoice system has done well. However, she plans to build off of it during her year in office.
“I think there are a lot of problems that students have, that we’re not hearing about because they either don’t know about MyVoice or they think they’re just sending it to a computer and no one will hear about it,” Baldwin said.
Rather than solely relying on the MyVoice system, Baldwin said she plans to encourage students to speak to her directly to voice their concerns, adding that she would like the relationship to feel more personal.
Blake Lyman, USUSA’s athletics and campus recreation vice president, said the majority of MyVoice responses he receives are suggestions, although he was once given a compliment.
“I think I got one compliment. I don’t remember what it was but I should find it and frame it on my wall,” Lyman said.
Jacie Rex, the USUSA College of Humanities and Social Sciences senator, said she has received MyVoice requests regarding “everything from wanting a Slurpee machine to thank you for the new sexual assault (reporting) button.”
While all four USUSA officers encouraged students to take advantage of the MyVoice system, they also encouraged students to come to them with concerns during their designated office hours.
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*Graphic by Emmalee Olsen