Ask the president: Campus safety, etc.

Since her election in the spring, Utah State University student body president Ashley Waddoups says she’s made some changes to how she will achieve her platform goals.

“The heart of my platform hasn’t changed, but what I know is feasible, and what I know will do the most good has changed,” she said.

One change Waddoups is focusing on now is making campus a safer place for students.

Originally, Waddoups planned to create and release an app for students to use when they were in any kind of danger, but after some consideration, she’s decided against the app.

“After talking to our Title IX director, I don’t think that is the most effective way because in the moment you might not have access to your phone and that’s just the reality,” Waddoups said.

Instead of the app, Waddoups is focused on introducing a program called Maxient that can be linked to Title IX. Maxient allows students to anonymously report any problems they’ve experienced on campus.

According to the Maxient website, the program is already used by 600 other colleges in the northern United States.

Waddoups says she recognizes that Title IX is not a perfect program. She hopes that as more students learn about Maxient, campus crime will better reported and Title IX will be better able to find justice for those who have been sexually assaulted at USU.

“Is any program like that perfect?” Waddoups said, “Absolutely not, but I think that we are at least as a school we are trying to make some positive changes, especially by implementing a new reporting system.”

Another issue Waddoups hopes to resolve this semester is making sure students are more comfortable going to student body officers with issues and ensuring that their voices are heard.

“I would like to bring students up to the third floor and giving them free food and having them relax and sit with talk with the officers … I want people to know that we really care about them,” Waddoups said.

As Waddoups begins to fulfill her role as president this semester, she invites all students to stop by and introduce themselves at her office (room 326C in the Taggart Student Center) any time during her office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.- 11a.m. and Friday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.)

“I really hope that people will take the time to come at say hi in my office,” Waddoups said. “Even if you don’t have an issue, just come introduce yourself.”

@HowardShanie

— shaniehoward214@gmail.com