ASUSU looks back on past year
During the 2009-10 academic year, the ASUSU student government redesigned the internal structure of their organization, increased attendance at ASUSU-sponsored events and improved the Aggie Blue Leadership Conference open to students across campus. Throughout the year, debate, discussion and voting led to money saved and spent, and several changes that affect campus as a whole.
ASUSU director Tiffany Evans said she felt like this year’s council’s two biggest impacts were the concept of a new recreation center and the “open hour,” a block of time when no classes will be scheduled, but things like convocation will. The open hour will take effect fall 2011 if it is finalized. Evans said logistics are still being worked out. ASUSU President Tyler Tolson said he feels that open hour, which will mean no classes schedule at about mid-day Tuesday and Thursday, will be something that will not have an immediate impact but will in the future.
She said these are things that will have a “lasting positive impact” on campus, even though this year’s council and student body won’t see the results.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for educational experiences and for building a sense of community,” she said, adding that students may not remember a specific lecture or class, but extracurricular activities such as debates, whether sponsored by a department or ASUSU, can be memorable.
She said it can sometimes be difficult for student leaders who do not see immediate results from their work, when many things started in ASUSU Executive Council meetings can be a full-year or two-year project.
“It’s a sign of a real leader, to have a vision,” Evans said. “The key is to realize what you are doing will have an important impact on students.”
Evans emphasized that current student leaders are merely stewards for a period of time that they are in office, and part of that tradition is sharing the governance over the student body with those who will govern before and after.
She said students don’t often see what goes into the student activities and events ASUSU puts on, giving them the impression that ASUSU doesn’t do much. She said the job includes many hours of meetings and research to communicate with everyone who needs to be involved in making a change, aside from just writing the bill and voting on it in one meeting.
One of the larger, complex changes made by this year’s council has been restructuring ASUSU. Several of the members made changes to their charters – a document detailing their responsibilities, committees they sit on, among others – and shifted some duties between offices.
“This year’s council was not afraid to discuss the flaws of the organization,” 2009-10 Programming Vice President Erin Reeder said, “which led to some changes in structure and, hopefully, in the way the next council decides to do things, so that they can jump straight into student affairs instead of sorting through an internal mess.”
Evans said students have an enormous impact on USU as an institution, and that impact is visible through students who take initiative either by talking to student leaders or by becoming student leaders, who then communicate with administration, faculty and staff.
Reeder said, “I am confident there is an officer for every woe, complaint, concern or request that any given student may have, and it can be addressed and resolved. I would ask any student to tell us what their expectations are, and we will meet them.”
Although Reeder is no longer in office, Evans said she is looking forward to working with the new group of officers and would invite any student to visit the third floor in the Taggart Student Center to see how they can get involved.
“Come up and play some ping pong, meet some of the officers, see what they can do,” she said.
Much of what ASUSU does involves planning events and activities, but Evans said it also involves tougher behind-the-scenes work, such as asking questions and allocating money based on how the officers see student needs.
Using money from Tier II tuition, the 2009-10 council funded more tutors for students as well as an additional intern in the Counseling Center, both of which will directly impact students during the upcoming year.
Another direct impact is the free legal counsel provided to students through the Student Advocate Vice President’s Office. The 2009-10 Student Advocate, Tyler Haws, was able to renegotiate the agreement with the attorneys providing the counsel to better use student funds and better serve students.
The ASUSU Executive Council voted to authorize the expenditure of $23,103 from the Capital & Support (C&S) Fund, which, Evans said, is designed for “one-time projects that serve students.” This money is separate from the ASUSU budget set prior to the start of each fiscal year and typically holds about $54,000 that each year’s council can use. It can be used for specific events or purchases not covered by the ASUSU budget or each individual officer’s budget.
The portion of the C&S Fund used by the 2009-10 ASUSU Executive Council was for equipment for student events, such as chairs, megaphones, fans and other electronic equipment, as well as to fund free activities, like keeping the Fieldhouse open in the summer.
“I commend (this year’s officers) because they weren’t afraid to use (the fund),” Evans said. “They were diligent in how they used it, but they realized the purpose of that money and took action. Some other years, officers have been a little bit more reluctant to use it.”
Individually, there was more variation in how officers used the funding allocated to them. Reeder said her office increased attendance at major campus events they put on, such as The Howl and Mardi Gras, and the additional revenue went toward funding events for smaller clubs and organizations, revamping old traditions and updating the power system used in the amphitheater on Old Main Hill. Reeder said her office had money left over that will go into a general fund and gain interest for future use.
Other spending included the Classroom Improvement Fund, which the Academic Center doled out to buy new equipment and refurbish classrooms throughout campus. Evans said the senators were very detailed in outlining the projects to be done to make sure that students would directly see the benefits.
Evans said one thing that set the 2009-10 ASUSU officers apart from other councils has been the strong interpersonal skills of each member.
“They left conflict and disagreements at the door, and that group could probably get along with any other group,” she said.
Tolson agreed that the council was able to work as a team, despite differences in opinion, and were able to accomplish more because of it. He said he felt like the officers he worked with this year have raised the bar for future officers.
In Tolson, one constant will remain between the 2009-10 ASUSU Executive Council and the 2010-11 group.
Evans said she is excited to see the positive impact of a two-term student body president, the first she’s seen at any school at any time. She said even the desire to serve again is something that can be beneficial to the student body.
– chelsey.gensel@aggiemail.usu.edu