COLUMN: Survey says ASUSU may be beneficial
My dearest Aggies, this semester I have researched, observed and surveyed the students at Utah State University to gain a better understanding of what ASUSU as a whole can do for you. I am pleased to present this information for ASUSU’s benefit and your benefit.
Based upon my own student involvement and extracurricular activities at USU, I would hope I have a fairly good understanding of how most students feel about ASUSU. Also, because of the position I hold on ASUSU as the public relations vice president, I thought it would be beneficial for the group as a whole to know what students think of university and student issues.
For Corporate Communications (JCOM 3300) we are required to do a research project, showing what we learned during the course of the semester; it could be either a content analysis, a survey, whatever. I chose to survey you, the student body, about ASUSU on these main topics: How effective and beneficial students feel it is, if a student’s knowledge of ASUSU affects their knowledge and understanding of ASUSU-sponsored activities and if a student’s involvement affects their civic life.
Of the 125 students who returned the surveys, here are the main things I found:
* 49.6 percent are from outside the Logan/Cache Valley area; other areas include Chicago, Washington, Texas, New Jersey and Japan
* 14.4 percent are from the Logan/Cache Valley area
* 13.6 percent are business majors; others ranged from education, art, music, science, nursing and dietetics
* 43.2 percent were in the age range of 21-24
* 77.6 percent know what ASUSU actually is
* Out of the 52 percent of involved students, 23.2 percent are involved with a college-specific/major-specific club; 4 percent with the service center; and 3.2 percent with an ASUSU/student-government committee
* 63.2 percent of the student body are registered voters; of the 36.8 percent who are not registered, 20 percent don’t vote because they don’t have time, and 9.6 percent are not Utah residents
* 58.8 percent of involved students feel that the changes made for students by ASUSU are effective and beneficial; 38.8 percent of non-involved students feel the changes made are effective and beneficial
* 29.4 percent of involved students feel the changes are not effective or beneficial; 70.6 percent of non-involved feel the changes are not effective
* 14 percent of students who do not think officers do what they’re elected to do are not planning on voting in the ASUSU elections
And finally, here are some suggestions that students feel ASUSU officers should do:
* 12 percent: Inform and seek for student opinions
* 5 percent: Lower student tuition and/or student fees
* 2 percent: Fulfill promises
* 2 percent: Other
* 2 percent: They’re doing a good job
If you would like more information on this, please just give me a call at 797-1719 or e-mail me at asusupr@cc.usu.edu.
Ashley Stolworthy is the ASUSU public relations vice president.