New arts senator aims to unify students
Over the summer, Alan Dangerfield was appointed the first Arts Senator for the newly created Caine College of the Arts.
The position was created after a vote on the Associated Students of Utah State University (ASUSU) ballot last spring. While other positions required winning an election, legislation allowed the President of ASUSU, Tyler Tolson, and Craig Jessop, Dean of the Caine College of the Arts to work together in finding and appointing someone to fill the Arts Senator seat on the ASUSU Executive Council.
The Caine College of the Arts wanted a senator appointed as early as possible so the students wouldn’t feel under-represented come fall semester.
Christopher Terry, Associate Dean for the Caine College of the Arts, said, “ASUSU chose Dangerfield early in order to expedite the process and get someone in place so students wouldn’t be left without representation.”
Tolson said he also felt it necessary to appoint an Arts Senator as soon as possible.
“We wanted to allow the new senator ample time during the summer to catch up on the training they had missed in the spring.” Tolson said.
Jessop said he was pleased with ASUSU’s selection and looks forward to seeing what Dangerfield brings to the college.
“Since the time I was a student myself at USU, I have always valued the role played by student government in college and university affairs,” Jessop said. “We are delighted with the appointment of Alan Dangerfield as our Caine College of the Arts Senator and we look forward to working with him to strengthen student involvement in the college.”
The dean and each department head from the new college nominated a student. Each one chosen wrote a letter explaining why they should become senator, and what their goals and plans were for the college. The applicants were then referred to ASUSU where they were interviewed. Tolson said after the interviews, the committee agreed Dangerfield was the best candidate for the position.
“Alan was extremely well prepared coming into the interview,” Tolson said. “He had definitely done his homework and we could tell he was excited and that he would pour everything he had into it.”
Terry said the main responsibility Dangerfield has will be representing the students of the Caine College of the Arts in student government. He said the college administration won’t be setting the agenda for Dangerfield, but the faculty and staff are “very eager to work with him to accomplish shared goals.”
Dangerfield agreed, saying his main objectives coming into this year are getting students involved, better marketing for the college, and making sure the students are getting represented.
“Most of the students don’t know what is going on in the college and we want to bring that to their attention.” Dangerfield said.
He said he wanted to form student groups where they can come and talk openly about what they want to see changed and what their needs are. Dangerfield also said he wants to help “unify the students”.
“There are a lot of differences in the various departments within the college but there are also a lot of similarities that I want to bring out,” Dangerfield said.
“I want the music majors and the art majors to know each other.”
Dangerfield is implementing a monthly pamphlet that will preview the upcoming events goinga on within the college as well as throughout the university. He said he hopes that with the help of a monthly reminder, students will get more involved.
Since being appointed the first week of August, Dangerfield said he has been doing some “internal PR,” going around to the faculty and giving presentations to talk about his goals and ask for their support .
“The faculty and staff have been overly supportive of me and my ideas,” Dangerfield said.
“From what I have seen, they are in favor of helping students and getting them involved. They care very much about the success of each person within their department.”
Dangerfield said that even though he is the first Arts Senator and they are trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t, the college is very resourceful and can function well on its own.
“I have had ideas that I thought would have to go through somewhere else in the university to get accomplished but everyone here at the college has been more than willing to help me out,” Dangerfield said.
– megan.b@aggiemail.usu.edu