Sustainability council holding “dorm wars” contest
The table was a little more crowded at this week’s ASUSU executive council meeting, with guests from the Residence Hall Association (RHA), USU’s Sustainability Council, and Natural Resources Senator Jason Carlisle.
Sara Cody from the RHA opened up the meeting said the RHA “loves” working with the council and intends to continue to work closely with them.
Cody asked the council to give two weeks advanced notice to the RHA for dates of events and activities so that all residence assistants can be on board. She also said the RHA was building new leaders that will “hopefully live up to ASUSU standards.”
President Tyler Tolson said, “RHA is a great resource to us. They always volunteer to help and give us on campus access to students.”
The next guests to present to the council were from USU’s Sustainability Council. Director Jake Buckner and executive council member Brad Armstrong said the council works closely with USU’s service center toward making the USU campus more sustainable – meaning more environmentally friendly. They also want to begin working with ASUSU to make campus events more sustainable.
“We want to change the culture at USU for the better and take action that is supported by students,” Buckner said.
Armstrong also announced that the council is working to bring Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to campus this spring to speak to students on how to live sustainably, at an estimated cost of $30,000. So far the event has been set for Thursday, April 21.
The sustainability council will also be putting on a contest called “Dorm Wars.” The contest will be geared toward on-campus residents and will run from October to March. The residence hall that reduces its energy costs and other practices the most will receive $500 to spend how they please. This prize, along with an additional $500 being given away, will be provided by the college of Natural Resources and awarded on Earth day.
Diversity Vice President Kaho Fiefa announced that on Thursday, Sept.30, there will be a “very beneficial” meeting all clubs and organizations are required to attend. All college senators will also need to attend in order to receive information about which clubs they will take charge of. Fiefa then said that after this meeting, clubs will mainly work through their designated college senator. The meeting will be held in the TSC auditorium at 5 p.m.
Another update was that of Tom Atwood, programming vice president. Atwood announced that after the Aggie football team takes on BYU this Friday, an after-game party unofficially dubbed the “White Trash Bash” will be held in the lounges of the TSC from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. The band “The Metal Gods” will provide entertainment.
“It will be an awesome, awesome party,” Atwood said.
ASUSU interim adviser Linda Zimmerman and Athletics VP Alex Putnam said ESPN will be coming to USU to not only cover the BYU-USU football game, but to film game-day traditions as well. ESPN will also film students camping out for the game around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30. Footage captured may be used during the game to highlight specific traditions the university endorses.
Natural Resources Senator Jason Carlisle gave a short presentation on behalf of USU’s student organic farms. Carlisle made the request for $1,300 from the Capital and Support fund and stated that the farm is “in dire need of a structure that will provide wind break.” The structure to be built is a straw bale building that will “be a large icon for sustainability for USU.”
The council voted to approve the request.
– jessie.a.sweat@aggiemail.usu.edu