The expectations versus reality of USUSA
As election week begins, Aggies confront the expectations they have for USUSA officers. Those expectations are met with very different realities.
35 students at Utah State University were polled and 30 of them had no idea what the Utah State University Student Association office does for them.
“It has something to do with figuring out student fees and activities each year, as well as updating USU policies,” said Hannah Nelson, a Utah State student studying social media journalism.
Students who were polled knew that USUSA officers primarily worked on widely-known events such as the Howl, Mardi Gras or Weeks of Welcome.
Yet, what most students do not know is the USUSA office orchestrates multiple campus affairs, such as the passing legislature envisioned by those in the councils, academic reviews of students, graduate student representation, student fee allocations, dean meetings and events.
Meridian Wappett, USUSA senator for the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources shed some light on how the day-to-day efforts of USUSA officers affect campus life.
“A lot of the things put in revolve around the USU Events Office, which is probably the most visible part of our position,” Wappett said. “ But there is so much that goes into it behind the scenes.”
A major priority of the USUSA officers is planning events. Like Wappett discussed, events are a primary focus and visible part of officer’s contribution to Utah State.
Multiple volunteers are also a part of the events office. It is not only USUSA officers that plan, host and prepare these events. Any student, regardless of their affiliation with USUSA, can participate and help put these events together.
Wappett recently participated in planning the Logger’s Ball for the College of Natural Resources this last November.
Planning events like the Logger’s Ball means getting approval for the event, finding a venue and time, marketing the event on social media and on campus, finding caterers or activities for the event, selling tickets and doing decorations.
According to Wappett, it is a lot of work, but working on events is rewarding.
“It was amazing to see how many people came, we sold all of our tickets which was the most attended Logger’s Ball at USU,” Wappett said.
The USUSA officers also focus on student advocacy. Passing student legislation on behalf of their peers is a huge part of how officers spend their time.
Writing legislation is an intense and time-consuming process, Wappett said. To pass any campus legislation, the USUSA officers must correspond with the dean’s office and present their ideas. Officers write multiple drafts of the proposed concept, work with multiple members of campus affairs and get approval on their legislature, according to Wappett.
Wappett recently concluded efforts on a piece of campus diversity and inclusion legislation.
“There have been a bunch of problems in the past where people have mistreated people of diverse backgrounds and USU,” Wappett said. “Minorities are often misrepresented and that is not acceptable anymore.”
Wappett, believes that passion is what drives USUSA officers, whether it be passing legislation, planning events, putting up posters or meeting with other members of the college to change campus. Being passionate is what drives Wappett to serve her peers at USU.
She recommends that anyone who is going into or thinking about going into USUSA needs to have passion for their school, peers and the process of campus legislature. Especially with the intense demand on time that the officers must give.
As officers, Wappett said students must give ten hours per week dedicated to their assigned projects, though this time does not equate to how much time officers actually give to the school. In addition to their 10 hours, officers will help set up events, attend events, attend meetings with campus officials and participate many other things.
According to Wappett, they are not paid, yet awarded a scholarship which sums up to approximately minimum wage for how much time each officer gives per week.
That is why Wappett suggests that if someone is contemplating coming into USUSA and expecting an easy scholarship and simple commitment, USUSA is not the place.
Student affairs is also not the place for those wanting to represent Utah State to other schools.
The USU ambassador program leads this initiative and does not work with the campus student affairs office.
These are the realities of USUSA officers. If students want to know more, Wappett encourages them to come and talk to the office and learn for themselves. That way, students can get involved early and get to know more people.
According to Wappett, understanding what USUSA officers do for Aggies will enable more inclusion on campus, greater student involvement and empowered students and peers who know what work is being done to help their school.
As Aggies go into election week, students contemplate the realities of the kind of USU they want to see.
Talking to peer representatives about that vision will empower Utah State to become greater than any single Aggie’s expectations and make Utah State University into something greater than an imagined reality.
Get to know your USUSA officers on the third floor of the TSC.