During this academic year, the student government is adding and changing several Special Committees for the betterment of the university.
The committees include Accessibility, Event Planning, Parking, Civic/Community Engagement, and Mascot.
These new committees were announced by Ashlyn Edwards, the president of student government. The purpose of the committees is to provide a stronger focus on specific issues on campus and build legislation.
“ [W]ith these committees, it’s a more organized way to actually divide and focus our attention on top of things that students have been complaining about,” said Edwards.
Having a focus on particular issues is something that has been neglected in the past, but it is seeing a revival this year.
“I know there’s been a little effort from previous [executive board] based on what I see in our Google Drive, but it’s never been something that’s actually been implemented successfully throughout the year,” Edwards said.
With the support and guidance of University President Jared Tice, the new and changing committees have had an accelerated development.
“President Tice and I had a very long meeting about the specific committees that we’re trying to add on, and he was very on board with it,” Edwards said. “[He] even gave some recommendations on how to go about certain things and [which] outside-student-government people should be involved in those committees.”
Through the president’s support, the student government executive committee feels ready to take on the challenges of managing these committees and expanding their influence on campus.
“I’m ready to get the job done, although the job will never be done, but I’m ready to get the ball rolling on these committees,” said Brian King, the vice president of student government. “I’m excited to see what everybody’s going to do and what ideas people are going to have.”
King emphasized the importance of leading first-year and sophomore students by example. He wants the current executive board, made up of mostly seniors, to encourage newer students of the university to share their ideas and participate.
King said it’s important for seniors like himself to teach and lead the newer generation of students and “gear” them up for “leadership positions.” In order for the university to thrive in the upcoming years, the student government needs a strong team of individuals who are willing to lead.
“That’s my whole initiative and goal behind those committees in general,” King said.
King also wants other non-student-government members to express their opinions as well. He wants students to come to student council meetings and voice their concerns.
“Student government is open to everyone,” King said.
Students like Parker Wilkinson, however, feel “neutral” about the brand new changes.
“[It’s] partially because I think most of the student body has no idea what student government is up to,” said Wilkinson.
Despite receiving little news about the new committees, Wilkinson is enthusiastic about the university’s future; however, he hopes for better communication between student government and students.
“There’s never really any publication about … [them] adding new things,” Wilkinson said. “Student government [is] just kind of an amorphous blob that exists, and every now and then, they do stuff.”
Wilkinson, however, seems to have faith in the people running student government, with special kudos to President Tice and his guidance.
“I think President Tice is great. I see him coming in every day and trying to see what the university is like on a micro level,” Wilkinson said.
Student government meetings take place on Sundays from 4-5 p.m. and are open to everyone.
