ASUSU working on keeping slate of election promises

By Stevie Stewart

January 22, 2007 | Before campaigning, potential student officers concoct campaign goals and whole-heartedly aim for the betterment of Utah State University with little knowledge of priority issues that might take precedence.

According to Associated Students of Utah State University President Noah Riley, most if not all of the campaign goals set by current officers will be met by the end of this ASUSU term. Most officers said they were surprised after being elected to have so much additional responsibility outside of their niches, but say that they are flattered that administration has so much respect for student input.

Science Senator Brittany Webb said that in addition to their own positions, some ASUSU officers sit on more than 20 USU boards and committees.

"We had campaign goals, and they are being met, but the University has needs that have to come before our original campaign agendas," Webb said.

Riley said in years past, councils have spent a lot of time writing bills and resolutions in an attempt to encourage the administration to get on board with the student initiative. However, he explained, the officers this year are different in that they have a great working relationship with the administration and staff. As the officers collect student concerns and ideas, they can take them straight to the appropriate administrator to get the wheels in motion, he said. Riley said ASUSU has been performing very effectively for these reasons.

"I would be the first to admit that nothing we are working on is revolutionary or earth shattering because generally students are pleased with their Aggie experience," Riley said. "Nevertheless, that is not say we are not doing great things."

Academic Senate President Michelle Lundberg says she is proud of the things that ASUSU has accomplished during the school year. She said many of the important things done through and by ASUSU are not known to students.

Lundberg said she and Webb worked with Associate Vice President for Research Joyce Kinkead to get funds for academic opportunities nearly doubled. This allows students to receive money for trips, competitions and meetings where they will be representing themselves and Utah State University. Webb said in the past many students have been denied money to help with these types of expenses, but this year, ASUSU has been able to provide funding to all students that have went through the proper channels in asking ASUSU for the financial help.

Education Senator Trent Duffy proposed renovating parts of the HPER building as part of his campaign in the spring of 2006. Duffy said Room 116 is approaching completion. Renovations to this particular area include new desks and technology. He said with a senator's budget of only $1800, it is impossible for him to pay for these renovations on his own. With the help of donors and the classroom improvement fund, ASUSU has been able to afford changes in the HPER, Duffy explained.

Perhaps the most lofty campaign item was Riley's proposal to get a student-operated radio station at USU.

Riley said a room has been secured in the Taggart Student Center and he and others involved will begin buying equipment this week. The radio station will actually begin as an Internet Audio Web site until operators are prepared to get a frequency and start broadcasting. He said the journalism and communications department has committed to developing curriculum to establish an academic side for the station, if financial support is available. A prototype of the Internet Audio website has been up for the past few months at www.radio.usu.edu.

"Our goal is to be streaming over the Internet before the end of January," Riley said.

Riley said some of the things he is most proud of this year are other initiatives outside of "campaign goals" that ASUSU officers have accomplished.

"All in all I honestly feel that we as ASUSU officers have made significant improvements to the campus," Riley said. "I doubt anyone will remember much of what ASUSU did several years down the road but this council will be proud of the goals achieved, issues resolved, disasters adverted and friendships forged."

The following was provided by the student involvement center and are just a few of the actions taken by ASUSU officers this year:

- ASUSU programmers have reported more students to activities than in recent years.

- Student Advocate Vice President, Josh Shultz is working with Provost Raymond Coward to establish bottom up tuition for students that would like to take a combination of classes, on campus, on-line, or through Continuing Education.

- Graduate Studies President Maure Smith is working with the Wellness Center to resolve the concerns with student health insurance.

- The Academic Senate collaborated with various departments to improve several classrooms across campus and have prioritized several more classrooms in need of updating.

- Diversity and Organizations Vice President Shaun Kjar is increasing diversity awareness through trainings and events; Notably the events of diversity week and weeks sponsored by multi-cultural groups.

- Agriculture Senator Logan Ipsen appropriately organized a solemn remembrance service for the victims of the van accident and raised over $5,000 dollars for College of Ag scholarships as well as raised significant funds to add to the Ag Tech Memorial Scholarship Fund.

- Service Vice President Leah Enzler Taylor directed a Sub-For-Santa Drive that collected more than four times the donations of any previous year.

- Executive Vice President Troy Smith gathered almost 2,000 voter registrations and voter pledges and established an internship program for student lobbyists that will be spending a lot of time at the state Capitol over the next couple of months.

- Athletics Vice President Corey Mikkelson revamped the student booster club by renaming it the HURD and in a relatively short amount time made it the biggest club on campus. He has also provided ample representation for the club sports and intramurals, as he has filled a position over club sports to make things easier for the teams.

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