This week’s ASUI meeting, that took place on Oct. 23, started off with briefs from several directors in the President’s Cabinet.
Taylor McKinnon, Director of Sustainability, plans to work with local restaurants to find a way to reduce food waste. She will be meeting with Washington State University’s sustainability director to collaborate on a joint event that intends to reach a larger audience. This event will focus on many key sustainability issues, including fresh water conservation.
Gavin Aus, Director of Academic Affairs, has a goal to increase ASUI involvement in each specific college. This will include nominating a board of representatives with a member from each college that will allow ASUI to identify pain points and find ways to be more helpful.
Upal Kundu, Director of Student Resources, has been communicating with UI Career Services to create additional resources to make students’ lives easier.
Udit Sipani, Director of Student Spaces, in collaboration with Kundu and Senator Harrison Brown, has been in the midst of creating a financial literacy guide, which will have details on budgeting, personal finance, savings, debit versus credit and scholarships. The current launch date for this guide is Nov. 6. Kundu said he has also been working with BEAMS in order to get word out about the guide.
A bill to allocate $300 for the Prison Education Initiative to purchase Christmas gifts for the families of incarcerated students was passed unanimously.
A new bill was proposed asking for $100 to fund the International Students’ Intramural Tournament. Senator Zoha Aqueel, sponsor of the bill, described how this tournament was important for international students as it allowed them to play sports that are not commonly played in America.
Another new bill allocating $250 for ASUI members to attend Diwali Night was proposed. The goal of this bill is to create exposure to different cultures on campus and immerse ASUI members in all aspects of campus life.
Vice President Emma Johnston looked at student appeals for relief on student fees and debts this past week.
“I cleared them all,” she said.
Johnston has been working to create season tickets for Vandals in the future and creating bus rides for fans to go to the WSU basketball game. She has also continued to work on installing Spanish-speaking tour guides on campus.
President Martha Smith is very excited about the upcoming Election Day. A forum on Friday, Oct. 25, will host 10 out of the 14 candidates on the Latah County ballots, in order to create conversation between them and students.
Smith has helped fund a Resonate Church Halloween event that will be a fun alternative to a typical college Halloween celebration.
She also got the chance to speak at Envision, an admissions event, this past week, which gives prospective students a chance to explore campus. She shared how important and great her experience at UI has been with the prospective students.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at [email protected].