The year’s first Undergraduate Student Government Downtown Senate meeting focused primarily on Senate and Director nominations and a series of funding requests, which were quickly and unanimously approved.
Vice President of Services Marcus Dudas introduced his “inclusivity initiative,” which would focus on “LGBTQ students who should be feeling included but don’t, and students from China, for example, who don’t feel at home in a new culture.” Dudas also said he would be working to promote Culture@ASU events.
Vice President of Policy Melber Macainan introduced a proposal for a student lobbying seminar, which would make students aware of their voting rights and inform them of how to both petition student government and influence government decisions.
President Frank Smith III reported successful negotiations with ASU administration that resulted in sections of the Walter Cronkite building remaining open 24/7 for students. Smith also announced that he would be working to improve advising, specifically for budding programs.
“ASU is ever-changing, and new majors are being added every year, so advising needs to reflect that,” Smith said.
Smith also presented an initiative to subsidize the $1 cost to rent a basketball at the fitness center.
“Students already pay so much to be here, we want to keep extra expenses to a minimum,” Smith said.
This keeps with Smith’s earlier statement that he would focus on the large number of small expenses and fees students are faced with rather than wrestling with tuition.
College of Public Programs Senator Frank Vasquez introduced roughly half the nominees from his notes; the others were asked to introduce themselves to the body. All appointments were unanimously approved.
USGD executive branch nominations included a renomination of Charles Liao as Chief of Staff and nominations of Angelmary Zepeda and William Padmore for Directors of Administration and Finance, respectively. Daniela Nepita received the nomination for Director of Public Relations. The Senate unanimously confirmed all nominees as they were introduced.
Vasquez nominated the following Senators: for Barrett, the Honors College, Hattie Hayes and Leeda Nayibzada; for the Walter Cronkite School, Alexis Kramer and Erika Tuerr; for College of Public Programs, Maria Rico; and for University College, Oscar Barajas. No nominations were made for College of Nursing, School of Nutrition or Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. One seat remains open for both College of Public Programs and University College.
“These are all high-caliber, highly involved students,” Vasquez said.
USGD distributed a total amount of $92,438.03 among various organizations.
The Programming and Activities Board Downtown requested and received $85,830. The group organizes community events for the Downtown Phoenix campus such as Devils After Dark events.
The Student Nutrition Council, an organization of ASU Nutrition students, received their full requested allocation of $1,739.60 for a networking trip where students will talk with field professionals.
The Exercise and Wellness Organization received the full requested allocation of $1,078.30 to cover T-shirt expenses.
Contact the reporter at Noah.B.Briggs@asu.edu
