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Friday, March 29, 2024
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MIXING IT UP- Students gather in the basement of Kay Spiritual Life Center for a discussion to increase diversity within the SG. Topics included minority representation and multicultural initiatives.

SG advisers moderate discussion on diversity

SG looks for mixed pool for secretary

A forum held Thursday evening was the first in a series of efforts to increase diversity within the Student Government.

More than 15 students met in the Kay Spiritual Life Center Thursday evening for an SG diversity discussion moderated by Kimberly Herrera and Leon Thomas, Student Activities' two program advisers. Eric Goldstein, SG parliamentarian, also attended the meeting.

The forum came almost two weeks after the Sept. 5 resignations of former SG Secretary Alex Manzanares and former SG Outreach Director Spencer Siegel. Both resignations were based in part over Manzanares' and Siegel's concerns about a lack of diversity within the SG, according to Siegel.

Discussion topics included methods of how SG could reach out to members of less represented groups, if there should be multicultural initiatives in SG and why the number of people running for SG offices is not higher.

Financial constraints are a barrier preventing some students from becoming involved in the SG, said Alex Ivanov, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

"If a student wants to be engaged with Student Government, that student should be able to receive the same income as if he worked for any other on-campus organization for money," he said.

The Undergraduate Senate debated last spring about SG executive and department head wages and decided to decrease wages amid what SG representative Carrie Johnson, president of the School of Public Affairs' student council, described as a "heated" debate. At the time, some argued that decreasing executive and director pay might deter students with financial restraints from running for office, Johnson said.

Some students at the meeting said they wanted greater SG representation in advocacy events like the diversity discussion.

"Joe [Vidulich, SG president], David [Teslicko, SG comptroller], Jeff [Hanley, SG vice president] - where are they?," said Elizabeth Sanders, a senior in the School of International Service.

Vidulich and Hanley said they had class at the time of the meeting. Teslicko said he had other commitments, including an early appointment the next day, which prevented him from attending.

Johnson, who helped organize the event, scheduled the meeting for Thursday partly to increase interest in student elections, especially among members of less represented groups on campus, before the last mandatory election info session on Sunday.

"I know SG President Joe Vidulich is interested in creating a multicultural advisory group that he can consult with on issues regarding SG diversity and SG policy," Johnson said.

Johnson obtained contact information from meeting participants and said she will give the information to Vidulich "so that he can tell them about his multicultural initiative that he is launching."

The Student Advocacy Center will address multicultural affairs this year.

Additionally, the SG has encouraged other campus organizations to have members apply for SG secretary to diversify the applicant pool, according to Hanley.

Herrera said she and Thomas will "go back to the Student Government executives to discuss what dialogue occurred in the forum."

Thomas said he believes the discussion gave students "a sense of empowerment of them knowing that their diversity concerns were not being ignored."

"We've given the resources, and now it's up to them," Thomas said.

The nominating convention for SG candidates is from 8 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in MGC 262. Campaigning for positions will officially begin at 9 p.m. Wednesday and end 9 a.m. Sept. 27, the starting time of the elections. Voting will last through 6 p.m. Sept. 28, according to the SG calendar.

The following positions are coming up for election this fall, according to Board of Elections Chair Amy McConnel: all 30 Undergraduate Senate seats; the four 2011 Class Council seats; the entire CAS Council; comptroller for the 2009 Class Council; the Kogod Undergraduate Business Association's vice president and comptroller; the SIS Council's secretary and comptroller; and SPA's vice president, secretary and comptroller.

Students interested in running for these offices who have not attended the mandatory election information sessions can contact the Board of Elections at boe@ausg.org and run as write-in candidates, McConnel said.

The School of Public Affairs Student Council organized the forum. Student Advocates for Native Communities, University Diversity and the Office of Multicultural Affairs co-sponsored the event.

Eagle Staff Writers Patricio Chile, Carolyn Phenicie and Jimm Phillips contributed to this report.


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