MEMBER UPDATES WEEK OF 11/6-11/12 Ryan Foster fost0079@stthomas.edu During the past couple weeks, I kick started the Dining Services Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Review Committee. For Dining Services, We will be getting a survey out to students to both gain feedback and also to teach students about what Dining Services already does. As far as the Constitution Committee goes, we are off to a great start making edit proposals to bring to our next meeting. Nick Hable Habl0009@stthomas.edu As Junior class senator, I have been a member of the public safety committee and the rebranding committee. We are working to clear up any confusion about the master plan and rebranding, and we are meeting with the chief marketing officer of UST soon! We are also working on putting forward junior class shirts, so look for those soon! JB Stender sten0068@stthomas.edu In the past couple of weeks I have been busy approving budget requests with the Finance Committee. Clubs are now in full swing for the year and it has been a blast to grow an understanding of what a lot of different clubs do around campus. I have also ordered T-Shirts for the Junior Class with help from our awesome class senators Nick and Brielle! I am looking forward to hosting an event at which the shirts will be given away. Shirts will be given away on a first-come first-serve basis. Jordy Chavez-Estrada chav5206@stthomas.edu Since last time, Morgan Jensen, Maddie Busch, and I figured out that if we work hastily and smart, we will have the Club President's Dinner in early December. We will be working on setting a place to have the dinner and set up RSVP's. In Student Life committee news, we reviewed and made suggestions regarding the Sexual Assault reports on campus. It was productive and everyone gave progressive suggestions. The overlying theme I hope the University and all who attend receive from the hateful events occurring on campus is to be respectful. A human life is not one to be degraded. Have an opinion but if the opinion is hateful, please keep it among yourself. Remember to love and remember to care. Thank you. Ryan Sustacek sust1723@sttomas.edu
As the Freshman Class President, I am continuing to sit in on the Finance and Student Organizations committees. We are very busy approving new club budget request and new clubs to better St. Thomas. Outside of committee work, I am preparing for class council meetings as well as being one of your representatives on USG. Recently, I have been busy designing the freshman giveaway with the Class Council and helping to promote the "Tommie Vote" campaign. God bless you all! -Ryan Sarah kamba Binamu Kamb2611@stthomas.edu I am the international student representative and for the past weeks, I have been working with the International retention committee, the oiss stuff and the dining committee to improve the quality of cultural food served by dining services on campus. Jordan Hanson hans0477@stthomas.edu As a member of the Senate, I have been working with 2 other Senators on the topic of Financial Transparency. A meeting with the UST CFO has been in discussion and will occur within the next month. I have participated in nearly all recent USG initiatives. Sarah Schuler schu0132@stthomas.edu The senate met this past Sunday and discussed all of our goals. Each goal team is making progression on their projects. This week groups will be meeting with many faculty and staff to gather more information and support. We are working with NiceRide to partner with them and get bike passes for the upcoming school year. We are also working on getting more information out to students about where our tuition goes and what the new campus master plan entails. Logan Obrigewitch obri1723@stthomas.edu As a member of the UST community and a member of USG, my desire is that greater respect is shown to all the students on campus (as a result of recent happenings) and that everyone can voice their opinions and concerns if they have any. Everyone should be able to feel welcome and safe coming to UST and if they don't, they should have the freedom to voice their concerns so that there can be actions taken. USG is here to represent all the students on this campus. Shonni Krengel kren0034@stthomas.edu As the USG Diversity Relations Committee Chair, I had my first committee meeting on November 3rd. I heard what is going well so far and what can be improved. For the future, I am organizing a multicultural/diverse study night for all the diverse clubs to come together and to get to know one another better. I am also still being very active
in the finance committee. Overall, in the future I am looking forward to having more committee meetings and hearing from the presidents of clubs about what UST is doing well and what UST can improve. Chantel Wang wang6940@stthomas.edu Within the last two weeks as a Senior Senator I attended a USG meeting with Kymm Martinez, Jill Manske and Buffy Smith and discussed the proposed two-year program. We addressed major questions/concerns and gave input on promotional techniques for the student body to be more conscious of one of St. Thomasâ s potential program. I additionally attended a Colleges of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee meeting where we concentrated on the idea of blended classes (partial online-partial classroom) and how that could affect other departments in terms of allied requirements. We also approved a proposition for a new research topics Biochemistry course that is set to debut Spring of 2018! Finally, my senate team and I have scheduled an additional meeting with Kymm to discuss the promotional techniques and reasons behind the re-branding of the University and the new campus master plan. Heidi Hill hill1023@stthomas.edu As Senior senator, I am working in multiple projects the students. First off, I finally got a chance to meet with Bobby and we exchanged ideas and made a plan for creating a digital template for clubs and organizations to use. Secondly, our senior class council came to a decision on a class giveaway, as well as we decided an event to hold for fall semester, for the senior graduating early! Also, in light of events on campus, I am working more to provide support for the students in need of help, and listening to their concerns. I will continue to work on my projects given, as well look for new ones I can help with. Hannah Zimmerer zimm0078@stthomas.edu As Student Organizations Committee Chair, I have been working with clubs to prepare them for the approval process. We are focusing on creating precise mission statements and grand visions for these new clubs. Stay tuned to celebrate the approval of some new clubs on campus soon! Brielle Bierman Bier0033@stthomas.edu I have been working with the Financial Transparency committee for the past two months. We have been in contact with members from the Controller's Office in order to help us get necessary information to create a simple format to offer that financial transparency to the rest of the student body.
Jay Copland copl1735@stthomas.edu This past week, I have been working on a report on the mental health culture on campus. The goal is to get a survey of all the resources on campus in order to see where we are lacking in resources and what could be further promoted. Currently finalizing my report and beginning the introspective phase looking into our mental health culture. Also, if anyone would like to talk to me or have me listen to any concerns they have or have had over the past few days, please feel free to stop me on campus, visit me in my office during my hours, or find me through social media or email. I would be more than happy to listen to student concerns. As always, continue to spread love to all people, especially the ones who need it right now. Sadie Buckel buck0077@stthomas.edu This week, as Sophomore Class Senator, I have been working with Mattie to find a time to meet with a representative from Parking and Transportation Services to discuss what kind of public transportation programs we currently have in place for students at UST, what advertising we need to encourage these programs, and what funds are available to utilize for future programs. I also attended a Student Life Committee meeting, where we explored possible changes to the Sexual Misconduct Policy and discussed changes to the current Good Samaritan Policy. This coming week I plan to attend an Academic Affairs Committee meeting and continue to work with Mattie to reach our goal. As always, I am open to any questions/concerns/comments and can be reached at the email provided on this USG webpage. Andrew Sotis soti5003@stthomas.edu Currently working on ordering the Senior Class giveaway item... stay tuned. Planning an event for those graduating a semester early, which will happen just before Christmas break. Approved club budget requests on the finance committee. Nick Waldvogel wald6008@stthomas.edu Lately we have continued to work for the student body by approving budgets, and talking about actions that we can do to ease tensions between groups in the community. We are going to create action, by joining forces with the diversity groups throughout campus. In addition to this, we will join SDIS and Anti-Racism Coalition in the quad in a purple bench. We are continuing to make campus as inclusive as possible for everyone. Morgan Jensen jens0005@stthomas.edu
I have been working with other senators to plan a Club President's Dinner. We are currently in the steps of finalizing a date and specific details. We have discussed this dinner with Ed Kim along with the Club Collaboration team and Marketing team who will be presenting at this event.