Zack Imfeld (The Beacon)
By Zack Imfeld, Guest Commentary
So you don't want a squish penny machine – we hear you loud and clear. Even though there was quite a stir about the recent Major Project Fund Top Ten list, I could not be more excited because students are actually talking about ASUP. The fight for ASUP to remain relevant this year, especially with an election with only one contested position and only one major resolution written, is difficult. So, the ASUP Executive Board decided it would be a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
I want to ask the same question that the editorial last week asked: Are you getting what you want from your student government?
Well, are you? If you are not getting what you want, we need to refocus our efforts to serve the student body better. ASUP is here to represent the wants and needs of all Pilots here on The Bluff and that is why I am starting an internal and external review of ASUP.
This review: will look at the strengths and weaknesses of ASUP, what we can do to reach our constituents better and what we should do differently to represent the wants and needs of our current student body. Our goal is to leave no stone unturned and to consider every idea presented to us because we want to make ASUP better.
Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting with students who work closely with ASUP like senators, club leaders and other leaders within student government. I hope to gain helpful information that will shape what ASUP should look like in the future. After that, I will start to petition the entire student body for help in answering the million-dollar question: Are you getting what you want from your student government?
I will be holding an open house/town hall meeting where all Pilots can come share what they think student government should do and what we can do to better represent all of us here on The Bluff. Also, I will be creating a survey, regarding what ASUP should do in the future, so we can get a better idea of what direction we should go.
Beyond students, I hope to work with members of the faculty and staff to get their opinions and advice because they have seen leadership work in a variety of arenas, but also have experience on multiple college campuses and have seen multiple student governments.
I really hope that students will get involved with this review and give ASUP as much feedback as possible. Every senator holds an office hour each week, the Executive Board holds 10 hours and if the office hours do not work, please email any of us and we will set up a time to meet. If you don't want to meet, email me at imfeld12@up.edu, so your specific opinions can be heard.
For all the students that complain about ASUP not representing your needs – this is your chance to tell us what you want.
We are ready and willing to listen to anything and everything you have to say. So, stop complaining, come talk to us and let's make this campus a better place.
Zack Imfeld is a senior theology major and ASUP president. He can be contacted at imfeld12@up.edu.
