Hello WSA Cabinet Members, Senate, Students, and anyone else who might be reading this! Ill be writing a sort-of informal blog after every meeting to wrap up what happened on this week’s agenda! If your like me and new to the WSA then this will be helpful in explaining terms and appointments that happen at every meeting! So anyways thanks for reading and putting up with me as I learn the ins-and-outs of the WSA.
As we move smoothly along into the new school year the second WSA meeting year was filled with appointment confirmations, positional reports, committee meetings and a bunch of other stuff I didn‘t understand! Just kidding I understand things now and I am quickly catching on!
The Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Diane Anderson opened the meeting with a welcome to Western Michigan University and an awesome fact, for the first time since 2005 WMU enrollment is over 25,000! WOW that’s a lot of students!(And potential future husbands for me!) Anderson also touched on the increasing activity of registered student organizations on campus and the outpouring interest in the construction of the Western View Apartments. Finally Anderson discussed her vision for the Bernhard Center.
“I want the Bernhard Center to be the hub of student life on campus, there are 25,000 students going to Western. 5,000 of them are on campus and familiar with the BHC I want the other 20,000 to be that way as well.” Anderson remarked.
Speaking of the Bernhard Center did anyone see the RedBox in the basement near the Subway? We can thank Dr. Anderson for that!
In the New Business section of the agenda, Andrew Ladd was confirmed as Allocations Committee Vice Chairperson along with Lygia Mueller who was confirmed as an Allocations Committee Member. The Allocations Committee is important to students for many reasons- the main one is, WMU students pay money in their tuition for the Allocations Committee to designate money to RSO’s (Registered Student Organizations) so they can fund events and continue to have a presence on campus! Finally Alex Roman was appointed and confirmed as a Justice for the WSA. The Justice Committee is an unbiased group of students who handle situations in the WSA that can’t be handled internally. Does that make sense? Apparently this was much needed last year.
Also in New Business, was the confirmation of Political Affairs and Diversity Chairs. Aaron and Joey (Prez and Vice Prez) took applications for these jobs and appointed the positions to Lauren Hearit and Destinee Ray. First up was Lauren Hearit who was appointed as Political Affairs Chair. Hearit is a began her confirmation speech by assuring the senate that her personal political agenda would have no effect on her decisions. Also Hearit commented on the need to form policies as a whole along with encouraging students to vote in the midterm elections coming up in November. She ended her confirmation address by explaining to the senate how pushing students to get involved was on the top of her agenda. Hearit went to Washington D.C. last spring as part of a winning team who were granted the opportunity to introduce their research on a retirement policy to the United States Congress.
Next up was Destinee Ray also a junior who was appointed as the Diversity Chair. Ray explained to the senate that she wants WMU to be a diverse institution where students are familiar with the many people, cultures, and backgrounds on campus. This year she wants to find out the issues people have with diversity as well as how students can become comfortable with it. Ray also stressed that diversity is not about race but being educated on different cultures and different people and being aware of everyone around you.
All five confirmed appointments were asked by Jim if they had “enough time to commit to the WSA,” which is a running joke at WSA meetings and I assume ill catch on with that as the year goes on.
Finally the senate broke into their respective committees and spoke with their committee leaders about goals and objectives they want to cover this year. Since I am a committee chair I want to give a shout out to the Public Relations committee HOLLER thanks for choosing PR we’re going to have so much fun doing arts and crafts and chalking all over campus!
Since the WSA will have so much more fun with more there are still WSA seats open for the following colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Fine Arts, Health and Human Services, Aviation, and Engineering! Help bring funds to your college and join the WSA!
Next Wednesday is the first Western Wednesday! MAKE SURE YOU WEAR YOUR WMU GEAR and get free pizza and other giveaways at the flagpoles! WARNING If you are caught wearing another school’s shirt you may be stalked by certain WSA members. Remember other schools are BRANDS you are advertising for them for free! If your going to advertise for another school you should get paid for it :p
Ok that’s all for today’s meeting! Next meeting is also Wednesday September 29, room 157 of the Bernhard Center at 4:15 p.m. See everyone there!
Bronco Pride,
Erin Borgerson
Public Relations Chair
For any questions regarding the WSA or other inquiries email me at wsa-publicrelations@wmich.edu
(and no I can’t get you a date with Joey Blaszczyk :D)
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