Happy Western Wednesday and Homecoming Week! With the third senate meeting of the school year finished, I may have gave a little sigh of relief when we adjourned. Did anyone else? Things got a little tense but I suppose I have to get used to that huh? Anyways I learned more WSA lingo today including: consent, object, point of information (or was it point of inquiry?) and proxy! I feel like we should have a “Word of the Day,” calendar WSA edition for new senators and cabinet members.
The meeting opened up today with Dr. Eileen Evans the vice provost for institutional effectiveness who informed the senate about special visitors who will be coming to campus. The Higher Learning Commission is an independent organization who accredits universities and colleges all over the United States. In English- they make sure the degree your getting from WMU is credible and after you graduate you will be qualified for employment.
October 18-20 the HLC will send out a team to scour WMU looking in every nook and cranny- even under your dorm room bed. Just kidding. But these people will check out Western to make sure it has the right stuff, to help us students be the best educated! The HLC comes around once every ten years to accredit WMU, in 2000 we were assigned a “Focus Visit,” which basically means they declared we could do better. So this year we have to be on our best behavior! Remember if your stopped by a man or woman nicely dressed who asks why you chose WMU. DO NOT ANSWER “because my friends go here.”
This is how you answer..
- “It has the best programs”
- “The campus is beautiful and unique”
- “The classes are JUST the right size”
- “WMU cares about me and my education”
- “WMU is a student centered research university”
- “We have the coolest school colors in the world” ***
***(that’s an emergency one in case you forget the rest)
Remember we want this to go smoothly because it affects the credibility of your degree! Plus we all know we go to the greatest school in the world!
Moving on, the WSA Executive Cabinet Treasurer and birthday boy, Zac Putnam introduced the 2010-2011 budget. Noticeable changes caused many senators to question the “Special Projects Fund,” which was set up to allocate money towards projects that students see over the school year. This could be a minor change such as a gumball machine in Schneider Hall (dream on people) or a major renovation like the Bernhard Center sign. How cool would it be to say “yeah I paid for that awesome sign out there.” So students don’t be afraid to speak up to the WSA if you would like to see some changes on campus. Some of the senators argued that the university should be paying for things like the Bernhard Center sign or the Valley Pond bridge. However these things are low on the list of priorities due to the renovations on Sangren and the new apartments, and if students take the initiative it will give us some major credit.
It’s HOMECOMING WEEK! I can’t wait to talk to Kris Banks tomorrow and see how “Yell Like Hell” went tonight. Did anyone make it out to the flagpoles today? Kris was bouncing off the walls at the meeting this afternoon because of how great Western Wednesday turned out so HOLLA for that KB. Anyways this is a shout out to Erin Kaplan, Lauren Hearit, and Janine Putnam for representing the WSA Cabinet and Senate on Homecoming Court! When one of you wins, take the crown and break it into little pieces like Lindsay Lohan does in Mean Girls and give a piece to everyone because you all are so great and deserve to win!
There is a senate retreat October 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This includes a free lunch and other free goodies from your WSA cabinet! Come play games, meet the cabinet and learn about the WSA. Trust me ill be in the same boat as you first years! But it will be fun!
On an ending note, I just want to say how intimidated I was at my first WSA meeting last year. But now that I dove headfirst this Fall into what I like to call “involvement,” I am so glad I did because I have met some of the greatest people and WMU’s best and brightest kids! So I’m here to stay! (Unfortunately for you anonymous employer who would LOVE to schedule me Wednesday nights)
Have a great and SAFE Homecoming weekend. I’m craving a den pop. See you next Wednesday! For questions, comments, concerns, or inquiries email me at wsa-publicrelations@wmich.edu
Bronco Pride,
Erin Borgerson, Public Relations Chair
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