Owen Schwaegerle is an agribusiness senior, and is serving as this year’s Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) president. Letters to the editor do not reflect the opinion or editorial coverage of Mustang News.
To the editor:
I wanted to provide Cal Poly students with an update on what projects and initiatives ASI Student Government has been working on. Last spring, when I was elected to serve the students, I campaigned on three S’s: student fees, student safety and school spirit. In order to provide more transparency between ASI Student Government and the student body, I wanted to highlight what we’ve worked on so far.
Student fees:
- The Flex Your Right voter registration campaign successfully registered approximately 2,000 students to participate in the upcoming elections, which will enable students to vote for legislators that support the California State University (CSU).
- The California State Student Association (CSSA) was successful in lobbying for Assembly Bill 798, the Affordable Textbook Act, in the fall. This bill was designed to lower the costs of textbooks by encouraging faculty to adopt low-cost, high-quality educational resources.
- The Sustainable Financial Model for the CSU is a document that was put together to develop alternative revenue sources to alleviate the burden of students paying for college. Cal Poly supported CSSA’s resolution on the model. To learn more about the resolution, please click this link.
- ASI Student Government co-sponsored the Congressional Debate for the 24th District, and all of the tickets were sold out. I’m proud of our students for getting politically involved!
- Student directors and staff on the Student Success Fee Advisory Allocation Committee allocated $500,000 in one-time money to double the size of the 24-hour room at Kennedy Library and increase the number of group study spaces throughout the building. The renovation of classrooms in building 22 was allotted $450,000, and $50,000 was given to the Cross Cultural Centers for programming. To read more about the allocations, please go to: www.afd.calpoly.edu
- The Julian A. McPhee University Union (UU) Referendum has been in the works since 2013, after a survey was conducted to gauge what areas on campus students are interested in seeing improved. I encourage each student to get educated about the UU, and the $199 fee increase, prior to voting on Feb. 24 and 25. Please go to www.createtheuu.com to receive more information before casting your votes at the end of the month.
Student safety:
- ASI partnered with the University Police Department (UPD) at the end of last spring to bring the Tapshield app to our campus. This app allows students to communicate potential threats, alert friends or family of their location and easily contact safety authorities if need be. I strongly encourage each student to download this app and use it.
- Earlier this quarter, UPD held a 5k to raise money for a K9. Student Government members helped post flyers, engaged in social media advertising and gathered a team to participate in the event.
- The ASI Executive Cabinet is partnering with PULSE to create a Mental Health Awareness week in May called “Buck the Stigma.”
School spirit:
- In the fall, ASI sponsored an event called Good Neighbor Day in which nearly 80 students participated in a trash pickup in nearby neighborhoods.
- ASI Student Government hosted a tailgate before the Homecoming game and a double-header basketball game at the end of fall quarter to encourage students to cheer on Athletics.
- The Be Present Challenge earlier this quarter had 600 students download the app PocketPoints to promote the importance of focusing in class without the distraction of cell phones.
- Every quarter, ASI Green Team engages in recruitment. If you would like to be involved with ASI Student Government, please come to Baker Science (Building 180), room 112 on Fridays from 12 – 1 p.m. for our weekly Green Team meeting.
- The Make Your Mark campaign informs students on how to run for ASI Board of Directors and ASI President for the 2016-17 school year. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 26.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you as ASI president this year. It has definitely been a time of growth and humility. There are other events in the making to discuss student fees, increase student safety and promote school spirit. I am excited to finish this year strong and am truly honored to serve.
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