As mask mandates continue on campus, discussion over the accuracy of student survey data on the matter was spurred by a vocal student at the Nov. 2 ASUW meeting.
The Nov. 2 ASUW meeting featured discussions about ASUW restructuring, a brief overview of a proposed residence hall, and a student statement about the continuing mask policy on campus in addition to the planned points of discussion relating to it.
The student who spoke to ASUW presented themselves as a member of the College of Lawl on campus and stated upfront that they felt students were not in favor of the mask policy on campus.
The student presented personal accounts of speaking to other students about the mask policy as evidence and pointed to areas where students do not predominantly wear masks as an example of their lack of support for it.
The main example given was dining areas and was presented as direct opposition to the results from a prior student survey.
Speaking on their own concerns, the student voiced that they had transferred to UW in hopes of the campus not requiring masks this semester.
They described it as “apparent hypocrisy” that UW requires masks while the state itself does not and that students are “held hostage” by the mask requirements.
The final concern raised by the student was a desire for exemptions to be more readily mentioned on signs about mask requirements.
The student argued that many students are unaware of potential exemptions from wearing masks such as medical concerns for students with applicable conditions.
During the communications to the senate, ASUW President Swilling spoke on some of these concerns.
“Some requirements are hypocritical,” Swilling said. “But the mask mandate won’t be here forever.”
Swilling went on to discuss the results from the student survey in greater depth, noting that 50% of respondents were in support of the mask mandate and more than 20% of respondents were in partial support of the policy.
“We believe our survey is comprehensive,” said Swilling, who also noted that the number of responses was a considerable portion of the UW population.
Swilling also made it clear that concerns about the mask policy have been voiced previously, but that the board of trustees ultimately makes the decision at their own meetings.
Early news about a new residence hall was also shared with the senate.
A present senate member and representative for the Non-Traditional Student Council voiced concerns that the rooms are too small and that the layout will not be favorable for most students.
“You think you’ve got mental health problems now,” the senator said while expressing their fear that cramped living environments will exacerbate the mental health concerns of new students.
This point was partially countered by Swilling, who noted that the rooms are larger than those of some of the older residence halls on campus.
However, Swilling recognized the mental health concerns and agreed that the layout could be improved for the student experience.
Swilling stated that this and other concerns brought up on the news residence halls will be addressed in later ASUW meetings.
Additionally, ASUW read Senate Bill 2759 for the first time at the meeting.
This bill plans to bring changes to the senate and its elections as part of the continued effort to restructure it in advance of the academic reform.
The bill was brought forward in response to the reform as the expected changes to colleges and schools across campus will require the renaming of senate positions. It also noted the lack of a defined general election in the senate.
The primary focus of the bill is on restructuring how and when elections are held in the senate to better represent the student population of each college in the face of large-scale changes on campus.
Changes, updates, and recommendations of this bill are to be discussed at the next ASUW meeting.
