The new student government president and vice-president face a busy schedule as the summer comes to an end and the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming are about to begin their first senate session.
“Brett [Kahler] and I are spending our entire summer talking with administration and other groups on campus and they want our input,” ASUW President Joel Defebaugh said.
While both are looking forward to passing important resolutions, they said that issues must be weighed and can take a while to be resolved.
“You walk a fine line when dealing with administration, because we only have a year in this position,” ASUW Vice-President Brett Kahler said. “We only have a certain amount of political capital to really work with. And if a big issue comes up and we used our capital up, not only did we burn our bridge for the rest of the year, but we also really hurt the relationship between the administration and ASUW for future generations.”
Defebaugh said that some of the issues ASUW will face next year include the creation of an adhoc committee for the growth of the student attorney’s program, a resolution to prevent the demolition of Merica Hall as well as increased outreach toward students.
Another issue that they are tackling is ASUW’s image among the student population.
Next to a new logo in celebration of ASUW’s 100-year-long existence, Kahler said that ASUW plans on regular outreach events for students to give their input.
“It’s also connected to outreach,” Kahler said. “We don’t really want to push out own agenda…but rather push the agenda of the students as a whole.”
“We want students to be able come to us,” Defebaugh said. “We’re updating our social media so you can really engage with senators and tell them what you’re passionate about.”
He said that he empathizes with students who feel that ASUW moves too slow or that the senate seems to only function as a money handout to RSOs.
“It’s not really an argument, [since] $140,000 of this year’s budget goes toward helping RSOs,” Defebaugh said. “Could they do great events across campus without that money? No.”
Kahler said that ASUW operates on both a small and big level. Big projects require years to come to fruition, such as the Half Acre renovation, while smaller projects sometimes become overlooked.
“Students don’t really see what happens on the small level,” he said. “Last year we did something with the bookstore where we tried to get professor to turn in book requisitions earlier so then more text books could be bought back from students. It’s those small things that a lot of students don’t see.”
Defebaugh said that outreach would play a role in educating students on campus about issues and ASUW processes.
“I think that a lot of those passionate outcries come from a lack of information or lack of communication. Wherever we can come in and present information to cool things down is good,” Defebaugh said. “I’m a passionate person, too. And I don’t like how slow government moves either, but that is just the way it works and so we have to remind students of that.”
