ASUW kicks off its Ad-Hoc on Parking and Transit

On August 29, 2022, the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) 

President Alison Brown sent a letter to the ASUW Senate for the creation of an Ad-Hoc Committee on Student Parking and Transportation. 

The ASUW Senate would respond by making minor amendments and approving the motion unanimously. 

“This Ad Hoc committee specifically has been asked to collect data, analyze data and come up with recommendations to better the parking situation on campus,” Riley Skorcz, ASUW Chief of Staff, said on behalf of President Brown. 

“I think it’s a really prevalent problem for students, faculty, and staff on campus, and this is a way for student voices to truly be heard and involved in the decision making process.” 

This is not the first time ASUW has created an Ad Hoc Committee concerning certain topics at the University of Wyoming. 

As notable ASUW Ad-Hocs have entailed a wide range of subjects from census data to beer related issues throughout its history serving the student population since 1913.

“An Ad-Hoc is a type of committee within ASUW that is able to be created by each administration, specifically the president, depending on the needs of the student body,” Skorcz said.

“The difference compared to our standing and special committees is that it exists regardless of the discretion of the president.” 

The Board of Trustees will be meeting periodically throughout the year to continue discussion around parking and transportation among many other subjects in which the ASUW President will participate in. 

“For this committee to be successful they will be using the data from the Fall Students Issue Survey and taking these recommendations along with other discussed items in the committee to create multiple resolutions,” Skorcz said.

ASUW President Brown has appointed ASUW Executive Director of Governmental and Community Affairs Cait Heddins to Chair and lead the Ad-Hoc committee on parking and transportation.

“I am so excited that Cait Heddins is the chair for this Ad-Hoc. She has such great driving ambition to make things better for students,” Skorzc said about her fellow colleague.

The Ad-Hoc committee in turn had its first meeting on September 15 in the ASUW conference room consisting of ASUW Senators and students-at-large.

“I believe it went really well,” Heddins said. “The committee spent a considerable amount of time considering the university’s current actions and proposals. The committee also spent an unexpected amount of time on looking how we can make the UW a more safe walking campus. This included ideas of expanding bus routes, tackling icy sidewalks, and looking at the possibility of reopening old tunnels under the university.” 

The ASUW Ad-Hoc committee meets once a week in the ASUW office in the basement of the union and welcomes student opinions on this ongoing discussion.