The 110th Associated Students of Wyoming (ASUW) held their last Tuesday meeting of the 2023 semester this week. They discussed a wide array of topics and addressed several issues, namely voicing support for a $12 minimum wage for all students employed by the University of Wyoming.
“It is resolved by the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) Student Government that we unequivocally support a $12.00 minimum wage for students employed in any and all departments across the University of Wyoming,” the resolution read.
The resolution also outlines that they intend to bring a copy of these plans to President Seidel and other campus stakeholders to improve work conditions for student employees.
“I think that it’s good that ASUW is supporting this. Part-time student employees do a lot for this campus,” UW junior Sarah O’Malley said. “I believe raising the minimum wage is a good way to support them.”
Senior Sophia Fahleson echoed similar thoughts.
“I think $12 is a great starting point and I would hope to see it increase over the next 5 years or so,” Fahleson said.
The Senate also passed budget realignments for the gender-neutral bathroom in the College of Arts and Science building, an endowment for the Middle East North African facilities, the payment of summer traditional aides, and an accountant assistant.
The 110th administration also voted on 12 different Senate bills and ten different Senate resolutions. Out of the 22 total proposed pieces of legislation, 21 passed.
These bills addressed election policies, the requirements of the vice president, outreach across campus, ASUW’s by-laws, rules and procedures, changes to the student funding board’s procedure, adding an additional member, and changing the name of the finance policy. They also voted in a policy authorizing the permanent transition of Student Technical Services to the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, which impacts over $137,000 of funds.
The senate also passed various regulations that helped redo ASUW’s budgetary reporting lines report, the budgetary autonomy and UW regulation 11-5, changes to the final exam schedule, and an ASUW Health Advocacy and Resource Guide. They also voted to support sustainable business practices in Wyoming, an Americans with Disabilities coordinator, The Restorative Justice Club, and a commitment of accountant Schaef for her continued dedication to ASUW.
ASUW additionally voted on three new associate justices and one Chief Justice for the 2023-2024 judicial branch. These electees will start their term Monday, May 1.
The only piece of legislation that did not pass was Senate Bill #2871, which was aimed to reduce First Year Senate membership to 17 seats instead of the 21 it has now.
“We are a program of ASUW,” First-year senator McGuire said. “Reducing the number of seats within the first year Senate would not fix the retention issues.”
“Improving the program itself is going to be your best opportunity to do that.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, the senators also had the opportunity to address the three Board of Trustees members in attendance: Michelle Sullivan, Kermit Brown, and John McKinley.
Chief of Legislative Affairs Saber Smith asked what student issues they anticipate to arise going forward. Senator Cole Schliebe inquired about the education enrollment cliff, with Senator Peri Hennigar additionally asking what the board members thought about student interactions across campus.
“We do what we can, but much of it comes in your interaction with each other and then your student government and your interaction with the administration,” Brown said, “That’s really important.”
“We rely heavily on Allison to convey the information to the board, and we try to take that information and deal with those issues as they come up,” McKinely added.
“So I would encourage you guys to continue relying on your president to deliver those concerns to the board.”
