The Associated Students of Wyoming (ASUW) has a multitude of upcoming events and initiatives for the remainder of the month and beyond. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and ASUW has focused on this while hosting additional events such as Giving Day, Cowpokes and Candidates, and the Student Organization Round Table.
The first event to mark on the calendar is the Student Organization Round Table (SORT). This event features a variety of student-run organizations on campus and allows for each group to collaborate. The round table takes place Oct. 21 from 6 to 7:30pm in Big Horn room 203. Next on the agenda is the Cowpokes and Candidates taking place on Oct. 23 at 6pm in the West Center Ballroom. This event allows for candidates running for office to meet and communicate directly with the students and community before the election.
From noon on the 23rd to noon on the 24th, ASUW is holding their Giving Day Campaign “No More Empty Saddles,” which is their mental health initiative of the year. The history behind the name refers to when range cowboys would not survive their journey, leaving their horses’ saddles empty for the return home. This program was created to counteract the recent tragedies that have taken place in our community. By collaborating with stakeholders to create more awareness, funding, and expanding services, ASUW hopes for the program to destigmatize the topic of mental health and allow those struggling to receive the assistance that they need. Every donation and gift to the cause creates an impact, however, during the span of Giving Day, donors are given the opportunity to match and challenge funds to increase this impact.
“This year we are attempting to expand our outreach effort to as many new groups as possible, especially rural communities as they are typically affected by mental health crises,” Hayden Mackenzie, ASUW Director of Student Outreach said.
On the 24th, ASUW is sponsoring the student organizations event Mental Health and Legal Profession in room 187 at the law school at 4:15pm. Another student organization event sponsored by ASUW is Diwali Night in the Union from 3 to 10:30pm on the 26th. Diwali night is hosted by the Indian Students Association on campus and is a celebration of the arts and paintings of India. The evening includes a program at the Arts and Sciences Auditorium from 4 to 6pm and a ticketed dinner in the Union Ballroom from 6 to 8pm with a DJ to follow until 10pm. Tickets are available at the Union Information Desk on Oct. 23 and 24.
For the month of November, ASUW is holding Movember. Movember is an initiative that supports men’s mental health. Additionally, there will be Band in the Sand on the 20th at Hansen Arena at 6pm.
