By Lora Roberts, CUSG Director of Communications
As the University of Colorado Student Government, we get the honor of helping CU rise to excellence by giving the students quality services through the seven Cost Centers under our control and to also act as the bridge between the students and the administration.
However, that is not all we do. Every member of CUSG whether it be the tri-execs and their staff, legislative council, or the judicial court, all feel incredibly passionate toward the university and try to make CU a fair institution that students want to attend.
Currently, the PULSE ticket is in office, under the leadership of Brittni Hernandez, Tyler Quick and Logan Schlutz, and under them is a staff of 20, which they handpicked. This executive staff is responsible for creating events and projects that in addition to helping students also aligns with PULSE’s platform.
The platform had a couple of main areas of focus, which are health and safety, sustainability and green initiatives, diversity and campus climate, and increasing student involvement. Since the summer, CUSG has been hard at work trying to accomplish the goal of this platform, and with still an entire semester to go, CUSG has already made tremendous accomplishments towards these goals of the platform.
- Health and Safety, an issue that affects every student that attends CU, has been a main focus for CUSG. Currently, staff members Lexi Weiner and Chris Schaefbauer have taken an active approach in evaluating and improving lighting on campus and the Hill in collaboration with Facilitates Managements and the Boulder Community. Also, in collaboration with Legislative Council, CUSG passed legislation to reform the Safety Buffs Coalition, which is a coalition of students designed to ensure student voice is leading every safety conversation across campus.
- Sustainability and Green Initiatives are issues that are not only important to the Boulder community, but also to CUSG and the University of Colorado. So far this year, CUSG executive staff member Matt Ribarich has led initiatives and discussion to reduce the energy bill of the newly renovated Rec Center, which is projected to use half of the energy it currently uses. In addition, CUSG has revamped campus wide Zero Waste initiatives in an effort to meet our zero waste goals by the year 2020.
- Increasing diversity and a positive campus climate for every student, is another one of the major parts of the platform that the PULSE ran on. Currently all executive staff members have been trained in both anti-racism and are officially LGTBQ Safe Zone certified, which makes the CUSG office an inclusive and welcoming environment. Also, Co-Directors of Diversity Andrew Trevino and Emma Harsin Drager through conversations with administration have institutionalized Project 4 Unity, which is a retreat for underrepresented students on campus. CUSG has also been in the process of advocating for gender neutral spaces in all new buildings and renovation include the UMC Glenn Ballroom renovations.
- Increasing student involvement in campus events in a variety of ways also is a priority. Led by Julia Harrington, Director of Legislative Affairs and the organization New Era, CUSG helped register thousands of students to vote by improving registration access and contributed to a 93 percent voter turnout. Also, Brianna Majewski, Homecoming Director, helped organize a successful Saturday morning Homecoming parade on the Hill. In addition, CUSG led by Logan Schlutz hosted a Marijuana Symposium open to students to discuss both sides of the marijuana debate in regards to Amendment 64. Another example of increased student involvement is through the CU vs. CSU busing, in which CUSG partnered with CU Athletics to provide eight buses for students to ensure safe transportation and student presence at the Mile High Showdown at Sports Authority Field.
Finally, CUSG has increased these goals and many others through multiple pieces of legislation that has been passed by Legislative Council. So name a few, there has been a new Election Code Reform passed, Student Group Funding Board reform, which was led, by Ellie Roberts SGFB Chair, Student Fee Regulations Reform, and a Resolution on ASSET. Information on all of these can be found on CUSG website, cusg.colorado.edu.
Next semester CUSG hopes to continue upholding the PULSE’s platform and to continue being a voice for the students. Look out for next semester, University Hill Innovation District and the “CU Collective”, Spring Student Government Elections, Launch of the Student Activist Archive, Day Without Hate, and Conversations of 4/20.