Who's Representing You?
St. Kate’s Student Senate is beginning a new year. What does this mean for students?
By Mia Timlin
Have you ever been angry? That’s a redundant question—anger is just a part of the human experience. Everyone will go through it at various points in their lives. The important question is: What did you do with that anger? At St. Kate’s, there’s a place where you can take your anger. Or your disappointments. Your frustrations. Your hopes. Really, whatever it is you’re feeling is offered a home on campus through the St. Kate’s Student Senate.
“Student Senate is unique in the way that it is made up of students,” said First Year Representative Ella Tracy. “I think that [it] feels more accessible to students to utilize that resource. We’re here to have people bring concerns to us, and then we listen to that and make changes on campus that are better for the students and the students who are to come next.”
Students were sent the ballot via email and results came out on Sept 29. Image credit to @stkatessenate on Instagram
At the top of a new semester, with four new elected officials and three new committees with the purpose of addressing specific student concerns, the Student Senate has been taking into account Katie voices on campus.
“[Students] can come to Senate meetings on Tuesdays from noon to 1:15, and talk during free speech and express their concerns about things,” said Student Senate President KaZong Vue. Anything a student wishes to be addressed is open to the floor. “Last week we had someone come and speak about dining concerns.”
By reaching out for student opinions—both in the form of public Senate speeches and online surveys (one of which was attached to election ballots this year)—the Student Senate has set three goals, each with designated ad hocs, to focus on this school year: building and campus accessibility, on-campus spaces and student mental health.
“There is a lot of concern regarding how accessible campus is,” Vue said. The issue has been allocated its own team to work with facilities and coordinate the big project that would need to involve larger amounts of money, space and time. One of the biggest concerns is university buildings. “The Speech Building, for example. You really can’t get in there if you use a wheelchair.”
The need for more on-campus spaces is another problem that requires finding or making more room on campus. While Vue said she wants there to be a focus on creating more places for group and private study, as well as designated nap-rooms for commuting students (or anyone that needs a quick reset for their day), one of the more discussed goals is establishing a center for LGBTQIA+ students.
“It’s similar in the way that MIPS provides advocacy and familiarity for students of color,” Tracy said. She hopes that the space will include a faculty member to head it, creating another connection between St. Kate’s students and university staff. “It would give [LGBTQIA+ students] a space where they all have something in common that is a safe area. It would further advocacy and inclusion, and really make sure those students’ voices are heard.”
Student Senate really wants to build an environment where wellness isn’t just encouraged, but also enabled. A big part of achieving this goal will be educating faculty in regards to student mental health and the challenges that may arise during the school year. They also hope to carry over a project started last year, which was implementing a campus-wide Mental Health Day policy, and make the mental health resources available on campus more widely known to students.
The concern for student wellness doesn’t end with mental health, but has extended toward the dietary options available on campus. External Affairs Co-Chair Madeline Bjonskaas said that she joined the Senate Dining Hall Committee because it felt like it put her in a position to help make significant changes on campus.
“I feel like it is something that will actually make me feel better about not having to worry about getting sick from the food, but also making sure that there is quality food for everyone,” Bjonskaas said. According to her, there have been numerous complaints regarding the quality of the food, the lack of kosher options, unclear labeling on meat products and a lack of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. She hopes that the committee will initially hold forums to gain a widespread view of student opinion on the dining options, and that the logistics of contracting food providers will move forward from there.
Nearly everyone you talk to on the Student Senate will tell you the same thing: If you have an issue on campus, make sure your voice is heard.
“Write down notes about what you want to say and key points that you want to get across,” Bjonskaas offers as advice to students wanting to speak about issues during Senate meetings. “Don’t be afraid. The majority of people can’t public speak, and public speaking is very hard to learn, so you’re going to be in the same boat as so many other people who want to speak at these things. You’re there to make a difference.”
If you have an issue you want to bring to Senate, you have a few options, including a new, more accessible Student Concerns form that allows for an anonymous way to submit any issues students may have. Vue acknowledges that there is a power in advocating for yourself and your community that helps initiate the process of change: “I think it definitely has a larger impact when you actually hear it from students saying, ‘Hey, this is affecting me and a lot of people around me. We need help.’”
