In a continued effort to
enact progressive legislation, new ASWSU president Jordan Frost is shifting his
focus toward passing resolutions that better the student experience at
Washington State University.
Under the 46th ASWSU
Senate the number of resolutions and bills passed more than tripled
from the previous year. The Senate approved 57 bills and 35
resolutions, significantly higher than the 14 bills and nine resolutions
enacted by the 45th Senate.
This past Senate required
each member write at minimum one piece of legislation. Frost does not have a
set number for the amount of legislation he wants to achieve, but rather any
that makes a meaningful impact on campus.
“My hope is that bills
and resolutions are either a direct reflection of student needs or an internal
improvement that will put the organization in a better place moving forward,” Frost said. “I want to really
encourage senators to outreach in creative ways so that their legislation resonates
with students, not just with members of ASWSU.”
Seven members of the 46th Senate
remain under the new senate, who were sworn in on April 20 along with Frost,
adding a unique combination of old and new ideas to the 2017-18 ASWSU Senate.
Savannah Rogers, Honors
Delegate on last years Senate and one of the seven returning members, felt a
strong sense of comradery amongst the whole Senate which fostered quality
discussion and resulted in productive legislation.
“We would go out to
restaurants and get food and hang out and really be close friends,” Rogers
said. “I think that made us not only work better together, but I also made us
respect each other more and enjoy the time we were spending with each other. We
really wanted to do the work that was set in front of us.”
The previous Senate used a
bonding activity called Ohana, which paired two senators together for two
weeks, with the intent of creating a family-like feel. Rogers said the
activity, which lasted almost the entire Senate term, is something she would
like to see carried over to the ’17-18 Senate.
Devon Holze, another
returning Senate-holdover, said her first Ohana meeting with College of Arts
& Sciences Senator Kevin Schilling strengthening the cohesiveness between
the two Senators and stimulated ideas resulting in effective legislation.
“I think they were very beneficial,” Holze said of the bonding
activity. “The senate definitely works better as a cohesive unit, and getting
to know people and their ideas helped a lot with making us successful.
“My first Ohana really
stood out to me because I learned a lot about him (Kevin) and who he is as a
person. And working with him this year helped me be successful. They're just
great for making us a better unit.”
The cohesiveness of the
46th Senate proved contagious during the year long term as
ASWSU passed Resolution 46-19 supporting undocumented students at WSU,
continuing unity amongst the student body.
WSU Young Democrats
President Gavin Pielow, who ran for an at-large Senator position this
spring, supported the resolution and believes the
Senate in place will further a collective culture on campus.
“This upcoming Senate
should, and will, help alleviate the burden of food insecurity on campus,
proliferate access to cheap mobile printing, and secure efficiently widespread
snow removal during the winter,” Pielow said in support of the recently
appointed Senate.
The subject of
undocumented students remains a key discussion point for the incoming Senate,
with efforts already underway to foster a unified campus where no student feels
afraid based on their status.
“Latino students have
always felt a strong passion for being involved on campus,” said Frank Ramirez,
a graduating senior who has spent the majority of his five years being involved
in the multicultural communities at WSU.
“With the ASWSU Senate
and the university administration in full support of undocumented students, and
specifically speaking out against President Trump’s executive order to remove
all undocumented immigrants, there is more security on those students who might
have previously felt subject to discrimination as a result of their status.”
With increased student
comfort and safety the ultimate goal, the notion of passing legislation that
does not result in positive change is one Frost does not want to have as the
Senate begins its term.
“If we pass one ‘big
bill’ that overhauls are organization and sets our path for the next 15 years,
I would be more than happy,” Frost said. “I am cautious of 50 bills
that edit the spelling and grammar in our governing documents, because that
kind of productivity can mislead people to believe that their government is
actually working.
“I want to see meaningful
legislation that focuses on enhancing the student experience at Washington
State University for all students.”
Sources:
Jordan Frost -
jordan.frost@wsu.edu
Gavin Pielow -
gavin.pielow@wsu.edu
Savannah Rogers -
savannah.rogers@wsu.edu
Devon Holze -
devon.holze@wsu.edu
Frank Ramirez - (509)
831-4436
