When Student Senate President Adrian Klenz took office last March, he said one of his primary goals was to make Senate more visible to students.
At 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Badger Room of Davies Center, he’ll be able to take another step toward achieving that goal.
| Issues Forum Time: 5 p.m. Date: Wednesday Place: Badger Room, Davies Center |
After realizing students need to be better informed, Klenz decided to host an inaugural Issues Forum to help bring a face to Senate and address anything students want to discuss. All students and faculty members are encouraged to join him at the Forum, he said.
“The main focus (of the Forum) is that I want to be visible for students,” Klenz said. “It’s a chance for students to express any concerns they have.”
Two of the main concerns that influenced Klenz to hold this Forum came from students hearing inaccurate information about Senate and drink specials, along with the Carson Park issue, he said.
Prior to Homecoming, many students considered Klenz the individual who was trying to eliminate drink specials, but he said this information was not accurate.
The Carson Park issue deals with UW-Eau Claire allocating $300,000 during the next 10 years to resurface the football field with artificial turf, which Senate passed 18-6 on Oct. 20.
Despite these two issues, Klenz said the Forum is open to any issues students wish to discuss.
Vice President Kate Demerse said this Forum is very important in terms of assisting both Senate and students.
“Often times students are not aware of very pertinent issues,” Demerse said. “A forum such as this will bring everyone up to date.”
Even though Demerse feels the Forum is important, she said that forums, historically, are not well attended.
“If this is not well attended, Senate must continue to seek alternate methods of reaching the student body,” she said.
Senior Nate Keiser said he believes the Forum will help Senate determine a direction it should go toward and things it should do based on students’ input.
“(The Forum) will give Senate an idea of what students want.”
Another reason the Forum is being held is because many students are not aware of what Senate does, Klenz said.
“This is a chance for (students) to ask us face to face, ‘Why did you do this?’ ” he said.
To help with the turnout, Klenz said he used various techniques, such as e-mailing the department heads of the university. Regardless of the turnout, he said he wants to do this often to address student issues.
“I want this to be a great turnout,” Klenz said. “The more students we get, the better.”
