From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 30, the Student Senate will be holding a campus-wide open forum on the Campus Mall, weather permitting. Food will be available at the event, as well as a chance to speak with the senate commissions and the administration at UW-Eau Claire.
Fourth-year finance student and the Communications Commission director, Cole Morehouse, said the event is a way for the senate and administration to connect with students.
“I think it will show that we are much more transparent as a university and that we care,” Morehouse said. “Students can ask questions, and they can also probably learn at the event.”
“Answering those questions, getting feedback from students,” Morehouse said. “Having that discussion with students and understanding that, being that connecting point … That’s the real goal.”
The event will include various departments and resources across campus. Morehouse said that Sonnentag, Student Health Services and ARCC will be there, just to name a few.
Ally Etzler, a third-year political science student with a legal emphasis and the director of the Intergovernmental Affairs Commission, said that a similar event was held last year, but it will look a little different this semester.
“Now this year we’re bringing administration into it (and) different departments across campus. So that they can also get that feedback, so that they can work on things on a different level,” Etzler said.
The chancellor, the vice chancellors, the dean of students and the deans of each of the colleges will be there, according to Etzler.
According to Etzler, if students are unable to come to the event, there will also be a survey sent out through email, where there are questions that students can answer. The email was sent out on Oct. 20, and a follow-up email was sent out on Oct. 23. The form will close on Oct. 31.
“So we went to the (commission) directors specifically, and we were like, if either you on your own or you within your commission want to come up with a question that you feel like you want to know more information on from students, bring that here,” Etzler said.
This event will allow students to provide feedback to the senate as well as the administration, voicing any concerns, thoughts or feelings that they might have, Etzler said.
According to Piper Campbell, a third-year public relations student with a minor in criminal justice and the student director of the Equity in Student Matters Commission, the event is a place where students can voice their feedback.
“By doing this open forum, each commission is able to ask a question, and then the student body is able to give feedback,” Campbell said. “So then we know, one, how visible we are on campus, and two, what we can do to best be representatives for the student body.”
Campbell said that this event is important for students to attend; it’s a way for students to raise awareness and speak on things that directly impact them.
“It will allow us to put our efforts and time into things that benefit the student body,” Campbell said. “When people give us this feedback, it’s just great. It really does help with the projects and especially initiative.”
Hirata can be reached at [email protected].
