The number of elected ASMSU representatives from the undergraduate student government’s Freshman Class Council has increased this year.
The council, which is made up of about 30 members, met every Monday night in the middle of ASMSU’s territory - third floor of Student Services - instead of a basement corner, which officials say encouraged council members to be more involved.
Five members were elected to ASMSUassemblies in the March elections. During the past two years, only two Freshman Class Council members were elected to the organization.
Matt Clayson, who started his undergraduate student government career as a member of the council, now is ASMSU’s Academic Assembly chairperson.
“It provided me with the basic knowledge needed to understand intricacies of ASMSU,” said Clayson, who joined the organization to change what he didn’t like. “This year, (Freshman Class Council) was made to feel more a part of the organization other than some distant stepchild.”
Anna Lutey, one of four members who were elected to ASMSU’s 2002-03 Student Assembly, said being a part of Freshman Class Council allowed her to hear organization issues firsthand.
Lutey said she gained knowledge ranging from student-police relations issues to planning events efficiently. Lutey said she heard about the council during her Academic Orientation Program.
“I learned different things I should do and should not do,” she said. “It has made me more outgoing and comfortable around people.”
Matt Weingarden, ASMSU’s Freshman Class Council adviser and Student Assembly’s internal vice chairperson, said his goal was to make student government more inviting to new faces.
Weingarden helped members with parliamentary procedures, communication skills and events.
“In the past, the emphasis has been kind of more about accomplishing specific tasks rather than about development,” Weingarden said. “They have been told what to do, and I choose not to. I told them they could do what they wanted, and helped when it got hard.”
The group dealt with housing proposals, which will be incrementally implemented by University Housing in coming years, including a more detailed questionnaire to pair up roommates.
Shelia Burkhalter, Student Life’s council adviser, said members were more involved with organization issues than previous councils.
The students also tried to have an impact on the community, she said. About week after the council ended, members took a trip to Burcham Hills Retirement Center, 2700 Burcham Drive, to socialize and play games with residents.
“That’s indicative of who this group is,” Burkhalter said. “This is a unique bunch of students who really want to get involved with student government.”
