ASMSU officials are trying to bridge the gap between representatives and their constituents and have created a new position to help.
MSU's undergraduate student government reworked its executive positions for the next academic year - eliminating its director and assistant director of public relations in exchange for a new director of digital media and graphic marketing and constituent activism.
"(Activism) is something we're going to stress to all the positions," Student Assembly Chairperson Missy Kushlak said. "We want to engage people."
Hiring for the director of constituent activism and other executive staff positions starts this week. All positions had applications turned in, but names of students running for the position were not available.
Some of the job responsibilities include attending all ASMSU and other student organization meetings, contacting the media, working on grass-roots initiatives to support public awareness and ASMSU participation and putting together ASMSU's newsletter.
The position pays $1,620 a semester, excluding the summer.
"It's basically just another resource for the representatives," Kushlak said. "We felt there really needed to be someone to connect all the aspects of this organization."
Whoever takes over the position must also have excellent writing and communication skills and be a "self-starter."
ASMSU's new association director will supervise the position.
Kevin Glandon, Student Assembly vice chair for external affairs, said the candidate for the position must be outgoing and be able to "try new things."
A director of constituent activism is needed because in the past, some representatives have been less aware of other groups' issues, Glandon said.
But this position would change all that and allow representatives to be well-informed and involved, he said.
An increase in dialogue between representatives and their constituents is also a goal of the position.
"We hope we can get messages across to everybody a lot faster," Glandon said. He added some representatives can't even e-mail all the students in their colleges.
Spartan Community Expectations and Students Protecting And Representing Education are some activist programs ASMSU handled on this year.
