On Wednesday, Jan. 28, SLU’s Student Government Association’s student Senate convened for the 11th session of the 53rd general assembly. Senators heard President Edward Feser present an update on the university’s strategic plan and approved funding for student groups, including Omkara, Parks Guard and the Asian American Law Students Association.
President Feser outlined the university’s problem-based approach to strategic planning, which focuses on four key areas: student success, enrollment, research and athletics. The plan aims to identify distinctive actions the university can take to address current challenges, including declining enrollment, shifting demographics and uncertainties with federal research funding.
“Our number one priority is student success,” Feser said, explaining that the strategic plan will focus on enterprise-level initiatives rather than attempting to address every individual program or department.
Feser addressed several student concerns during the session, including questions about graduate student support, accessibility for students with disabilities, international student enrollment challenges and recent faculty cuts in various schools. He acknowledged the university is in its third year of budget cuts, emphasizing the need to make strategic choices about resource allocation.
Feser also recognized that a high proportion of students report not feeling they belong at SLU. He explained that the university is working to better understand student experiences and incorporate belonging initiatives into the strategic plan.
“This is the first time I’ve seen students asking about being part of the process,” Feser said. “You have to share your perspective. If we don’t get it right from what you’re experiencing, the next generation of students will experience the same thing.”
The university aims to complete the strategic plan by late spring with board endorsement and investment to follow.
Following President Feser’s presentation about SLU’s strategic plan, the Senate voted on several funding bills.
The Senate provided a total of $8,623.80 of spot funding to SLU Omkara, an Indian classical dance team. The funding will allow Omkara to attend three competitions, including the University of Maryland’s Mayuri, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nakshatra and the University of Pittsburgh’s Dhirana.
Omkara will have the chance to compete with their performances. This is their tenth year existing as a student organization, but only their third year competing. Last year, they placed second in North Carolina State University’s Navarasa. However, the experiences from the trips are not limited to simple competitions.
“We usually come back from these trips really bonded,” said Amrutha Kosanam, an Omkara captain.
The respective funding bills passed on votes of 35-0-0, 34-0-0 and 34-0-0.
SGA’s spot funding enables student organizations to participate in organization-specific competitions, conferences or other ventures that align with their overall mission. Once organizations have the total costs of their selected event, they may apply for spot funding. If their application is approved, SGA covers half of the total cost and the organization raises funds to cover the rest.
Additionally, senators voted to provide $720.80 of spot funding to the Parks Guard Rifle Drill Team to attend the Tulane University Mardi Gras Invitational, which is hosted by Tulane’s Navy ROTC attachment. During the invitational, competitors are judged on a range of factors including professionalism, appearance and composure.
Currently, the Parks Guard Rifle Drill Team is in a rebuilding stage as many of their past members have graduated and the incoming ROTC class has declined. This means they do not have a large enough team to compete in the platoon category. Despite their small numbers, SLU’s team is unique in that they perform at a slow cadence of 40 beats per minute, compared to the typical 112 to 120 beats per minute.
Preparing for the competition can be challenging, not just due to low numbers. Members not only have to ensure they look presentable and move in sync with one another, but also must be careful with their rifles.
“It was very scary the first time I had to actually throw a rifle at someone and expect them to catch it,” said Aidan Weseman, Parks Guard Rifle Drill Team’s treasurer.
This bill passed with a vote of 30-3-2.
Additionally, the Senate provided the Asian American Law Students Association with $1,683.89 of wellness funding for their Lunar New Year Event. The event includes a dinner and a chance to share the Asian American culture to students who are unfamiliar. Although the event is hosted by the law school, it will also be advertised and open to undergraduate and medical students.
“It’s a time to honor ancestors, strengthen our family and community bonds, reflect on the past and embrace our shared hope for a prosperous future,” Justin Fuller, AALSA’s secretary, said.
This was approved with a vote of 34-0-0.
Wellness funding is distributed to individuals or organizations to hold events designed to enhance student wellness through the exploration of new ideas, promotion of healthy habits, encouragement of social interaction and overall embracement of the Jesuit mission.
The next Senate session will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
