“I am Senate” Campaign Launched

“People are always asking what we do. I personally hope to bring visibility for not only myself, but for the entire organization,” said Treasurer Chris Wimsatt.

Although an extensive website exists, which includes meeting minutes, and social media is continuously updated, students’ knowledge about who their commissioners are, remain low to non-existent. And aside of heavily publicized campaign initiatives throughout Spring Quarter, the challenge of students’ ability to connect the faces of their advocacy, remains high.

Aside of print media and continual updates on Student Senate’s social media, Account Executive of Student Senate ImPRessions Kate Willse said they will have weekly tables setup in Baker Center.  With each coming week, a different commissioner will stand idle to promote occurring Student Senate proposals, meet with students and bring light to their representative activities.

Weekly tabling vies to illuminate the approachability of the commissioners and increase awareness of certain ongoing or proposed programs put forth, said Willse.

“We hope this campaign his will provoke students to come to the commissioners and express their feelings. It gives them a mean and an outlet to express frustration or just simply to speak out to their Senator when they want to see some type of change,” said Willse.

A Meet and Greet at Pigskin Bar and Grill kicks off the campaign, and Willse said depending on turnout of the first event, they hope to hold activities on a quarterly and possibly monthly basis.

The third component of the “I am Senate” campaign includes the launching of a blog.

Willse said despite the transparent website, they felt as though it was not as accessible for some students and is content heavy. She said the blog’s content is a major synopsis of the major discussions that occur during weekly Student Senate meetings.  It poses as a novice platform enhancing two-way communication and in general, stringent discussion giving leeway for student’s to comment directly on the blog about certain issues or programs.

Wimsatt said the base line goal of the campaign is keeping up with the advocacy Student Senate performs on a day-to-day basis.

“There are a lot of things that go unnoticed. This campaign will provide the chance for students to see who we are and understand the programs we are putting on, such as Bobcat Readership program and the fact that we helped bring Wiz Kahlifa here.” said Wimsatt.

Sophomore Alley Slagel agrees the campaign is an aggressive effort to spring awareness and enhance communication between the student body and Student Senate. She said she has seen some media in Baker Center and heard about various events they host, but feels like they need to make themselves more evident.

“It is always beneficial if they’re taking the time to get to know the people they are representing, and vice-versa.  The main focus should be to get students to actually want to go to the meet and greets and tabling. Once students do, they will learn the main purpose as to what and why they are serving us. If there is something that is interesting and benefits me, then I want to know more,” said Slagel.