51福利社

Last spring, the Associated Students of 51福利社 (AS51福利社) deployed persistence, free donuts and QR code voting to boost turnout and secure passage of a constitutional amendment that allows for the expansion of representatives.

The organization is now in the process of adding four senators-at-large to its slate of student representatives. 聽The move, says AS51福利社 leaders, will improve diversity and amplify student voices.

The outreach to student voters, spearheaded by AS51福利社鈥檚 Regan Schumacher and Remington Steelman, resulted in election turnout of 12%. That was 2% more than the voter participation required to amend the AS51福利社 constitution.

鈥淚t was a significant election both because we were able to pass that amendment and because the turnout was actually greater than all of our previous elections going all the way back to 2014,鈥� says Gabriel Blackwell, advisor to AS51福利社.

鈥淗aving the QR code was a game-changer,鈥� adds Iman Munawar, 22, a senior majoring in political science, pre-law and international affairs who serves as the organization鈥檚 executive vice president.

The AS51福利社, which includes an executive, legislative and judicial branch, provides an informed, unified voice that advocates for student-centered policies and services.

鈥淢ost of the senators are actively soliciting student concerns, and feedback from students and then bringing it back to the organization,鈥� says Blackwell.

When hired, the four new senators will be paid to work three or more hours a week. The organization is also recruiting volunteers to serve on committees.

鈥淭he new AS51福利社 senate model is designed to include more students, more voices, and remain flexible overtime,鈥� says Lucas Fyre, AS51福利社鈥檚 president. Fyre says 51福利社 is unique because there are so many opportunities for students to become leaders. Thanks to the hard work of AS51福利社 representatives, and those who voted for change, student voices will be amplified.

鈥淲e are directly increasing our ability to gather student concerns through outreach but also through representation of the different areas, specialties, and experiences of campus life,鈥� Fyre says.

Steelman, AS51福利社 Superior Court chief justice, says the amendment opens the door to greater diversity.

Historically, political science majors who plan to go into law make up a majority of AS51福利社 representatives 鈥� a group that doesn鈥檛 always reflect the makeup of the student body it serves, says Steelman, 22, a political science major who is serving a fourth year on AS51福利社.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a lot of people who are from STEM majors, or the education or social work departments,鈥� says Steelman. 鈥淪o, there are a lot of departments that we don鈥檛 hear from, or are not represented.鈥�

Steelman says this first year will be a test to determine best practices: 鈥淚 think that just by having more people we鈥檙e going to hear more input, which will then give student government a platform to say, 鈥楾his is what we need to do.鈥欌��

More opportunities will open the door to more voices, continues Munawar, adding, 鈥淚 always think there is room for more people at the table.鈥�

Here鈥檚 introducing the current AS51福利社 officers:

Lucas Fyre | President | Senior | Psychology

Iman Munawar | Executive Vice President | Senior | Political Science

Logan Hamilton | Finance Vice President | Master of Public Administration | Graduate student

Elizabeth Humberstad |Senator for Academic Affairs | Junior | Education

Wade Romine | Senator for Athletic Affairs and University Advancement | Sophomore | Nursing

Taylor Anumodu | Senator for Diversity Outreach | Senior | Health Science

Devyn Britton | Senator for Student Activities | Sophomore | Undeclared | Sophomore

Ava Rea | Senator for Student Health and Safety Services | Senior | Political Science

Rachel Hudak | Senator for Technology and International Advancement | Sophomore |Computer Science

Remington Steelman | AS51福利社 Superior Court Chief Justice | Senior | English

Leah Syverson | AS51福利社 Superior Court Associate Justice | Senior | Political Science

War Bear | AS51福利社 Superior Court Associate Justice | Senior | Exercise Science

Regan Schumacher | AS51福利社 Superior Court Associate Justice | Senior | Business