Freshman Council provides campus newcomers the opportunity to get involved
Most students have some understanding of CU’s student government, but what many freshmen students don’t realize is that there is a CU Student Union branch dedicated solely to them.
“I don’t think students realize how much of a say they have in student government,” said Daniel Oxenhandler, the Freshman Council’s liaison to UCSU Legislative Council and film studies major. “A lot of (freshmen) don’t even know about the Freshman Council.”
Freshman Council has a budget of $2000 per year given to them by UCSU. They are assigned to hold one event per semester specifically geared toward freshmen.
The UCSU Freshman Council will be holding their first of two events this year on Thursday, Dec. 6, geared toward bringing the freshmen class together and raising interest in student government. They will be showing a Christmas-themed movie and serving free food in CHEM 142 at 7:30 p.m.
According to the officers of the Freshman Council, these events will help bring the freshmen class together as a group and give freshmen an opportunity to speak about their concerns and ideas for student government.
“It’s important for freshmen to know that we’re here for them; we’re a part of the student government,” said Freshman Council Vice President Sara Cady, a psychology major.
After getting off to a very late start this year due to problems with the online application process, Freshman Council met for the first time about three weeks ago according to Council President and marketing major Dominique Kruse.
Next semester, the Council is planning to hold a much bigger event than a movie night. Council President Dominique Kruse hopes to organize a concert or mixer to likely take place sometime in April.
Kruse said another important goal this year is making the Web site, which has not been updated for almost two years, more useful.
Besides being an outlet for freshmen to get their voices heard, all representatives on the Freshman Council shadow a member of the UCSU executive staff in order to get an idea of how the UCSU works. Guest speakers such as Tri-Executives occasionally come to meetings. Some members feel that the Freshman Council is mainly a springboard for students wanting to get involved in student government in their later college years.
The members of the Council said they are very appreciative of the UCSU’s efforts to help educate the Freshman Council on student government policies.
“I feel very included (in UCSU),” said Anthony De La Rosa, liaison to the UCSU Executive Branch and open option major.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Julie Ryan at ryanja@thecampuspress.com
