The Boston University Student Government held its first meeting of the fall 2024 semester, where they presented initiatives for the 2024-25 school year and confirmed the vice chair, cabinet, committee and judicial members.
Student Body President Akwasi Antwi said he plans to present a bill at next week’s meeting that will prompt StuGov to vote to release a statement expressing concern about BU’s lessening diversity.
BU’s Black first-year student enrollment fell from 9% to 3% this year. The decline follows the United States Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to overturn affirmative action, or the consideration of race, in college admissions.
“Diversity of race and opinion, of experiences, is important at an institution like this when it’s very easy to be in your own bubble,” Antwi said in a speech at the meeting.
Sophomore Michael Hong, a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, discussed at the meeting his hopes to make Terrier Transit, an transportation app for BU students, “more straightforward.”
His suggestions include collaborating with the people working with the application and creating a website students can visit for information related to Terrier Transit.
“We lack that system where students can find all the information on one centralized application,” Hong said.
The Board of Directors introduced themselves and discussed their aims for the semester, which included focusing on civic engagement, environmental activism, community events, sexual assault prevention and support, and connecting the student body.
“Our main goal is to provide the BU community with events that they’re going to enjoy and come up with ideas that really hit the spots that people want to see,” Director of Events Harshita Pattam said.
Kodhai Duraiarasan, co-chair of 16K Strong, a StuGov committee focused on preventing sexual assault and creating a safe environment at BU, said 16K Strong aims for their initiatives to have a “proactive and a reactive side.”
Co-chairs from a variety of committees also introduced themselves and their initiatives. These include expanding the Blue Light boxes on campus, providing free STD testing and increasing sustainability efforts on campus. Representatives from the Mental Health Committee, 16K Strong, FEAST and the rules committee presented.
The meeting ended with cabinet members voting on and confirming their positions.