Student Union members said they are pleased with their accomplishments in the 2011-12 term.
“I’m very proud,” said School of Management sophomore Caitlin Seele, senator for SMG. “I think a lot of changes happened this year, I think we had a passionate group of senators and an executive board that really promoted a lot of individuals to take charge on initiatives.”
College of Fine Arts sophomore Dexter McCoy, judicial commissioner and president-elect of Union, said he was happy with Union’s accomplishments this year.
McCoy said some of Union’s greatest accomplishments include their proposal presented to administration for gender-neutral housing and the initiation of a smoking courtesy campaign.
“Also, there was a great job done this year of Union pushing for different initiatives and advocating for things like cage-free eggs and supporting the Take Back the Night rally and really taking a position on that,” he said.
Union Vice President Alex Staikos said he was pleased with the way Union responded to events outside of their control, such as writing statements after incidents of sexual assault and hazing and hosting discussion during the Occupy movement.
“I believe we had the appropriate discussions and in the end, responded well,” Staikos said in an email to The Daily Free Press.
Union successfully created a proposal for gender-neutral housing and presented it to administration in the spring.
“I feel it was a huge step for Union to actually survey students, complete a proposal, re-survey students and present something to administration,” Seele said.
Seele, chair of the gender-neutral housing subcommittee, said she intends to work with administration further over the summer on gender-neutral housing.
“I feel like there are not a lot of things happening this summer, so it’ll be an easier time when both sides have more time to sit down and have some conversations about it,” she said. “I’d like to see a ton of headway made over the summer so when we come back in the fall, it’s finalized or very close to it.”
Seele said she hopes to see gender-neutral housing implemented by next spring’s housing selection, if the proposal is approved.
Staikos said he was pleased with how Union represented the student body.
“I hope that Student Union continues on this path, uniting the student voice, and eventually becoming everyone’s mouthpiece and advocate,” he said
Among other accomplishments, Union passed legislation to change the election cycle to match the calendar year. Elections will again be held in November for positions for 2013.
Union also organized a flash mob, participated in sustainability efforts and updated the BU BUS application to display the correct schedule, according to Union’s presentation Sunday.
Union members said they hope to continue the trend of productivity and togetherness into the next year.
“I’m hoping the new executive board has that same kind of attitude about empowering the senators and the students to do whatever they want to do, and being the support network for them,” Seele said.
President-elect McCoy said his executive board’s specific goals for next semester include planning a 24-hour study center for both on- and off-campus students, as well as moving forward with gender-neutral housing and increasing student input in tuition allocation for undergruate students.
McCoy said students should keep in mind Union’s importance looking forward to next year.
“Students indeed have a voice,” he said. “When they raise that voice and come together and get a unified body raising that voice, great things can come about.”
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