A soft and quiet energy filled the room as students and staff quietly found their seats to mark the beginning of this semester’s fourth general assembly of the Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress (HUSC). The meeting began with a land acknowledgment by Internal President and senior Oliver Engstrom, followed by an executive board roll call, led by secretary and sophomore Anna Beaudry.
Engstrom introduced himself to the newly elected HUSC representatives, adding that he is a resource for anything HUSC related, including questions or concerns regarding HUSC bylaws and executive teams. Representative reports followed roll call. Beaudry introduced herself and reminded the representatives that she takes attendance and to be on time or send her a message if you plan to be late.
Junior Matthew Maroney introduced himself as the Treasurer and offered himself as a resource for questions about budgeting, where money comes from and how much money you can use in a resolution. Senior Political Affairs Committee chair Allie Kretsch offered herself as a resource for chartering and election updates. Senior Elmo Glass introduced himself as the HUSC tech coordinator and offered himself as a guide for Hamline links and resolving tech issues in the links.
HUSC External President and Junior Elisa Lopez oversees the executive board and offers advising and general help representatives might need with their role. Director of Student Activities and Leadership and HUSC advisor Patrick Haught reintroduced HU lead, a weekend leadership retreat that used to be a part of the orientation process two years ago. It has come back as a free weekend leadership retreat for first and second-years. The leadership retreat takes place on Nov. 2-3 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on campus and is not overnight like the name implies. The application deadline is Oct. 9 and not all students that apply are guaranteed a spot on the trip.
Dean of Students and HUSC advisor Patti Klein-Kersten offered herself as a resource and introduced training sessions for a conduct board involving cases of violating policies. There have been conversations about drafting and creating a social responsibility committee, mirroring other institutions who already have such a committee in place. The purpose of the social responsibility committee would primarily focus on the university’s external investments.
This week is Homecoming week, involving events such as a Twins game on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6:40 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a fun and iconic lip syncing competition on Friday, Sept. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Anderson Center forum, a neon-themed glow dance on Friday, Sept. 27 from 9:00 p.m. until midnight and much more. All events can be found on Presence, Hamline’s website for student events and activities.
There will also be a free health clinic for COVID-19 and flu vaccines on campus in Anderson Center 112 on Oc. 1, 9 and 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. No appointment is needed. Additionally, the Hamline-Midway Coalition (HMC) is hosting a blood drive on Oct. 8 from 10:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. in Anderson Center.
Kretsch introduced a position within the Diversity Initiative Steering Committee (DISC), which is primarily to create inclusive practices, create plans for policies and ways for more equality across campus. They postponed the voting to next week’s General Assembly due to scheduling conflicts with the respective candidates.
HUSC also introduced the Transfer Student Representative, which will assist transfer students with their needs. HUSC is currently holding elections for a senior representative and one transfer representative. Applications close on Sept. 28 and voting will take place between Sept. 30 and Oct. 2.
Following voting discussions, the Engstrom asked assembly members to focus on on-campus issues. One such issue regarded faculty responses and enactment of students’ 504 plans, better known as disability accommodations. Such plans serve to create an accessible learning environment, allowing accommodations that include recording audio of lectures, increased time on tests, and paper tests rather than digital ones.
Assembly members also mentioned that certain links were not working on the Hamline website, particularly those leading to housing rules and regulations, rendering all students living on campus vulnerable to changes to housing policies without being able to access them. Another issue brought up was the lack of access to the amount remaining in students’ declining balance.
Declining balance is a small pocket of money baked into the meal plan that each student can access as a way to pay for food at Leo’s Corner or Starbucks. Maroney, whose external source requested to go unnamed, pointed out that athletes are using their excess time for extra labor due to lack of staffing and have had to fold towels or sort equipment when they are not paid or trained to do so.
After Engstrom made a joke about hating the robots inside “Leo’s Corner” for the thousands of photos they require for the scanning of each individual item, the HUSC general assembly meeting was adjourned by Kutz.