Recently the Student Government at the University of Dallas hosted its annual town hall, in which SG provided updates on its achievements this semester and information on upcoming projects to the student body. Of special note, SG has been operating with many new senators and still staying on track with its goals.
Luke Enriquez, senior politics major and president of SG, said, “For the majority of senators, this past semester was their first time serving in SG. I’ve been extremely proud of how quickly the senators learned the rules and procedures that came with being a senator while simultaneously planning countless events that have been smashing successes.”
SG has accomplished much this semester, including extending gym hours from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for the rest of the fall semester, with hopes of keeping the extended hours throughout the spring semester.
SG also played a role in this year’s Charity Week, funding the first ever hotdog eating competition. The event raised over $300 and was won by Enriquez, which may or may not be coincidental.
The Christmas season is also benefiting from SG initiatives, with SG funding and planning an impressive Christmas decoration of UD’s campus, just in time for the holiday cheer.
Progress has also been made this semester in the realm of the Rat. Thanks to senator Noah Gulick, the Rathskeller seating area is open on weekends throughout the semester.
SG is also working on introducing more intramural sports to both the fall and spring semesters, with flag football being a viable option to introduce to spring intramurals.
SG has approved a number of clubs this semester, including the UD Makers Club, the Students for Irving Club, the Mock Trial Club, the “I Thirst” Club and the Society of St. Trajan Club.
Over $13,000 was allocated to UD’s fifty clubs at the beginning of the semester, and SG has since allocated $9,000 more to clubs that have requested additional funding.
SG has also benefited from an increased budget this semester, being put in charge of approximately $70,000.
Peter Key, senior politics major and treasurer of SG, said, “This is the first in my four years that SG has raised more money rather than spending pre-existing funds.”
While there have been many successes this semester, SG is continuing to work on more difficult projects, the primary of which is restoring and heightening Mall culture.
“By far, the most challenging project has been addressing the dwindling mall culture,” said Enriquez. “With no eating or smoking on the mall, SG has…been in constant communication with the administration addressing these two major blows to mall culture. There has been strong pushback on eating on the mall as it has been in the past. In addition, while we had some advancements in improving the designated smoking areas and possibly expanding to more locations, the stealing of DSA signs posed a large obstacle SG had to overcome.”
Key said, “Working to re-enable Aramark eating on the mall and more smoking areas have been the most difficult due to our lack of direct authority in these realms and meeting recurring pushback, but we are determined to keep striving for the student body’s best communal interests.”
As of now, the hope is to increase the number of designated smoking areas as well as improve their overall aesthetic and arrangement.
With regard to eating on the mall, SG is communicating with Aramark to find a solution, such as the possible use of disposable white boxes.
“Next semester, we hope to reach an agreement with Aramark on a solution that does not require the green boxes, make the current designated smoking areas nicer with campus beautification projects, and possibly add more designated smoking areas,” said Enriquez. “All this, on top of continuing to make UD great through events, food and transparency.”
All in all, SG has helped contribute to the UD community through funding clubs, hosting events and engaging in important initiatives such as extending gym hours and working on smoking and eating on the mall.
With a largely successful semester in the books, SG has more in store for the spring.