Coming into college, I had a singular qualm: I was so deeply afraid of being the same person in four years.
After one of the most important people in my life was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer during my senior year of high school, I experienced a period of early maturity in which I became intimately aware of how important time is. I was no longer able to relate to the friends I surrounded myself with since childhood and I no longer recognized myself.
Thus began my thought experiment: what would happen if I moved to an entirely new place (albeit across the country and in rural Ithaca)? Who would I become over the course of my Cornell experience?
Associated Student Government passed a resolution calling for the recusal of Board of Trustees Chair J. Landis Martin from Northwestern’s presidential search committee during Wednesday’s session. The bill passed with 17 votes in favor and one nay vote from the NU College Republicans senator. The legislation cites Martin’s past political donations and decision-making as reasons.
In the past academic year, Associated Student Government passed key legislation that pertains to a variety of issues facing the Northwestern community.
ASG sought to address documented claims of racism within the Senate, which resulted in the resignation of both the speaker of the house and faculty advisor.
Notably, senators voted on legislation aimed at making the organization as well as the campus more inclusive of students with marginalized identities. Internally, ASG implemented changes in Senate seats and the executive board. Members also worked on legislation to create a better community space for the campus LGBTQ+ community.
Former Rainbow Alliance Senator Jo Scaletty said they think the organization has made tangible progress.
Associated Student Government appointed Weinberg junior Margot Bartol as newly created executive officer of accountability in its Wednesday session.
ASG president Christian Wade and vice president Adaeze Ogbona created the position to hold the entire organization and University administration accountable to the student body. Accountability was a central part of Wade and Ogbonna’s campaign platform. They approached Barol with the position after prior conversations around their platform.
“In the past, ASG has had a big problem of making all these promises or trying to do things, but never really following through on it,” Wade said.
In the past year, ASG has taken many steps to reform the organization due to issues with inequity and the exclusion of marginalized students. The Social Justice Education Chair was created last summer and the Ad Hoc Committee to Reimagine ASG was established in January.
Associated Student Government’s new committee addressed goals to improve internal collaboration and communication in its Wednesday session.
Leadership swore in chairs for six committees. ASG President Christian Wade and Vice President Adaeze Obgonna were on the board of ASG members who reviewed applications and the Senate voted on each nomination at Wednesday’s meeting.
Weinberg junior Campbell Schafer will continue as Academics Chair for the third straight year. Weinberg sophomore Cindy Shou will take over as Analytics Committee chair. McCormick freshman Zai Dawodu will be the new Communications Committee chair.
Medill sophomore Julia Karten will chair the Health and Wellness Committee. McCormick freshman Molly Whalen will lead the Policy Research Committee. Weinberg sophomore Sadie Bernstein and Weinberg junior Sara McCoy will co-chair the Sustainability Committee.