United Student Government (USG) focused its concerns internally Monday, debating marketing techniques around campus.
Communications committee member and USG Senator Stone Swiess addressed the matter and was in the center of the discussion. He stated that they should consider rethinking their technique of reaching out to people. According to Swiess, the basis to the issue is that they are not reaching out to the right people about the right issues.
“I think we have to take more of an organic approach to the situation. To all of our members of USG, I think we should try to be at every other clubs’ events because without that, it doesn’t seem to matter,” said Swiess. “You can’t see anything that isn’t being shared.”
Senator Shayna Mendez contributed to the concern, describing the experience she had with WPPJ.
“We addressed some student concerns that the student body gave us,” Mendez said. “We addressed Wi-Fi concerns, we addressed follow-up on emails, food concerns, and the new Playhouse and how it will benefit the students. We also publicized for Pioneer Community Day.”
In regards to this event, Recording Secretary Gabriel Dubin said that it was just the beginning of what he hopes for future relationships. USG also met with U-View and premiered on their morning show on Tuesday, “Daybreak.”
Swiess not only expressed his concerns for communication within USG, but also provided, what he believes to be a solution within the upcoming semesters. He offered the idea of wiping social media webpages clean, and starting fresh with current students instead of having a majority of followers who have already graduated. He also proposed promoting clubs and, in turn, simultaneously promoting USG.
“We have all of these social platforms, but nothing is happening on them. I think that we should wipe out our entire social presence going into the next year,” Swiess said. “There are so many people that are connected that no longer go here and really don’t care and scroll right past our stuff. It’s frustrating that we have to rely on so many people.”
USG President Julian Singleton seemed pleased with sophomore Swiess’ attitude toward the issue. With plans to graduate in May, this is Singleton’s last semester as a member of USG.
“I graduate, so I am going to need you to stay just as focused and just as energetic next year because I am part of that group of students you just mentioned,” Singleton said. “When I leave, I am going to be focused on 100 other things and probably not care when scrolling by, so it is now your job to be that guy and keep the caring going.”
Among those in debate was Assistant Coordinator of Student Involvement Ken Middlemiss from the Office of Student Activities. As a former member of USG when he was an undergraduate student, Middlemiss expressed what he thought to be the most important medium.
“From my experience, there is nothing that can beat word of mouth on campus,” Middlemiss said. “If you want your events to be successful and you want them to know what USG does for everyone, I can guarantee you that if every single one of you stood up in the front of your classes and expressed to them what you are working on, the input will be fourfold.”
Prior to this discussion, senators announced the reallocations to the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Honors Student Organization (HSO). BSU asked to move funds to a different event because of the cancelation of the student-faculty basketball game that is rescheduled for next semester. Money that was not used for food at an HSO general meeting and the Dennis Lehane lecture event will now be used for Northeast Regional Honors Council conference fees.
