ASUP Update: smoking policy, registration and more

As we return from fall break, we as UP students know that this time marks the halfway point in the semester, and a quarter of our school year. With the school year well underway and the homework load increasing, the campus is a flourish of activity and work. ASUP is no exception to this trend.  Here’s a brief update on what we have been working on and doing for the first quarter of the school year:

As your Executive Board, we have been diligently working to address our community’s concerns.

• First on our list is to work with the University to extend the current Library hours. We have created a survey to assess the needs of students in regards to their study habits. We are looking to use this data from the survey in an upcoming ASUP Senate resolution.

• Partnering with the Office of Residence Life, Public Safety, and the ASUP Off-Campus Senators to create an off-campus guide to living. It will be a webpage that is housed under Residence Life on the up.edu website.

• Collaborating with Athletics to improve attendance at sporting events and building spirit within female residence halls.

• Following up with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health & Safety on Res. 13-09 concerning the Smoking Policy. Expect changes to the policy to take effect at the start of spring semester.

• Worked with Matt Baasten, dean of the graduate school and associate provost, as well as Provost Dr. Tom Greene on the bringing back the Straight Forward Personal Finance course which will be taught by the vice president for financial affairs, Alan Timmins, come spring semester. Also discussed a variety of Registration Concerns and requested that an email be sent out to all student and staff members regarding the changes made to the registration rules and process as well as registration timeline and task list.

ASUP is seeing great success in its day-to-day operations as well. Secretary Alysse Thomas pulled off a very impressive senate elections with nearly one-third of the student body voting for 41 potential Senators. CPB Director Castro and his CPB board have been planning new and different events for our campus with over 3,000 students attending the events this semester. Lastly, Treasurer Jessie Robinson recently reported that over 29 percent of the budget has already been spent, and that receipts are being turned in often.  Club Treasurers; don’t forget that budgets are due Nov. 1.

Best of luck in the second half of your semester!

Quin Chadwick is a junior organizational communication major. He can be reached at chadwick15@up.edu. Elvia Gaona is a junior political science major. She can be reached at gaonaman15@up.edu.