The Associated Students of the University of Utah aims to cheer up its boss: U students.
In mid-September, ASUU began a program designed to uplift the U population by rewarding two to four students each week with gift certificates from local businesses. About 30 rewards have been distributed to date.
“It’s a great way for us to feed back into the student body…they give these things to U students who are really stressed or having a hard time,” said Sara Hogan, senior class president.
Executive cabinet members choose students based on a series of criteria.
First, ASUU members cannot reward a certificate to a student simply to “pick-up” on them. Second, the recipient cannot be someone within ASUU.
Cabinet members generally look for students who are studying hard late into the night or mothers taking care of kids and carrying books. They also target specific students based on the type of card being awarded.
“You give these to someone who needs it,” said Zan Larsen, ASUU development director.
Larsen and her development board came up with the initiative, called “warm fuzzies,” in a brainstorming session. They are receiving help from Laura Bitner and the service board as well.
“Sometimes, as student leaders or anyone really, you get caught up in what you’re doing and forget who you’re serving,” Larsen said. “You know why you’re doing it-you want to provide the service-but you kind of forget exactly who the students are. So we wanted to get the executive cabinet back in tune and notice typical students.”
ASUU Chief of Staff Patrick Barnes said the program has several benefits and, since the gifts are donated, it does not detract from the student fee budget.
Larsen said the response from businesses-such as Spice Caf, Smith’s Marketplace, Albertson’s, Blue Plate Diner, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Starbucks Coffee and others-has been amazing.
Chartwells has donated 150 gift certificates, enough to distribute four “warm fuzzies” per week for the rest of the school year.
Larsen said there is a two-pronged goal in the program.
“First and foremost, it’s to brighten the student’s life-to make someone smile,” she said. “Second, to remind us as leaders and get us back in touch with those whom we serve.”
As soon as each executive cabinet member within ASUU hands out a card, the project will open to the rest of student government.
“I’m the only one left on [Executive Cabinet] who hasn’t done one,” Hogan said. “So as soon as I’m done, it’s going to be expanded to different boards and different members of ASUU will be able to participate in the warm fuzzies program.”
The distributors do not obtain information from students they reward.
“We just want it to speak for itself so we don’t keep track, but some have come back in and said ‘thank you to whoever was responsible for this,'” Larsen said. “For the most part I have no idea what students use it. That’s fine by me, it’s just important for us to make the difference by reaching out.”