While student government leaders had high hopes for the first “State of the ASUU Address,” many seats in the Union Ballroom remained empty Monday night.
Student government leaders expected two to three hundred students to attend the event, but only 60 students were in attendance, the majority being ASUU members.
“I don’t know if the time was best, with Thanksgiving coming up, but we wanted to get it done before the semester ended and before Finals Week,” said Student Body President Jake Kirkham.
Next semester, Kirkham said he hopes to draw more students for the “State of the ASUU Address” by speaking during lunchtime and possibly offering free lunch.
When the panel was opened for discussion, 68-year old student Lloyd Miller said he feels ASUU is not fully representing U students.
“All the Delta Center should be filled and students should be here to see what (you’re) doing,” Miller said to the panel. “It’s really tough when you don’t know what students really want and they don’t tell you.”
Junior political science major Neal Tolman was studying in the Union on Monday night, but said he didn’t know the address was being held.
“I live off campus, so I pretty much just come up here at nights for class,” he said.
Despite a smaller attendance than anticipated, ASUU Vice President Toby Collett said he was pleased with the event. “We really got what we wanted–we wanted students to voice their opinion and have open dialogue,” Collett said.
“We want students to know that they can talk to us. Some great ideas were brought to our attention tonight. Jake and I don’t have all the answers, and the more students can communicate with us, the better off we are,” he said.
ASUU spokesman Cameron Beech said that the address fulfilled a commitment to allow students the opportunity to share ideas and concerns with student leaders.
“Obviously I would want 29,000 students in attendance, but for a first-time event, I was pleased. I hope students that came were fulfilled,” Kirkham said.
Mike TerryStudents are encouraged to ask questions and tell jokes to strengthen students’ understanding of ASUU at Monday’s State of the ASUU Address.