The Union Executive Board lead by President of the Union Ariana Twitchell has ambitious plans for the upcoming year which include improving the atmosphere of the Union, and increasing student participation in Union activities.
On September 8, the E-Board held an orientation session in which goals were vocalized and ideas were developed. "We are looking to gain better recognition and communication about student government," explains Twitchell. "I want to make sure everyone is behind the goals before moving forward."
She hopes that such efforts will help the E-Board to gain better recognition and promote more effective communications about student government.
As President of the Union, Twitchell shoulders many responsibilities. Her role is "to equip the E-Board with the tools and knowledge they need to meet their goals and make them happen."
Twitchell must ensure that groups know their budgets and encourage them to take part of activities outside of the Union.
The E-Board’s recent major event was the annual Activities Fair held on August 30 in the Houston Field House. Twitchell believes that, "Collectively, as the Rensselaer Union, if we can interest one person in something new that they did not know about, or help one person understand that the Union and the EB are there to serve their needs," the Activities Fair was a success.
New to the Activities Fair this year was the Aquarium Club. So far, the group has drawn 80 members to their mailing list, according to the club’s president Nicholas Allers. "The Union has been extremely supportive throughout the entire process of becoming a club and continues to be supportive as we prepare to setup the 360-gallon reef aquarium in the lobby of the Union."
The Aquarium Club was founded last year amist declining student participation in Union activities. Allers’ frustrations with founding a club are mirrored in the E-Board’s goal to increase club participation this year.
"Anyone considering founding a club should be prepared for a lot of frustration with getting not only members involved but also finding people as dedicated to the club as yourself." In addition, he states that "being a president of a club is a lot of work and pressure, while being a founder of a club is much more.
Currently, there are three open seats on the E-Board: ’03, ’05, and the graduate seat. Twitchell hopes to fill the seats as quickly as possible with "someone who’s genuinely interested and qualified to fill the positions."
Nominations are in place for all seats, except for the ’05 seat, which will not be filled until after freshman elections. "I want the Class of ’05 to be aware of the opportunity available and the level of commitment needed to be on the E-Board," said Twitchell.
