ASMSU hosts first annual State of the Union

ASMSU hosted its first State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Nov. 29, designed to give students the opportunity to sit down with student government representatives and discuss ongoing projects and the student government’s vision for the future.

All 21 ASMSU senators, the executive branch, the seven ASMSU Supreme Court justices, and MSU’s Dean of Students Matthew Caires were in attendance.

The event was open to all students and faculty, free of charge, for the purpose of student government to get the opportunity to sit down with students and discuss what they were working on, and what could be improved.

Conversations at the tables covered student safety, diversity and inclusion, mental health services and campus sustainability.

“Tonight marks the 222nd day of my term and the rest of the terms of the senators and executives,” said Lucas Oelkers, ASMSU president. “Everyone in this room gives this team much to look forward to as the second half of our term approaches.”

Oelker’s 15-minute address began by stating the purpose of ASMSU, a body dedicated to enhancing the college experience and maintaining fiscal responsibility with student fees.

From there, Oelkers shifted to highlighting the various accomplishments of ASMSU throughout the semester. “ASMSU has been working with the Office of Institutional Equity to make the reporting process clear for students,” Oelkers said. “For example, ASMSU has provided edits for the Code of Student Conduct to call out heinous offenses such as sexual assault and date rape drug occurrences.”

“It is very important to clarify the process for reporting these offenses and ensuring there’s accountability after some of these reports have been filed,” Oelkers said.

Additionally, Oelkers reported that ASMSU has been working to improve lighting and safety on campus and in high-density student living areas. “Senators Sophia Burchfield, Elizabeth Berry, and Calvin Servheen have been instrumental in collecting data, gathering community feedback, and having conversations with community administrators and stakeholders to ensure that the students are not living in the dark.”

As of the Dec. 1 senate meeting, ASMSU moved to develop a specific task force to handle a resolution concerning lighting on and off-campus.

Next Oelkers, highlighted the work of building connections with the Voice Center as well as MSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services for the improvement of mental health on MSU’s campus, as well as providing continued support for sexual assault survivors. “Senator Katie Delker created a committee involving the Voice Center to stay more connected so that students and the university can take action in supporting survivors that are on our campus,” Oelkers said.

Senator Strandvold Knudsen has led the ongoing conversation with Psychological Services to ensure that ASMSU is supporting survivors where they can.

The address then shifted to the matter of diversity and inclusion on campus. “We have proudly supported the Oh Sweet Solidarity event, which was a diversity, equity, and inclusion student forum,” reported Oelkers. “I want to ensure that ASMSU is an inviting and accessible organization for people from all dimensions of diversity.”

Oelkers and the rest of ASMSU identified the importance of institutions to always strive to do better to support marginalized and underrepresented groups in the community.

Oelkers highlighted the effort of Senator Ashley Vasquez, who worked with her constituents at the College of Nursing to prevent food insecurity at MSU's satellite nursing campuses across the state. “She collaborated with the Can the Griz food drive which will ensure that food from their efforts gets placed in those nursing satellite campuses,” Oelkers said.

The address then shifted to the work of the ASMSU Supreme Court, which, along with helping to develop a new student Code of Conduct, created a new Student Bill of Rights to work in tandem. “The Court has been working diligently to help better educate and equip students with resources to better understand and leverage their rights and responsibilities on campus,” reported Oelkers.

Before concluding his address, President Oelkers updated those present with the active lawsuit ASMSU has been engaged with since Montana’s 2019 legislative session. “Two years ago, ASMSU joined the lawsuit against the state of Montana because of the constitutional overreach of the Board of Regents regarding 4 bills that were passed in the 2019 legislative session.”

The four bills Oelkers referred to were House Bills (HB) 102, 349 and 112, along with Senate Bill (SB) 319. HB 102 would have allowed concealed carry of guns on campus, while 349 would have prevented MSU from restricting campus access or funding for student organizations because of their beliefs. HB 112 would have prohibited transgender women from competing in sports. Under SB 319, voter registration drives on campus would have been banned. The Board of Regents sued the state after the bills were passed, arguing the legislature overstepped its authority to regulate the Montana University System.

The Board ultimately won its case at the Montana Supreme Court, while ASMSU won at the 18th judicial district court.

Oelkers concluded his address before the room broke into individual conversations with senators and justices.

“Our success is contingent upon gathering feedback from our constituents,” Oelkers said. “And having their voices to make plans for growth.”