The Associated Students of the University of Arizona, UA’s student governance body, discussed a resolution supporting transgender student rights, partnering to help bring affordable health and hygiene products to campus dorms and upcoming events at their Oct. 24 meeting in the Pima Room of the Student Union Memorial Center. 

ASUA to Partner with Planned Parenthood Generation Action

Sedona Lynch, senator for the College of Public Health, introduced members of Planned Parenthood’s Generation Action to the Senate in the hopes of fostering a collaboration between the organization and ASUA on its upcoming campaign. 

UA’s Women and Gender Resource Center maintains a pharmacy that provides health and hygiene products such as tampons, condoms and pads for students.

“WGRC’s pharmacy is pretty popular. We have a lot of students that use it,” Keely Davis, a senior majoring in physiology and public health, told the Senate.

The PPGA’s campaign for this semester is to make these resources more readily accessible to students by distributing items to campus dorms.  

Ashley Little, president of UA’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action, asked ASUA to partner with the campaign and help support these dorm-level pharmacies. 

“We’re going to start with a trial run of three different dorms with three different price levels for products,” Little said. 

          RELATED: ASUA commits to sustainability, opens internship opportunities (Notebook 10/17/18)

After this trial run, dorm residents will be surveyed so the campaign can improve its ideas and eventually implement the campaign throughout campus. 

Resolution in Support of Transgender Student Rights 

Tara Singleton, an at-large senator, introduced to the Senate a resolution stating ASUA’s support for the rights of transgender students on campus and dedicating the organization to provide transgender students resources and support on campus. 

“As student leaders, we, of course, we represent all students no matter how they identify,” Singleton wrote. “We have an obligation to uphold all folks’ rights.”

The resolution is now circulating throughout the Senate. Once any edits are made, the Senate will vote on whether to adopt the resolution. 

Upcoming Events and ASUA internship 

“The Slutwalk is in November and there will be a concert, tabling, speakers and the roller derby,” said Kate Rosenstengel, ASUA administrative vice president. “We are in desperate need of volunteers.”

Rosenstengel asked senators to volunteer their time and also reach out to interested students. 

ASUA is also playing a part in the Students for Sustainability Halloween event on Oct. 31 and Bear Down Friday, part of Homecoming week. 

         RELATED: ASUA welcomes a new senator, affirms commitment to sustainability (Notebook 10/10/18)

Applications for ASUA internships and director positions close Oct. 31 on Handshake. 

“We are looking for the best and brightest of UA to apply,” said Matthew Rein, ASUA executive vice president.

Rein encouraged senators to encourage interested students to apply. 

Club Funding 

Rein is reaching out to clubs not registered under ASUA and helping them register and gain access to ASUA funding. 

“We already have over 300 clubs registered with ASUA,” Rein said. “Our goal for this year is to register 500 clubs.”

The Senate approved over $7,000 of club funding appropriated by the ASUA appropriations board. 

This funding will help UA’s Wildcat Mentor Society certify four new student mentors to help tutor students weekly at Mansfield Middle School and help UA’s Women in Architecture Society host an art show in Downtown Tucson. 

During the meeting, it was mentioned that ASUA has over $140,000 left to support the activities of ASUA-recognized campus clubs.

ASUA will meet again at 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the Pima Room of the SUMC. Check the Daily Wildcat to keep up with ASUA and its meetings.

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