The Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate, UA’s undergraduate student governance body, met April 14 to adopt a resolution in support of mental health awareness and to plan the organization’s transition to a newly elected administration. 

ASUA passes resolution, discusses two more  

Introduced by Noah Huang, senator for the College of Fine Arts, ASUA adopted a resolution advocating for increased mental health awareness on campus.

“ASUA is wholly committed to supporting all students who are facing mental health issues and encourages students to seek support from both our campus and each other,” the resolution reads. 

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The resolution calls on ASUA and the university to fight stigmatization, increase wellness events on campus and support students with increased resources and inclusivity. 

The Senate also discussed, but did not adopt, a resolution by Michelle Mendoza, senator for the Eller College of Management, which calls on ASUA to support survivors of sexual assault and oppose new Title IX policies from the United Stated Department of Education. 

Rocque Perez, an at-large senator and the only senator returning to the ASUA Senate next semester, introduced his resolution in support of marginalized students in response to the recent confrontations between students and Border Patrol on campus. The four-page resolution, which the Senate only discussed, calls for the promotion of cultural competency training through UA’s Immigrant Resource Center and re-affirmation of ASUA’s role as an advocate of all students, especially those with DACA status. 

The Senate plans to further discuss Perez and Mendoza’s resolutions as they work to gather co-sponsors from UA faculty and ASUA program directors at future Senate meetings. 

Senate discusses program changes, transition

Following ASUA’s recent general election, the Senate seat for the College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture was not contested. 

With the help of Karitza Davila, the current senator for that college, the Senate has received a number of applications for the position. Unlike last academic year, which saw many Senate seats remain vacant, ASUA will only be appointing a student to fill CAPLA’s seat. 

The Senate also discussed changes to the bylaws for Pride Alliance, an ASUA program focused on supporting LGBTQ+ students on campus, Campus Pantry, an ASUA program focused on providing food to at-need students on campus, Campus Closet, an ASUA program that provides professional clothing for students and the ASUA Cabinet. These changes would allow these organizations to increase their staff as well as pay some student positions an hourly wage, as opposed to the current stipend system. 

Campus Closet, which had its first distribution day this semester, has already served 87 students. 

“Our main focus with Campus Closet is making sure students have access to professional clothing, that students are able to go into a job interview and feel confident,” said Natalynn Masters, ASUA student body president. 

Masters encouraged the Senate to volunteer at Campus Closet’s upcoming distribution day, Friday, April 19 from 1-3 p.m. in the Madera Room of the Student Union Memorial Center. 

Matthew Rein, ASUA executive vice president, asked senators to reach out to their corresponding senator-elects and that ASUA smoothly and effectively pass the baton of student leadership.

ASUA works to spend the remaining budget 

Thanks to funding from ASUA’s executive budget, ASUA’s Appropriations Board will host two additional meetings to hear funding requests from recognized campus clubs. The board, which previously distributed all of its allocated funds, will have approximately an additional $12,000 to allocate. 

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Masters and the Senate will attend UA’s upcoming DACA student scholarship dinner, hosted in Old Main on April 23, to support the UA President’s Directed Scholarship Account. ASUA’s donations will allow the scholarships account to provide financial support for DACA students, who are restricted from accessing financial aid on campus. 

ASUA will host its last meeting Wednesday, April 24 in the Pima Room of the Student Union Memorial Center at 6 p.m.

Check back with the Daily Wildcat for more coverage of student government and campus. 

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