The Undergraduate Student Government met on Dec. 1 for the last time this semester to discuss changes to the AARC, Student Affairs financial updates and passing of two clubs.

Guest speaker: Cory Chapman

Senior Associate Athletic Director Cory Chapman discussed changes the department made to the AARC after receiving feedback from a survey completed by students in the spring of 2022.

“We heard from the students based on the survey that we conducted last spring,” Chapman said. “We had over 400 kids respond to our survey.”

Chapman discussed how he worked with USG, student affairs and other groups on campus to take the feedback and make changes where it was suggested.

“Some of the challenges that we’ve been experiencing with the AARC is the fitness center setup,” Chapman said.

Reoccurring critiques received about the AARC facility were the limited options and spaces available to work out in.

“In the previous setup, if you wanted to go work out in the weight room and it was full or crowded, you would only have the cardio space as our last option,” Chapman said. “Now, you have two spaces to go.”

Greater Minnesota and Out-of-State Senator Kylie Watts expressed her concern about students being unaware they were able to use both work out rooms.

“I’ve heard, ‘I don’t understand why just the athletes can use that work out room’ when that’s actually not true,” Watts said.

Chapman said he hadn’t heard of that concern, but he will certainly put more thought behind communication to help ease the concern.

Guest speaker: Karen Lange

Vice President of Student Affairs Karen Lange discussed the university’s recent financial changes with USG.

“The university did a very thorough evaluation of all of our budgets on campus and we looked at what are we doing that could be done differently,” Lange said.

Lange emphasized that students and their time here at St. Thomas was their top priority during this process and period of change.

“I’m very happy to say the student experience itself was prioritized throughout the process,” Lange said. “So, you will not see any changes in your student experience.”

Lange discussed ways the financial plan will help the university’s sustainability goals as well.

“We’re cutting way back on some of our printed publications, which is not only good for our budget, but it’s good for sustainability,” Lange said.

Lange discussed positive additions to the Center for Well-Being offered by the new financial plan.

“In the Center for Well-Being now we’ve added dermatology as a service for students,” Lange said. “We’re also going to start ADHD testing, and we’re going to do that at a much cheaper cost compared to when you go out in the community.”

Lange also discussed a negative consequence of the new financial plan.

“One percent of our workforce on staff, not faculty, lost their jobs,” Lange said. “Now, that’s not a huge number, but anytime somebody loses their job, that’s hard.”

Club approved: pingpong club

Junior Patrick Mullen proposed a pingpong club open to all students who currently play or want to learn how to play.

“The inspiration of the club is the last two years, we’ve had a large active community playing pingpong,” Mullen said. “I’m part of several different group chats, the largest of which has over 50 members.”

Mullen expressed how an official club can solidify times to meet every week and play where pingpong tables are accessible.

“We all kind of just kind of have a schedule right now where you kind of just like throw out a text and see who can meet,” Mullen said.

Mullen’s proposal stated that according to the Anderson Student Center director, the pingpong tables in the lower level won’t be around this upcoming spring semester.

“Another aspect of this club that has become one of the main points is making sure that we have a place to continue playing whether or not those continue to be there,” Mullen said.

Mullen proposed funding will go towards equipment and helping the club find a permanent space to play either on or off campus.

Pingpong club was passed by USG and is expected to start planning this semester.

Club approved: history club

Junior Jules Ruark and senior Owen Mische proposed a history club for all majors to enjoy the discussion of history outside of the classroom setting.

“A lot of us in the history department who have friends outside the department know there’s a lot of interest in the concept of history, but not necessarily the time in people’s schedules to pursue that academically,” Mische said.

Mische proposed meetings will have guided discussions, guest speakers or historical trivia nights to build the club’s community.

“The guest speakers can be both faculty at the university, faculty outside the university and those people who are working professionally within the field,” Mische said.

Ruark proposed funding will go toward snacks for meeting attendees and guest speakers, club merchandise and movie licenses.

History club was passed by USG and is expected to start this semester.

Financial updates:

USG approved to reimburse Gamma Iota Sigma $1,500 for the 2022 International Conference it attended earlier this semester in North Carolina.

Funding was used for the registration fee, transportation costs and hotel rooms.

USG approved $1,499.80 for funding the American Society of Civil Engineers to attend the Steel Bridge Competition in Duluth.

Funding will be used for the attendance fee and transportation costs.

Sydney LaBelle can be reached at labe7208@stthomas.edu.