A new school year marks a transitional period and a new administration taking the reins of the Associated Student Government (ASG), an organization that is integral to the inner workings of student life at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). From promoting and sustaining student-led on-campus organizations to drafting a biennial budget every two years for future ASG administrations, the Senate, House of Representatives and co-presidents of ASG have to be consistently vigilant and keep the best interests of CMU’s student body in mind.
This year’s ASG administration is run by Vice President Robert Hammes alongside ASG President Aleena Gomez. One of the Senate’s first meetings of the year featured the appointment of brand-new Senators picking up roles that had been unoccupied thus far. One of the most poignant notes from the meeting was the appointment of Monica Gonzales, the Montrose Campus ASG Senator. She voiced her passion for bringing equal opportunities and on-campus amenities to the Montrose campus as what can be found at facilities here in Grand Junction.
Alongside Senato Kya Petri was appointed as the newest At Large Senator, Carter Presler appointed as the new Social and Behavioral Science Department Senator, and Freshman Logan Wilson appointed as the newest Computer Science and Engineering Department Senator.
Speaking with ASG President Gomez, she seemed very passionate about the position and responsibilities of her role alongside Vice President Hammes this year, saying,
“The transition from the previous administration to our current one has been smooth and productive. We have amazing advisors, Pro Staff, and student organization leaders we are lucky to work with. Together as a team, we have been working hard to build on the initiatives and goals set by the previous administration while also bringing in fresh perspectives and ideas.”
This team element of an ASG administration is a vital aspect of making sure the inner workings of the student-led government operate smoothly and effectively.
As for the plans this new ASG administration has for their upcoming year as leaders of student life activities, Gomez spoke on this saying:,
“Looking ahead, we have exciting plans within ASG. We’re particularly enthusiastic about launching new initiatives to enhance student engagement, fostering a more inclusive campus environment, and addressing key issues that matter to our fellow students.”
The previous ASG administration drafted the most recent biennial budget for this administration to work within the 2023-24 school year. The drafting of this budget is a major event for ASG, as it has a huge effect on tuition prices, budgets for different on-campus organizations, and student life events in the future. Gomez spoke on the finalized version of the biennial budget that has been passed onto this administration saying,
“We are generally satisfied with the previously drafted biennial budget,. It provides a good foundation for us to work with this year, but we also plan to explore potential adjustments to better align with the needs of our student body for this upcoming year.”
Gomez noted that she was Speaker of the House for last year’s administration, providing her with an excellent framework and precedent for making use of that budget this year. When asked what a successful year of legislation and work within ASG would look like for them, President Gomez said:
“Success for us means making a positive impact and being accessible to the student body. We plan to gauge our success by actively listening to student feedback, tracking the implementation of our initiatives, and assessing their impact on campus life.”
As the first few weeks of the 2023-24 school year pass by CMU, ASG will be hard at work to achieve their goals and break new ground for Student Government.
