Spring Break
ASG expects bigger turnout for next town hall meeting
Student Government
Tina Korbe
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: News
Fewer than 100 non-ASG affiliated students came to the first UA Associated Student Government Town Hall meeting last semester, but the primary purpose for the meeting was achieved, ASG representatives said.
"The meeting accomplished its objective. The students' voice is out there now," said Andrew Ritchie, ASG Director of External Relations.
Because the Town Hall meeting was the first of its type, ASG executives did not expect to have a huge turnout, ASG Treasurer Dick Watkins said.
A top priority for the current ASG administration is to increase student involvement, and town hall meetings are a way to do that, ASG President Nate Looney said.
The Nov. 14 Town Hall meeting showed ASG representatives are "making efforts to be more visible," he said.
The four top ASG executives included a promise for town hall meetings in their campaign platforms, so the meeting demonstrated executive integrity and commitment, ASG Secretary Mattie Bookhout said.
"We wanted this meeting to be the first medium to reach out to students and to get their perspective. If more students had been there, we might have met that goal more fully, but I think it at least showed that we are trying," Bookhout said. "Any input is better than no input."
Jeff West, a UA junior, agreed the Town Hall meeting was a success, he said.
"This first meeting was a really good start to get the word out there," West said. "ASG representatives did everything they needed to do. They put themselves out there. They made themselves available. The students just needed to come."
West attended the meeting because he wanted to hear students' concerns and how ASG members responded to them, he said. As a former programs director for Residents' Interhall Congress, West got to know a number of ASG members when he collaborated with them to plan events, he said.
UA junior Cheryl Silveri was also impressed with the Town Hall meeting, she said.
"In the past, I didn't feel as connected to ASG, but this year, it seems like they are taking the initiative to let students know what's going on," Silveri said.
"The meeting accomplished its objective. The students' voice is out there now," said Andrew Ritchie, ASG Director of External Relations.
Because the Town Hall meeting was the first of its type, ASG executives did not expect to have a huge turnout, ASG Treasurer Dick Watkins said.
A top priority for the current ASG administration is to increase student involvement, and town hall meetings are a way to do that, ASG President Nate Looney said.
The Nov. 14 Town Hall meeting showed ASG representatives are "making efforts to be more visible," he said.
The four top ASG executives included a promise for town hall meetings in their campaign platforms, so the meeting demonstrated executive integrity and commitment, ASG Secretary Mattie Bookhout said.
"We wanted this meeting to be the first medium to reach out to students and to get their perspective. If more students had been there, we might have met that goal more fully, but I think it at least showed that we are trying," Bookhout said. "Any input is better than no input."
Jeff West, a UA junior, agreed the Town Hall meeting was a success, he said.
"This first meeting was a really good start to get the word out there," West said. "ASG representatives did everything they needed to do. They put themselves out there. They made themselves available. The students just needed to come."
West attended the meeting because he wanted to hear students' concerns and how ASG members responded to them, he said. As a former programs director for Residents' Interhall Congress, West got to know a number of ASG members when he collaborated with them to plan events, he said.
UA junior Cheryl Silveri was also impressed with the Town Hall meeting, she said.
"In the past, I didn't feel as connected to ASG, but this year, it seems like they are taking the initiative to let students know what's going on," Silveri said.
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