ASPSU staff members will be meeting regularly this summer to coordinate the events and campaigns that will take place during the regular school year.
The fact that most executive staff positions are replaced over the summer also increases the need for ASPSU members to begin working together before the school year gets started, according to ASPSU officials.
Additionally, two new positions have been added to the executive branch this year. Donovan Powell now fills the role of publications director and Tsionah Novick is the new operations director.
ASPSU President Adam Rahmlow said that he plans to create an ASPSU House of Representatives.
The ultimate goal of the House of Representatives will be to help integrate and involve more students with ASPSU, Rahmlow said. No such forum for students currently exists.
Another large part of the summer is devoted to training staff members. Most of the staff recently attended a training session “that provided skills and tools that student leaders use to educate and mobilize students, organize their time, manage staff and plan,” said Executive Chief of Staff Brandon Harris.
Throughout the summer, staff members will attend a number of additional training sessions run by the Student Activities Leadership Program.
While only a limited number of senators actively work over the summer, their work is essential in helping the rest of the Senate to hit the ground running when fall term starts, according to Rahmlow.
“Decision-making power is affected but doesn’t shift,” Rahmlow said. “Things like ASPSU presidential appointments must be approved by a full senate (over 13 people) before they are legal; and as such, appointments have already been made for the summer and won’t resume again until fall.”
While ASPSU won’t be hosting any major events during the summer, staff members will be tabling every day between the Smith Memorial Student Union and Neuberger Hall. Staff members will be tabling every day beginning July 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “in order to engage, educate, and recruit students,” Harris said.
Rather than hosting larger events over the summer, members of ASPSU have decided “to train new staff, begin campaigns, and plan fall term,” Harris said.
Students for Unity is hosting its Rock Against Division Fest this Wednesday. The event is meant to encourage solidarity and unity among various leftist groups, said Miranda Stern, a Students for Unity representative.
The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow with pizza and live music provided.