With the start of a new year and semester, Marquette University Student Government’s goals for the coming months include plans to address student issues and to open critical conversations.
Among these plans is a campaign promoting research opportunities for undergraduate students.
“Right now, undergraduate research at Marquette is very decentralized,” Daniel Brophy, MUSG vice president and senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said. “There’s no formal place for students to go to, so unless they have a professor who offers it, opportunities are hard to find.”
Brophy said MUSG is exploring the establishment of a formal office of undergraduate research as well as funding solutions to do so.
MUSG will also host a forum on gun violence in Milwaukee later this semester with the intent of “starting a conversation” within the community, Sara Manjee, MUSG president and senior in the College of Business Administration, said.
“Especially right now, bringing topics like gun violence to light is critical,” Manjee said.
In 2017 — the earliest year in which the Center for Disease Control has complete data — 39,773 died in gun-related deaths including homicides and suicides.
This semester, MUSG, in partnership with the office of finance, will also be expanding its presentation on Marquette’s budgeting process. The Feb. 5 event at Raynor Memorial Libraries will give students an opportunity to ask Marquette officials fiscal questions surrounding topics like the recent tuition increase.
This event may help lessen transparency concerns from students following certain university actions concerning the demonstration policy, the College of Education and layoffs, among others.
When the presentation took place last semester before the MUSG Senate, it was open to the student body but not promoted extensively, Brophy said.
MUSG will also be administering “safe zone training” to its members. Manjee said the training will focus specifically on issues throughout the gender spectrum and how members can be allies to LGBTQ+ individuals.
“While we’re serving students, we’re also working to make ourselves more aware of the issues different students face and of the privileges we all hold,” Manjee said.
Since classes began in the fall, MUSG has undergone a major restructuring to its meeting format and established four think tanks which correspond with current MUSG initiatives: Title IX promotion, sustainability, campus safety and mental health.
Manjee said these think tanks are reflective of more foundational topics that will continue to be discussed well beyond her term.
“It’s important to understand that student advocacy and the problems students face are constantly evolving,” Manjee said. “I came into this role thinking I would accomplish a thousand things when in reality there are a few small wins, and the rest is setting the foundation for larger conversations.”
Manjee and Brophy’s term ends April 1.
This story was written by Nicole Laudolff. She can be reached at [email protected].
