Hey, Cats!
Can you believe we’re already four weeks into the semester? Time flies! We wanted to give everyone some new updates as to what we are currently working on.
We were able to travel, along with about 15 other students, to Topeka last week to advocate for student interests in higher education. Our students were paired up with a student from another institution in the state and had the opportunity to meet with individual legislators. In these meetings, affirmative consent laws, concealed carry issues and state funding were discussed.
Additionally, the student body presidents had the opportunity to meet with the Senate President Susan Wagle, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, Speaker of the House Ron Rykman, House Minority Leader Jim Ward, and Gov. Brownback to have the same type of conversations.
Overall, it was a great opportunity to advocate for topics in which college students are invested and affect citizens of the state of Kansas. We are hopeful that our message was positively received by the legislature and look forward to there being a continued dialogue between students at state universities and the legislature.
Additionally, Trenton is chairing the Student Centered Tuition Enhancements Committee this semester. This committee hears from start-up programs on campus and decides to give funds to their proposals. The committee will have the chance to allocate over $700,000 and should finish up the process by the end of March.
We’ve also been having conversations in regards to the Landon Lecture Series. The Landon Lecture Series is a long-standing lecture series that brings notable academics, scholars and public figures to campus. A task force has been created with the goal of engaging in new ways to market these lectures in hopes of increasing awareness and attendance. This group of students, faculty and Landon Lecture administrators will be charged to work on recommendations to increase student attendance at the Landon Lectures.
Finally, mark your calendars for Mental Wellness Week! Health and Safety Director Olivia Baalman, along with other campus entities, have planned a week of advocacy and programming, and we look forward to seeing all students participate April 3-8. More details to come via social media shortly!
Thank you for letting us represent you. We anticipate a productive last few months while in office. Never hesitate to stop by our office in the newly-renovated Office of Student Activities and Services, email us or text us!
K-State Proud,
Jessica Van Ranken and Trenton Kennedy
