IUSA leaders outline goals for new school year

Starting off the year in full force, IU Student Association President Luke Fields and IUSA Vice President Dan Sloat are back in action. After a complicated election last year, both are ready to move on and focus on the promises they made to the IU student body as well as working to improve student life.

“We are focusing on getting the wheels rolling,” Fields said.  “We have been building relationships and contacts over the summer and are still transitioning right now.”

Both leaders have past experience with campus leadership, Fields serving in the past as president of Eigenmann Residence Center and as Residence Halls Association vice president and Sloat as a past president of Ashton Residence Center and also as an RHA vice president.

“I think our past experience in student government will help us in many ways,” Sloat said. “First, handling complex organizational projects gives one the confidence to handle any task that may arise. ... Together, we have a well-rounded knowledge of what it takes to run an effective administration.”

The duo said IUSA has five main goals to accomplish before the year’s end. These goals involve improving the meal-point plan, creating an athletic rewards program for attending sporting events, making textbooks tax free, putting a fall break into the schedule and establishing weekend Health Center hours.

IUSA leaders said they believe every aspect of their plan will have a great effect on IU students and bring about a great change. Some of these changes will even have to involve statewide support.

“We are also shooting for tax-free textbooks at all IU campuses and as a statewide effort and coalition. We have also been in talks with the Bloomington Faculty Council to support a fall break for all IU students,” Fields said.

Senior Stefanie Smith, co-director of IUSA Public Relations, said this administration plans to keep its promises.

“It seems that everyone is sick of false promises,” Smith said. “We have surrounded ourselves with people that can get the job done.”

Fields and Sloat encourage students with concerns, ideas and questions as well as information to get involved with congress or executive staff to contact them at lufields@indiana.edu or dsloat@indiana.edu.