IUSA continues work over break

As students wrap up their fall semester tests and projects, IU Student Association is planning for next semester.

For congress, winter break will give several committees time to tackle issues they plan to address in the spring, said Vice President for Congress and senior Jennie Peterson.

Peterson said the Health and Safety and Student Rights committees will examine the idea of a medical amnesty program. A sort of ticket-free guarantee would be given to individuals who seek medical assistance for a friend who has been drinking, even if they themselves are underage and have been drinking.

Similar programs have been adopted elsewhere in the Big Ten, Peterson said, and IUSA would like to bring one to IU.

“We’re just looking into all different avenues and possibilities before we pick the one that we think would be best to propose,” Peterson said.

Since some members of congress will be studying abroad in the fall, the Rules and Membership committees will be seeking and vetting candidates to fill their vacant spots.

Finally, the Educational Affairs committee is looking into the registration process to determine if providing direct links for book costs, professors’ profiles, grade distributions and links to outside sources like CourseRank would
be feasible.

“We’re seeing if there’s any way we can make it a little more student-user friendly,”
Peterson said.

President and senior Michael Coleman has given initiative teams several tasks for winter break as well. One area of focus will be the bike rental program, which IUSA has been trying to launch for at least the past two terms.

Coleman said IUSA is also looking at e-textbook options presented from a variety of sources and will endorse the one it believes would be best for IU.

“It’s going to be a battle for which department gets IUSA’s approval on that,” Coleman said.

Chief of Staff and junior Neil Kelty said the administration will be focused on finishing up initiatives and recapping the semester in the form of reports and debriefs.

Kelty said the Transportation team will work with congress to finalize the GPS bus tracker contract. GPS bus tracking was installed this semester and is accessible from computers and smart phones.

In the same vein, Kelty said another project slated for next semester will involve installing large-screen televisions in heavily trafficked student areas. These screens would include bus-tracking information but would also display computer availability in designated spaces.

Kelty said it’s important for IUSA members to rest but also to continue planning through the break. He said there is normally a rush to finish up initiatives in the spring, especially when seniors become determined to leave their mark on campus and when election campaigns start to make the end of a term more visible.

“It’s an opportunity to set the stage for the rest of the semester,” Kelty said, adding that it is important to maintain focus during any break from school. “If you don’t plan during these off times, you won’t get anything done during the year.”