New president addresses IUSA Congress members

The 2011-12 session of the IU Student Association Congress was called into session for the first time Tuesday evening.

Stephanie Kohls, vice president of Congress for the Big Ten administration, began the meeting by calling upon IUSA Supreme Court Chief Justice Tara Maloney to lead Congress members in the oath of office.

Maloney congratulated the 45 Congress members and encouraged them, if they had not already done so, to read the IUSA Constitution before their full term starts in the fall.

Congress unanimously appointed Alicia Nives, Matthew Bower and Andrew Nielsen as Supreme Court Justices. Kristen Walker was named the new Funding Board director. The body also approved additional Big Ten administration executives outside of the core president, vice presidents and treasurer.

Justin Kingsolver, IUSA student body president, addressed Congress, calling them the most important branch of IUSA. He gave Congress a brief overview of current initiatives, such as the pending bike share program and Eco-font program. He also called on them to not be “lackadaisical,” but rather be active members of Congress, acting as a check to the executive branch.

He encouraged members to use the IUSA office in the Indiana Memorial Union, which he said has not been used to its full potential in the past. Kingsolver said he plans to utilize a variety of meeting venues instead of only the Kelley School of Business, which he hopes will be a more inclusive approach for all of Congress.