IUSA accepting applications

Applications are now available to all students for Indiana University Student Association positions.

Positions are available for freshmen through the Freshman Internship Program, while all other students are encouraged to apply for committee positions.

The Freshman Internship Program provides an opportunity for motivated students who are beginning their collegiate careers to work closely with IUSA senior staff members and executives, said Katy Flanigan, IUSA co-chief of staff.

Each year, IUSA accepts approximately 20 motivated and leadership-oriented students into the program.

Throughout the course of the semester-long internship, students work closely with mentors on the senior or executive staff.

During the second half of their internship, interns work together on a potential IUSA initiative in which they select a problem on campus and present a possible solution.
Flanigan said she was a freshman intern two years ago and said the experience was transformative.

“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now if I hadn’t been a freshman intern,” she said.

The deadline for the internship application has been extended by one week to provide more students with the opportunity to submit their applications, said Kristie Hsu.

Hsu will be leading the program alongside Mohammad Issa.

“Right now we have about 57 applications, and we’re expecting more,” Hsu said.

“We’re expanding the deadline until after the activities fair because we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity.”

The deadline for application for involvement is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6.

Freshman students interested in working as interns can find the application on the IUSA Freshman Internship Program Facebook page.

The application for student involvement will go live Friday, Aug. 30, and will be made available on the IUSA Facebook page or website.

Students can also learn more about how to get involved with the association by visiting the IUSA booth at the Student Involvement Fair, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Dunn Meadow.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors are also invited to apply to work with one of the many IUSA committees, said Chief of Outreach Aparna Srinath.

“Departments are still looking for people to fill positions,” she said.

Srinath said students who apply could be placed with any of the existing committees, such as Culture of Care or SafeRide, depending on their interests.

Issa said he submitted an application for student involvement during the 2012 academic year and was placed as one of the leaders of the Freshman Internship Program.

He said all students should consider getting involved with IUSA because of the potential to make IU’s campus a better place.

“(IUSA) has a proven track record,” he said. “They have potential to make a real change.”

Hsu said the turnaround time for internship applications will be quick, and students should know in around a week if they are accepted to participate.

“Once we get them in to interview, we’ll be able to make our final decision on who we will admit,” she said.

She said one of the reasons she is so enthusiastic about this year’s program is because of her own experience as a freshman intern.

“It shaped my freshman experience,” she said.

Follow IUSA beat reporter Holly Hays on
Twitter @hv_hays