The initiative will provide students the opportunity to connect with elected IUSA officers and members of the executive branch about a variety of topics and concerns.
IUSA President Andrew Braden noted that receiving student opinions and feedback is essential to running a successful student ?government.
In response, the “Moving Speaking” tour was created to provide a better opportunity to reach more of the student population at IU.
“Throughout this administration’s collective time in IUSA and during our brainstorming sessions in campaign, we felt as though we weren’t getting access to student opinions and feedback,” Braden said.
“We wanted to give ourselves an opportunity to go out to students and actively solicit their opinions, and this concept was developed as a result.”
Braden said he believes this initiative will encourage students to discuss issues and concerns while also helping them understand that their voices are being heard.
“This will give students a chance to directly speak to the top IUSA executive members about their experience at Indiana University, and students can give us feedback on anything — their thoughts on student government, the issues they see on campus, fresh ideas they have for improving student life,” Braden said. “We want to seek out student voice instead of expecting students to always come ?to us.”
As with any new initiative, IUSA Public Relations Chair Madeline Beja said, the biggest challenge that remains is knowing the most efficient methods to reach students and receive input.
IUSA Chief of Outreach Rachel Martinez mentioned that student participation in the “Moving Speaking” tour can greatly benefit the University both now and in the future.
“Student voice is incredibly important to IUSA, and we understand our role in reaching out to students rather than making them come to us,” Martinez said. “The information and feedback we receive from these speaking tours will truly impact the roughly 35,000 undergraduate students of Indiana University, as well as future Hoosiers, and we intend to create an entirely new, open committee focused on students who want to become a part of the conversation.”
Braden said support is vital in getting an idea to expand into action.
“All it takes is a few dedicated students to get momentum behind an idea so come speak with us about whatever it may be,” Braden said.
“Stop by and give us your opinion or idea as we offer students a channel to make change on campus and want to address the issues with which you are concerned.”
The event will take place 12 p.m. Wednesday at the clock tower outside of Woodburn Hall.
