Indiana University Student Government leadership outlined several goals they hope to implement this semester in an interview with the Indiana Daily Student, from increasing student involvement to new 24-hour food options on campus.
New priorities include more representation for students and bridging divisions at IU, while continuing to implement the Crimson Closet initiative proposed last year.
24-hour food options
Student Body President Zachary Goldberg said IUSG is exploring options to create 24-hour food options on campus based on a current concept in Luddy Hall.
“They have kind of this 24/7 setup with cameras where you can grab food at any hour of the day that's healthy because it's stored in these fridges,” he said. “And you think of it kind of like an Amazon Go store where they have a ‘walk in and walk out’ and you just self-checkout.”
Goldberg said he is meeting with administrators from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs to discuss the feasibility of the program, in addition to exploring how to purchase the items stocked. If successful, the first 24-hour food concept would be implemented in the SPEA building.
Crimson Closet
Ava Smith, student body vice president, said the Crimson Closet program is a rental service for business casual to business professional clothing that increases accessibility of formal attire. Last semester, IUSG announced the initiative. After challenges finding spaces in the Indiana Memorial Union, Smith said the Walter Center for Career Achievement will house the program in Ernie Pyle Hall.
New committees
IUSG aims to create a new all-school committee, organized by Smith, to better understand student needs. She said the committee would include a representative from each IU school. Additionally, a new committee will also be created to allow for perspectives from students involved in greek life.
Transparency in student government
Goldberg said he wants more engagement with the student body, and invited students to join committees or stop by the IUSG offices on the third floor of the IMU to speak with student government officials. Students can join committees by reaching out to the IUSG executives. He said direct student feedback and input enhance impactful bills and policies.
“We're just an email away from students,” Goldberg said. “So, if they want to pay us a visit, or just make time on our calendar, we'd love to see that.”
Monthly community service projects
IUSG implemented monthly community service events for the executive branch and congress to better impact the IU and Bloomington community.
“We're in the community showing that student government is serving students in our community,” Goldberg said. “And we also are big believers in that a healthy Bloomington is a healthy IU.”
He said September’s community service event involved writing cards to veterans and assembling over 1,100 art kits for the Creative Arts for Veterans program.
Long-term goals
Goldberg said his administration is working to advance the IU community. He said he ran for student body president because he wants to bring students together after the “ups and downs politically” and the “tension on campus."
“At the end of the day, we all have this common trait that we're all IU students,” Goldberg said. “So, we want to make sure that people feel supported by their student government and that every student can look to IUSG and feel a sense of support.”
