After the Indiana University Student Government Congress spent much of the summer working on its budget, executive appointments and internal rules, IUSG members said they want to spend more of the fall legislative session working on issues students see in their everyday lives.
Luke Carman, an IU junior and chair of the congressional committee on oversight and finance, said the April to October legislative session typically focuses on internal work — including the summer budget and confirming members of the executive cabinet. He also served as student body vice president during the spring 2026 semester after vice president, Ava Smith, resigned from her role to study abroad in Italy following the fall 2025 semester.
“As we get into this next session, finishing out this one, that’s where we start to move towards more student-facing and student-serving things,” Carman said.
IUSG has three branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch, Carman said. Congress is made up of representatives elected from residential and academic districts, based on living arrangements and determined by academic programs, respectively. Congress also has multicultural representatives appointed by multicultural organizations, such as La Sociedad Latina, the Muslim Student Association and the Kenyan Students Association at IU.
Austin Perny, an IU sophomore and recorder for Congress, said he wants Congress to spend more time on legislation that directly affects students. Perny has been in Congress since April 2026 and previously participated in IUSG’s first-year internship program. As recorder, he manages documents and records related to congressional meetings.
One of Perny’s priorities is working on a proposal that would allow students to put flyers and posters in more outdoor areas of campus, including bus stops and covered balconies. Perny said the current system primarily allows student flyers in places such as bathrooms and on bulletin boards.
Perny also said he is working on a bill involving Flock technology that is moving through committee, which means it has been assigned to a committee for review, discussion and possible amendments before it can be voted on by the body of legislature. The resolution would proactively communicate student opposition to Flock technology on campus and establish a framework for communication between IUSG and the university regarding the technology.
“I feel like at the same time we should be taking some of the time we spend on that (internal rules and legislation) to really be able to make programs that are just going to better the life of every single student on campus,” Perny said.
Congress has four committees: Student Life, Equity and Justice, Oversight and Finance, and Rights and Concerns for Students. Perny said there are also joint committees between the executive and legislative branches focused on governance and ethics. They work to improve communication, ensure students have a voice in decision-making, and address issues affecting campus life, health, and well-being.
At Congress’s Aug. 31 meeting — the first of the semester — members worked through parliamentary procedures, standing rules and changes to IUSG’s bylaws and constitution, Perny said. Carman said the meeting also included nominations for the director of state relations, director of federal relations, Association of Big Ten Students liaison and health and wellbeing director.
Carman said he wants IUSG to connect more with students through marketing and communication. He also said he wants IUSG to help implement the Chicago Principles, which Indiana University adopted in spring 2026. The principles establish a framework supporting free expression, academic freedom and institutional neutrality and encouraging open debate and inquiry on campus.
Student engagement is another area both members identified as a challenge.
Perny said IUSG elections have averaged around 10% voter turnout. He said he would like to see the turnout reach 33%. He also said many students do not know what IUSG offers or how it connects with other campus organizations and resources.
Carman said IUSG could improve its outreach by bringing more students and perspectives into its decision-making.
He said more students attending Congress meetings, participating in public comment and becoming involved in advocacy and policy work would show that IUSG is reaching more of the student body.
“I think that the more perspectives there, the more creativity that can be had,” Carman said.
IUSG’s upcoming election
The next IUSG election will take place Sept. 21-23. According to the official election schedule, students can vote from 10 a.m. Sept. 21 through 10 p.m. Sept. 23. Every IU Bloomington student will receive an email from the election director on the morning voting begins with a link to the ballot.
The election will fill 20 residential Congress seats and any vacancies in academic congressional seats. The residential seats include one from on-campus apartments, two from the central neighborhood, two from Greek and community housing, two from the northwest neighborhood, two from the southeast neighborhood and 11 from off-campus housing.
Preliminary results are scheduled to be announced Sept. 25. The Student Body Supreme Court will then certify the results in late September after required election procedures, financial statements and any pending election violations have been resolved.
The newly elected representatives will be sworn in Oct. 5 during Organizing Day —the first official meeting of the 2026-27 legislative session. Congress will also elect its speaker and other officers and adopt its standing rules at the meeting.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of a name.
