Eastern Michigan University’s Student Affairs Committee met Oct. 30 to discuss the college’s DREAM Act proposal as well as the different campaigns doing work around campus.
During the meeting, Student Body President Matthew Norfleet and Vice President Desmond Miller presented Student Government’s recent actions and events.
The EMU version of the DREAM Act proposal, which focuses on the goal to provide undocumented students the equivalent of in-state tuition, is going as planned.
Norfleet said he was proud to announce EMU’s Board of Trustees has agreed to come up with the funding for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for undocumented students through the EMU Foundation. Norfleet said he will be meeting with the board members in the upcoming months to discuss all of the criteria.
Norfleet and Miller also presented their Civic Engagement Strategy. This plan will provide EMU students with everything election-related. This includes absentee ballots, mock debates and live streaming of elections and debates.
The TurboVote program was another key aspect of the Civic Engagement Strategy. Norfleet said
TurboVote has had 208 mobile alert sign ups and received 1,453 registrations. These include:
• 583 online registrations
• 490 absentee ballot requests
• 380 traditional ballot registrations
Kathryn Walz and Eric Ward, coordinators for EMU’s Wellness Center, discussed the CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey. The initial survey focused on the measure of alcohol and attitudes on drug use at EMU.
First distributed in February of this year, to date 7,000 students have been surveyed. The survey found alcohol is the preferred substance among the student body.
The group has organized the Social Norms Collaborative Campaign, which intends to reduce high-risk drinking of freshmen at EMU.
They also collaborated with Academic Affairs and the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance. They decided to use the Ypsilanti Water Tower as the symbol for the campaign to attract student attention and are calling it “Flip the Tipsy in Ypsi.”
The group’s findings show that 85 percent of students don’t let alcohol affect their education. The campaign also spreads the word on alcoholism and safe drinking guidelines.
They also handed out water bottles at the Homecoming tailgate. Walz said the water bottles served as an alternative to drinking alcohol. She said the whole event went over very well and the Student Center has pledge forms students can sign stating they will not drink and drive over the holidays.
Also, the center has created the Medical Amnesty Campaign. This campaign lets students know about medical amnesty so they are not afraid to call if they or a friend need medical assistance from drinking. A class specifically targeting marijuana use is now being offered.
Miller also presented a Homecoming assessment. He said more students seemed interested in the events this year, with 50 people signed up for the spirit police and 23 total Homecoming king and queen applicants.
Brittany Galloway, a Students of Color representative, said more than 150 students turned out to celebrate the Annual Flavors of Latin America in September, and reminded the board Native American Heritage Month is coming up so other events will be scheduled.
Himaja Ramayanam from the International Student Association said there will now be international dance classes once a week at the recreation center. This is so the student body can achieve a feeling of integration and diversity. A flash mob is planned for Saturday, Nov. 3. to bring together students from different cultures.
Norfleet ended the meeting with an announcement of the first AIDS Awareness Week coming to the campus and said transportation to and from the campus polls have begun and will continue through the election.
