Ashland University Student Senate held the first senate meeting of the fall 2022 semester on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

During this meeting, the student senators covered housekeeping topics such as the beautification construction, student engagement on campus and the upcoming elections this semester.

According to her report, Ann Torkelson, officer of finance and facilities, noted that some projects on campus have not started yet and the construction process is in a state of transition. She provided this update to her fellow senators, asking for patience during this time.

Torkelson added that she hopes the construction will be fully completed by spring.

Sophomore Heath Johnson, officer of student affairs, mentioned in his report a plan to expand student body involvement and engage students on campus.

Similarly, Student Body President Tiffany Sims, senior, shared this vision in terms of leadership.

“When in a position of leadership, you have a unique opportunity to affect the environment around you,” Sims said. “I want to look back on this semester and say we did great things for students, accomplished things and had fun.”

“It is our job to represent students,” she added.

Finally, sophomore Anna Bielawski, officer of judicial affairs, prefaced the upcoming elections for this semester.

According to Bielawski, the election packets for the fall semester of 2022 are available starting Wednesday, Aug. 31 in the Student Affairs office in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center. Packets will be due Monday, Sept. 12 with elections to follow on Sept. 19 and 20.

Bielawski noted that it is a strength to have Ashbrook Scholars in the Student Senate, but also encouraged anyone interested to run in the upcoming elections.

“I think it is nice to have diversity in student senate,” she added.

As of now, AU Student Senate has many vacant positions which the senators hope to fill.

AU Student Senate meets every Tuesday evening in the second floor conference rooms of the student center.