As an out-of-state freshman last year, Madeline Peters found herself a bit overwhelmed by the University experience, including the workings of the Student Government. Now, as a member of SG President Cassie Alsfeld’s Executive Staff, the political communications sophomore said she hopes a new program will change that experience for the new generation of freshmen.
The Freshman Leadership Council is an initiative started this year to familiarize interested freshmen with SG. Involved freshmen will shadow SG members from all branches. FLC members will also have a hand in planning and enacting SG programs like Groovin’ on the Grounds and the upcoming Chancellor’s Symposium.
“This would have been awesome to have last year,” said Peters, who said she did not understand SG until she became involved in the spring elections.
A goal of the program is not only to increase freshmen’s access to SG, but to help SG find better ways to communicate with freshmen. Peters said the council will determine which lines of communication are best for reaching first-year students.
Advertisements for the FLC saturated avenues catering toward incoming students. Notifications were sent through broadcast e-mails and displayed at STRIPES and freshman orientation sessions.
The Executive Staff received 90 applications from interested freshmen, though only 25 to 30 will be chosen. Peters said she is interested in candidates who are interested in SG and open-minded, but she is also looking for candidates who are independent enough to voice their own opinions.
Peters said she wants to involve all the interested freshmen and will continue to inform unaccepted applicants of events and other SG opportunities.
“I don’t want them to get discouraged,” she said.
Peters said she hopes the program will not only continue in the following years but grow.
“I hope we can get even more students involved,” she said.
The FLC will hold its first meeting Wednesday.
—Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]