Hello! My name is Austin Graber, and I am the Iowa State University student body president. To new students, welcome! For those returning, welcome back! I hope your summer was filled with experiences and memories that will further your success here at Iowa State.

As student body president, I help lead Student Government. This is a group of students advocating for students and working on different initiatives to enhance student life here at Iowa State University. Having a student voice and having people who are in the same classrooms as you, who understand the struggles and needs of their peers, is what Student Government can offer. If you have a problem that you think needs to be addressed, or an idea that you think would benefit students, we can help. 

“All students are members of Student Government,” are the first words read at every Senate meeting. In addition to these three branches there are other ways students can get involved. During my freshman year, I got involved as an At-Large on a committee. This is a wonderful experience to get your foot in the door and get a sense for what Student Government is all about. An At-Large member is anyone not currently in a position (Cabinet, Senate, etc.). They can then apply to a committee and the committee chair can appoint them onto the committee. Committees include: Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Green Initiatives Committee, Finance Committee, Student Initiatives Committee, Civic Engagement and Public Relations. Applications and descriptions for these committees are on our website (stugov.iastate.edu). No matter your year in school or experience, everyone is welcome to join Student Government. 

Whether you are involved or not, Student Government is here for you. In the past, Student Government has worked on expanding counseling and mental health resources, ensuring all student identities are included and empowered, and providing funding for our wonderful student organizations.

Vice President Vishesh Bhatia and I are also extremely excited to bring new things to the table this year. During our campaign, we ran on the promises of elevating Cyclone pride, educating on student wellness, and connecting Cyclones. This summer we have been extremely hard at work meeting with administration and staff to start bringing our campaign initiatives to life. Our platform is the bare minimum for what we hope to achieve this year, and we are extremely excited for the road ahead in accomplishing much more. 

If you have any ideas related to student life, issues or concerns, or just want to talk to one of your representatives, please contact us and we will be glad to help! On behalf of all of Student Government, I hope you have a wonderful year and look forward to seeing what you will achieve this year!

In Cardinal and Gold,

Austin Graber

By Student Government President Austin Graber