The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) hosted Student Government presidential and vice presidential candidates, elected two new chairs and voted to amend its Constitution Monday.
Many reports, including from President Wren Bouwman, were also given.
Special election
The Senate held a special election Monday to fill vacancies for the College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) college chair positions.
Sen. Sirisha Parameswaran, biomedical sciences department, was the candidate for the College of Veterinary Medicine. She was unanimously elected chair.
Two candidates were vying for the LAS chair position, Sen. Selina Asare and Sen. Muhammad Azhan.
Azhan was questioned by a fellow senator about adding another responsibility to his workload. He said having good discipline, organization and not teaching any classes helps him balance his roles.
Asare won, defeating Azhan 23-17-1 to become the LAS college chair.
Funding for the Rest Assured Project for International Students
James Afful presented SB – S25-06, which would allocate $10,000 from the GPSS budget for the “Rest Assured Project for International Students.”
The bill would purchase beds and other “basic furniture” in the University Village/Schilletter Village for international students that would help ease “numerous challenges and adjustments when coming to Iowa State University,” according to the bill.
Afful explained how he helped donate and assemble a mattress this summer.
“Who we did that for looked at and was like, ‘Hey, James. Thank you very much. Because of what you’ve done, I won’t sleep on the floor tonight,’’’ Afful said. “I don’t know about you, but it struck a chord in my heart.”
The original bill allocated $6,000, but Sen. Benjamin Atterberry, chemistry department, recommended the allocation be raised to $10,000. The reading of the bill with the amendment was passed by unanimous consent.
SB – S25-05 and SB – S25-07 both passed unanimously. The first allocates $2,000 to graduate and professional student organizations after the Finance Committee reviewed the applications, while the second relocates $2,102.39 from the F24 Social Committee budget to S25 Social Committee budget.
Another bill, SB – S25-02 had its second reading. The bill amends the GPSS constitution for executive term limits. The bill moves to match other university governments. It passed unanimously.
“The term of office for Executive Council members begins on the first day of the summer semester and ends on the last day of the spring semester the following year,” according to the bill.
StuGov nominees speak
The GPSS hosted both campaigns running at the top of the ticket for Student Government elections that will occur March 4 and 5.
“Colby [Brandt] and Will [Vlasek] are running for president and vice president to be able to ensure that all students at Iowa State feel safe, inlived and supported,” Jennifer Holliday, the campaign manager for the Colby Brandt-Will Vlasek campaign and former student body president, said. “They want to make sure that every student has their backs cared for.”
The Josie Pursley-Erik Rolwes campaign also gave a presentation, with the two both in attendance.
“Sustainability is one thing that’s really important to me,” Pursley said.
She also said they would work with the city of Ames to bring more students downtown.
“[I’m] hoping to include new events with them like CultureFest, working more on PrideFest, and then as well the farmers market,” Pursley said.
Reports
Bouwman gave a President’s report to the Senate, which included details about her meetings with Senior Vice President and Provost Jason Keith and Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen.
“The university is doing its best to prepare for any and all inevitabilities regarding both state and federal legislation,” Bouwman said. “That means trying to get a good handle on DEI-related research grants to know both what is in all of our research grants and what the amendment process is like to make sure we can retain them.
Bouwman also said that she shared the Senate’s concerns with Wintersteen about whether ICE will come on campus.
“President Wintersteen reiterated that ICE has never been on campus,” Bouwman said. “She’s not concerned about it. If they did come, they would have to go through legal counsel and present a warrant and all of that.”
Bouwman also highlighted that the Senate’s elections will take place next month.
The Senate Engagement Officer Charity Njeshi said some GPSS senators will be traveling to Washington, D.C., on March 4, including the SEO and IDEA officers. Other reports from leadership were also given.
The Senate also unanimously approved the January minutes. The next meeting is scheduled for March 31.
