Advocacy Overview
As the undergraduate student government, accessibility is crucial to what we do. It's important to us that our constituency and our community know what we're up to. Explore our advocacy by topic below, and click on the name of an initiative to learn more!
Academics
Student Code of Conduct
Excused Absences for PSEO Students: advocating for excused absences for PSEO students taking standardized and/or high school exams
Commuter Weather Policy: ensuring that commuter students can stay safe in harsh weather conditions
Board of Regents
Student Information Privacy: advocating for more privacy of students' information
Regents Shadowing Program: an opportunity for Regents to learn more about students' lives
Student Report to the Board of Regents: a report presenting students' interests to the Board of Regents
Campus Life
Blue Light Emergency Phones: researching blue light emergency phones to determine if more are needed on our campus
Freedom of Expression: advocating for a more firm University policy on freedom of expression
Student Representation in Dining Decisions: advocating that student voices be directly included in decisions about dining
Diversity & Inclusion
Ramadan Accommodations: working to ensure that students don't face struggles when participating in Ramadan
Government Affairs
Census: working to ensure every student is counted in the 2020 Census
Higher Education Act Reauthorization: advocating for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
Integrated Voter Registration: institutionalizing voter registration
Health & Wellness
Health Insurance: providing students with information to navigate options for student health insurance
Mental Health Awareness: integrating mental health awareness into Orientation and Transfer Experience's "Pieces of the Puzzle" play
Housing
Proposed Dinkytown Apartment: advocating for student needs to be met by this proposed development
Inclusionary Zoning: working to ensure that students have access to affordable housing units
Renters' Rights Legislation: legislation preventing certain predatory practices by landlords
Labor Rights
Coercive Contracts: raising awareness of employment contracts that silence and oppress victim survivors of workplace misconduct
Minimum Wage: advocating that the University align its minimum wage with Minneapolis's and St. Paul's minimum wage ordinances
Non-Citizen / Immigrant Students
ICE Policy: encouraging the University of Minnesota Policy Department not to comply with ICE.
Minimum Wage: advocating that the University align its minimum wage with Minneapolis's and St. Paul's minimum wage ordinances
Pathways to Citizenship
Pre-Departure Literature
Storytelling Project: uplifting the voices of non-citizen/immigrant students on our campus
Sexual Misconduct Prevention
Active Bystander Training
Medical Amnesty: advocating that medical amnesty be extended to victim survivors of sexual assault
Safe Transfer: advocating for an explicit notation on the transcripts of students suspended or expelled for sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking
"What to Say": producing a video about "what to say" when someone you love has experienced sexual assault
Sustainability & the Environment
Bird Glass: conducting research about bird glass and implementing it on our campus
Organics Recycling and Zero Waste: increasing awareness of organics recycling and zero waste
Zero-Waste Spring Jam: working to make Spring Jam a zero-waste event
Transportation
4th Street Circulator
Zone Pass Extension: advocating that the University's Zone Pass be extended to the Prospect Park light rail stop
Gopher Way
Paratransit on Weekends: advocating that paratransit services be extended to weekends