Ember Duke | layout editor |

At their Oct. 9 meeting, The Student Government Association swore in new senators, discussed progress on current initiatives and welcomed a guest presentation by the university marketing and communications department.

New senators include:

Olivia Tobiczyk
Emma Neve
Kate Remaley
Jackson Hanna
Mwango Kasuba

During the open forum, Sen. Nick Miller updated the council about his Ad Hoc transportation committee which was formed in the previous meeting. The committee decided this week to create a survey for students to gauge opinions on transit.

Miller spoke with Mary Sherman, data scientist and chair of the faculty advisory committee, who is interested in helping the committee connect with faculty who may have insight on transportation.

The meeting commenced with a presentation by Gabe Welsch and Tracy Jackson of the communications department. They presented results from a brand equity study conducted in the spring. The survey focused on prospective undergraduates, faculty and staff and alumni. It was modeled after a similar study done in 2020, with some additions including questions about Duquesne’s “fun” rating.

The results varied between alumni and faculty satisfaction, but the majority of all responses were positive. They said of the alumni surveyed, 91% are proud to say they went to Duquesne, 97% said they had professor experiences which inspired them, 80% would enroll again and 75% felt prepared for the job market following graduation.

Faculty and staff reported high satisfaction by the work they were doing with students.

The results seemed to validate the effectiveness of the university’s branding methods implemented after the last survey in 2020.

Welsch said the study results allow the university to see where it’s doing well or where it needs improvement, both academically and otherwise.

“We have to continue to build on the momentum that we’ve established by doing that [branding],” said Welsch.

One of the major areas which showed a need for continued improvement was mental health support on campus for students and faculty.

The council motioned to approve a name change for LAMBDA, the gender sexuality alliance. They will now be called Queer Student Association. The name change intends to promote easier recognition of the club’s offerings.

“It’s basically to push the narrative that utilizing the word queer is welcome on campus, but also as a direct word for students to understand they’re welcome,” said Lei’Asha Battle, standing chair for the Diversity, Inclusion and Identity committee.

In a similar sentiment, Braden Niles, vice president of academic affairs, brought attention to the existence of an LGBTQIA+ support group on campus. The location is kept confidential, but Niles said students who feel they need support can contact him or Ian Edwards, the senior vice president for the center of student wellbeing, for more information.

“I really want it to be impressed that you are safe here,” Niles said in reference to any LGBTQIA+ students.

The committee will be switching to approving clubs in one large batch once a semester. Prospective clubs have until Oct 31 to submit their constitution. The clubs will be reviewed and voted on at SGA’s Nov. 6 meeting.

Applications for additional student organization funding are due Oct. 11. The conference appropriations will be on Oct. 20.

Closing out the meeting was a discussion on the need for laundry and bathroom renovations in some of the dorm buildings. Miller brought a complaint to the floor about the efficacy and availability of the washers and dryers in St. Ann’s.

“I just spoke to someone in St Ann’s, they said it took six hours to dry their clothes,” Miller said.

This was followed by several comments from other members on dorm quality. Newly sworn in senator Kate Remaley, who is also an RA at Towers 10A, said a company recently came to Towers to test for possible mold in the water.

President Faith Cook said she would talk to residence life about what the process of improving facilities is and offered to show the council how to fill out a maintenance request.

The next SGA meeting will take place on Oct. 23, but will be in room 109 of The Union rather than the normal meeting place.