At the Associated Students of Madison Coordinating Council meeting Wednesday, Dean of Students Lori Berquam challenged students to broaden their Wisconsin Experience by working to improve the environment for future students.
“We’re not building it to fix it for today, we’re building it for those who will come here tomorrow,” she said, in reference to both the Wisconsin Experience in general and current university initiatives.
Berquam first spoke on the First 45 Days initiative, dealing in part with the AlcoholEdu program students fulfill before entering the university and working to reduce the number of students who experience negative effects of alcohol.
The initiative is based on the idea that the most critical time in a new college student’s life is the first 45 days, due to the unfamiliarity and vulnerability associated with beginning college. Berquam said the campaign aims to introduce ideas for alcohol-free activities on campus.
The dean also addressed the “It’s On Us” campaign, regarding positive consent as part of working to protect students from sexual assault.
She stressed the importance of student involvement in dialogue on the issue, as well as the responsibility of the entire UW-Madison community to support the initiative.
Berquam also spoke briefly about student representation on the implementation of the recently created Diversity Framework. UW leadership formed the plan last year in an effort to increase diversity across the Madison campus.
Diversity Committee Chair Dolly Wang made additional remarks regarding the framework, specifically addressing an upcoming town hall session Oct. 14 to inform students about diversity on campus.
ASM Chair Genevieve Carter also discussed upcoming work on the ASM 2016-’17 internal budget.
She mentioned that everyone on the Coordinating Council will have input on the budget and will be responsible for a portion of the document.
The group is scheduled to introduce the budget to student council Nov. 5 and will meet again in two weeks to continue budget discussion.
