With the new ASNMU president, vice president and assembly board having been sworn in Monday, April 8, it is important to give ASNMU a fresh start and concentrate on the future, not the past.

Our student government could do great things for NMU students and the community if they work together and communicate. They should concentrate on starting projects that will benefit students now and in following years.

One project that ASNMU used to do, but stopped was buyback and selling books at the end and beginning of every semester. They had a table outside of the bookstore and instead of students selling or buying books from the NMU Bookstore, they could do it through ASNMU.

Students would receive more money and pay less for their books, than if they were to go through the bookstore.

ASNMU took a small percentage, around two to five percent of every book they sold, but the rest went to students. This program not only helped students, but it also was a great way for ASNMU to make a little money, that in return can be used for students’ benefit.

Another major aspect ASNMU should focus on to help students is to be the voice for smaller organizations on campus. They should not only help organizations find funding, but give them representation and a sense of belonging to the university. I think this would allow new organizations and even established ones do bigger and better things and overall benefit the NMU community.

In this past year, ASNMU has had a hard time distributing their funds and so far most of their funding, which is taken out of the student activity fee, has gone unused.

With this said, ASNMU will have the money they don’t use carry over to next year and one of their concerns should be how they are going to spend this money to benefit students.

One way they could do this is by sponsoring more campus events. This could be concerts, lectures, workshops, tailgating parties or host give-away events.

Not only would this help benefit students, but this is something that could benefit ASNMU as well.  ASNMU could put their logo on posters for events and gain a presence on campus.

This would help ASNMU get their name out and make their organization more known on campus, which many ASNMU representatives have said is an issue.

ASNMU has a promising future with their new members as long as they remember the reason why they exist — to help the students.