ASNMU has made great gains since last year, most notably in the assembly’s commitment to carrying out legitimate action rather than simply discussing important campus issues.

Simply put, the ASNMU administrator’s involvement on campus last year was not at the level that students should expect from their student government.

However, with a new president and vice president leading the general assembly, there is no doubt that the organization has been working toward the active betterment of campus. It’s refreshing to see student government take advantage of the resources, time and energy of the general assembly, all of which went untapped last year.

Since elected in April, the ASNMU General Assembly has followed through with projects such as the bike share program which is now up and running, securing space for the “Seconds to Success” program, which provides professional clothing to students free of charge, as well as a general rebranding of the ASNMU image — projects that had previously went unattended due to internal dispute and inactivity within the organization. Over the summer, the organization also tackled beautification projects on campus, which included the installation of four flowerbeds.

In general, the assembly has established a structure for future success by engaging in campus projects over the summer and staying committed to the current projects the assembly is working on, including creating a functional referendum committee within the organization’s ranks. If established, the referendum committee would make decisions regarding new members or new proposals, should any be presented to the assembly.

Additionally, ASNMU’s attendance at house government meetings and its presence on campus have provided a welcomed means of communication for students on campus. Already this semester, students have appeared before the general assembly to seek assistance in addressing campus issues, such as parking for campus residents.

While working in tandem with Presidnet Amber Lopota and Vice President Abby Roche, assembly members have also started to seek ways to improve the image of ASNMU, proposing new budgets and rebranded logos to update the organization’s image. While some changes are still in the developmental stages, all that has been accomplished by the current ASNMU board was done so within the last few weeks.

The North Wind staff commends the new ASNMU board and its leaders for their commitment to addressing students needs and again establishing themselves as an organization from which students can benefit. The North Wind staff also encourages students to embrace their student government this semester, and utilize the resources that have been made available to them by ASNMU.