St. Thomas’ Undergraduate Student Government has invited students to have breakfast with members of the St. Thomas board of trustees. After initiating Breakfast with the Board in the fall, USG hopes the event this spring will attract more students and create stronger ties between students and board members.

USG Vice President of Diversity Gabbie Ryan said Breakfast with the Board is a good way to establish connections between students and people who make decisions at St. Thomas.

“It’s really important, I think, for students to understand what their school is doing,” Ryan said. “Having the label as a St. Thomas student, you want to be able to understand where the school is going, where it’s been and also the progress that the school is making.”

Senior Kilee Pertl was one of three students who met with a board member during the first Breakfast with the Board last semester. She found the event to be an eye-opening experience.

“I was able to ask questions about the advancement of St. Thomas and what the future looks like for our school,” Pertl said.

The event is meant to both help students understand what the board does and benefit the board members by providing a face to the student body.

Sophomore Class President Ryan Foster plans to attend Breakfast with the Board and believes it is an important way for students to become more knowledgeable about St. Thomas. Foster is looking forward to learning more about what the board does.

“One thing I would like to learn from the board is the short-term and long-term processes they use as far as decision-making for the university,” Foster said.

Junior Genevieve Gates will also attend the breakfast and thinks it will help the board members make decisions about campus.

“Allowing the board to meet current St. Thomas students and having conversations about important issues on campus that many students are grappling with will better help them make correct decisions within our community,” Gates said.

USG President Michael Gaytko believes the event can be an opportunity for students to speak up about their concerns regarding the school.

“If [students] feel like they have concerns, that’s something that is absolutely worth telling to the board members,” Gaytko said. “To have a mature conversation about anything they may be feeling is wrong at St. Thomas with someone who makes decisions at St. Thomas — that’s even more valuable.”

This semester, 20 students and four board members will participate in Breakfast with the Board. The breakfast will be on April 27 at 7 a.m. at T’s. Gaytko hopes this event will continue to grow over time.

“It would be awesome if we had like 100 people apply in the future and we could get every board member to have breakfast,” Gaytko said.

Claire Noack can be reached at noac8702@stthomas.edu.