New members were sworn in, Student Diversity and Inclusion Services director Alex Hernandez-Siegel discussed action steps regarding the Dakota Land Acknowledgement and the change of class year titles were considered at the Undergraduate Student Government general counsel meeting Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Iversen Center for Faith’s Schoenecker Hall.
New members
USG began their first meeting by swearing in four new members for the 2021-22 academic year, including two Dougherty Family College Representatives, Freddy Flores Dominquez and Kal Animut, an Off Campus Representative, Charles Nix, and a Saint John Vianney Representative, David Rabaey.
Guest Speaker: Alex Hernandez-Siegel
Hernandez-Siegel revealed additional steps that will be taken after the formation of the Dakota Land Acknowledgement. The Acknowledgement is a statement acknowledging that St. Thomas was built on stolen Dakota land.
“When we developed this land acknowledgment, we wanted it to go even further,” Hernandez-Siegel said. “As a part of our research we looked over the schools, what they were doing, and what are their statements.”
The land acknowledgment has been used in formal and large events hosted by the university, but Hernandez-Siegel discussed additional measures to support the acknowledgment, including a mural.
“Your generosity has given us funding to create an art representation for the land acknowledgment,” Hernandez-Siegel said. “We’re looking at a larger monument on campus, something that the campus community will see, but also the public.”
The location and specifics of the monument are under discussion.
Elections
Vice President of Academic Affairs Rosie Salem explained that voting for nine general council positions and one new executive position, the Vice President of Student Engagement, will occur on Sept. 29.
“The Vice President of Student Engagement is shifting from that General Counsel position that was in place last year to an executive board position because it is a large commitment,” Salem said. “We want to recognize that.”
“Freshman” and “sophomore” titles changed
USG voted to change its titles and roles from “freshman” and “sophomore” to “first-year” and “second-year” students to keep roles gender-neutral.
Despite “second-year” not being a frequent phrase, Reserve Officer Training Corps Representative Logan Farner believed USG could make these normal titles.
“I’ve never heard of second-year students either, but if we change the culture now, eventually it will become formalized to call them a second-year student,” Farner said.
The change of titles in USG positions was unanimously passed by the council.
Club funding and internal requests were not discussed in this meeting.
Natalie Hoepner can be reached at hoep8497@stthomas.edu.
As a UST alum I have never been prouder of the university than when I read of the student government action to eliminate the terms “freshman” and “sophomore” from UST. This is a mind boggling advancement in the eternal quest for diversity, inclusion, and equity., today’s “Holy Trinity.” Alums no longer need hang their heads in shame when confronted by a Macalester grad bragging of that school’s “wokeness.”
Ironically, however, this action is certainly “sophomoric” which is defined as “exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgement.”