The St. Thomas Undergraduate Student Government approved the creation of the Automotive Competition and Stomp N Shake cheer clubs Thursday, April 28 during its general council meeting at Scooter’s.
Director of Student Retention and Success Tonia Jones Peterson was the meeting’s guest speaker. USG also reviewed finances.
Club approval
Second-year mechanical engineering students Danny Fagan and Michael Kisch gave a proposal presentation for the Automotive Competition club.
“Our mission is to create a community of learners dedicated to enhancing a student’s knowledge in the automotive field,” Kisch said. “Along with that, gain experience working as part of a team and accomplishing a common goal.”
Fagan and Kisch said this year’s club members created and later competed with a basic utility vehicle that could be used to carry over 1,000 pounds of water and shorten the time it takes people in developing nations to transport water.
“What separates us from the rest of the engineering clubs on campus is that we’re mainly project-based and not necessarily focused on the community,” Fagan said, “but the community is still an integral aspect of our club.”
First-year Te Arykah Frye gave a proposal presentation for the Stomp N Shake cheerleading club.
“One of the biggest parts of Stomp N Shake cheer is having a sanctuary for every type of cheerleader despite race, shape, gender or appearance,” Frye said. “It’s also deeply rooted in Black history and expression.”
According to Frye, Stomp N Shake cheer will be different from St. Thomas’ traditional cheerleading team because it will have more creative lyrics, participate in cheer battles and have the possibility to compete against other schools.
“There’s also a very large emphasis on individual creativity and expression,” Frye said. “If I give you a cheer, I want to see a little bit of you in it.”
Both clubs were approved by the council.
Guest speaker: Tonia Jones Peterson
Director of Student Retention and Success Tonia Jones Peterson discussed her goals at the university and how she could collaborate with students in promoting college achievement and retaining students.
“I’m doing my best work when students don’t know I’m doing any work at all,” Jones Peterson said. “If there are things that are affecting the student experience, we want to know so we can make that change.”
Since taking on the position in 2016, Jones Peterson has helped develop the Proud to Be First program, held a supervisory role in the Center for Student Achievement and centralized tutoring services through a website that, according to her, has garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
“As you know through your experience here in USG, one of your roles is to really promote the key tools that we have to our students,” Jones Peterson said. “If there’s anything you’re thinking we could partner around together to support our students, I’m all in.”
Finance update
Vice President of Financial Affairs Angelica Franaschouk reviewed internal funding requests that had been approved since the last general council meeting.
Black Empowerment Student Alliance received $1,317.68 for the Black Excellence Gala; Band club received $1,099.41 for band supplies; Muslim Student Association received $2,578.53 for its Eid al-Fitr celebration; Women in Business received $630 to accommodate an increase in membership; Disc Golf club received $2,190 for supplies and transportation; and Foreign Affairs club submitted an erroneous form, but will receive up to $1,460 upon resubmission.
USG then voted and approved funding requests for three clubs: Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement, Dance club and Anime Society.
HOLA received $5,868 for its farmers market-inspired Cinco de Mayo celebration that took place on May 5; Dance club received $5,040 to fund the stage equipment rental for its spring show; and Anime Society received $1,782 to cover food, transportation and registration for 23 members at an upcoming competition in Minneapolis.
Editor’s note: Angelica Franaschouk is a member of TommieMedia.
Abby Kielty can be reached at kiel6046@stthomas.edu.