St. Thomas’ hopes to become a COVID-19 vaccination site, decisions on Global Learning Center renovations and a memorial for St. Thomas students who lost their lives was discussed at the Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting on Feb. 26.
Karen Lange discusses COVID-19, dorm changes and student memorial
Vice President of Student Affairs and overseer of the COVID-19 preparedness plan Karen Lange joined USG to discuss the possibility of vaccinations, COVID-19 restrictions, sustainability and the future of Brady and Dowling Hall.
Lange said that the university hopes to become a COVID-19 vaccination site before the end of the spring semester. She said St. Thomas is open to vaccinating its students and possibly hosting a mass vaccination center for members of the surrounding community.
“We put an order for 8,000 (vaccines) and (we’re) thinking that would be for our community, but we also have let Minnesota Department of Health know that we are open and willing to be a vaccination site for not only our community, (but) for our neighbors and other people also,” Lange said.
Lange mentioned the possibility of renaming the Tommie North and Tommie East residence halls in the future. She said the school would possibly change the name at the request of a large donor.
A memorial for students who have lost their lives during their time at St. Thomas is expected to be installed by September adjacent to the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. The university called on artists this January and has narrowed the commissions to two proposals. USG plans to poll the student body to select the memorial.
“When we install that in the fall, we hope to do kind of an opening ceremony with Iverson Center for Faith, Tommie East, Tommie North all at the same time,” Lange said.
Global Learning Center renovations
USG unanimously approved the special funding committee’s request to allocate $40,000 to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) and the Study Abroad Office (SAO) to finish renovations on their new office, the Global Learning Center.
The OISS and SAO would like to make the space more inviting so that incoming international students and study abroad students feel welcome in the office.
“We are looking now with our new center, the Global Learning Center, to be a place for all global citizens,” Director of International Students and Scholars Lori Friedman said.
Some of the renovations include removing the front desk so that students can walk in and having a lounge where students can study and hang out.
“We’re really excited to move this into a more transformational space,” Friedman said. “We want everybody to feel welcome and global.”
In the space, OISS and SAO hope to plan programs to improve relationships between international students and study abroad students.
“Our students are finally going to be able to interconnect international students and American students that are globally minded,” Friedman said.
New USG members sworn in
USG started its meeting off by swearing in new members Adali Flores-Mendoza, who will serve as the vice president of equity and inclusion, and Samantha Lang, who will serve as the Greater Minnesota or out-of-state representative for the rest of the spring semester.
Club gift cards
USG unanimously approved the finance committee’s proposal to allocate funds to clubs to purchase gift cards. The cards will have a limit of $25 and will be accepted anywhere that takes dining dollars. Clubs can also offer Tommie Shop gift cards, where they won’t have to abide by the $25 limit.
“This is a great way for clubs to engage with their student members and help with the club event attendance,” USG President Michael Sullivan said.
Club requests
USG unanimously approved club requests for $1,113 to the Muslim Student Association for catering, game night prizes and their marketing fund; $1,050 to the Society of Human Resource Management for catering and marketing; $100 to ESports club for virtual competition registration; $3290 to the Pre-Law Society for the New England Virtual Conference, the Hamline George Floyd Invitational, catering and marketing; $1365 to the LEAD Club for catering, a grab-and-go event and marketing funds, and $1680 to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization for catering and marketing funds.
Scout Mason can be reached at maso7275@stthomas.edu.