Megan Matheny, Undergraduate Student Government vice president of public relations, announced on Sunday, Sept. 9, that elections are open for eight USG council positions.

Election packets are due Thursday, Sept. 13, for freshman class president, two freshmen class senators, freshman residential senator, legislative affairs senator, commuter senator, transfer senator, and junior class senator candidates.

Matheny said elections are always held in the fall for the three freshmen positions, but the other positions, like junior class senator, are usually filled during the normal spring elections. Voting opens on Monday, Sept. 17.  

“No one ran for those positions last year, and kids transferred, so that’s why we have a junior class senator open,” Matheny said.

The USG finance committee moved the budget deadline for St. Thomas clubs and organizations from Thursday, Oct. 4, to Friday, Sept. 28.

Budgets will be reviewed at the Sunday, Sept. 30, finance committee meeting and voted on by the USG general council the same day.

President Mike Orth announced the addition of committee reports from the student organizations and clubs, diversity, spirituality, and sustainability committees to this year’s USG meetings.

He said the the change was made in an attempt to keep the council informed on the activities of all its members.

Sustainability chair Jesse Stock said the committee is on track to accept applications for projects to advance campus sustainability. The campus sustainability fund committee will allocate $50,000 to proposals submitted by St. Thomas students, faculty, and/or staff.

Stock said last year, the committee funded three projects: an electric vehicle for central receiving, several new water bottle filling stations, and an oak tree savannah. These projects are all part of St. Thomas’ commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030.

“Father Dease agreed to go for carbon neutrality and as part of this there’s this $50,000 that can be allocated…basically to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and lower our carbon footprint,” Stock said.

USG will decide its three initiatives for the year at its annual retreat on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Heidi Enninga can be reached at enni5264@stthomas.edu.