On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student Association (SA) met to hear from the Vice Chancellor and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion (DEI), Stacy Narcotta-Welp and Nevin Heard, respectively, and to swear in the SA Executive Cabinet and Student Court positions.
During her time at SA, Narcotta-Welp drew attention to the UWL Diversity & Inclusion website, which now includes their monthly newsletter. The DEI newsletter is mailed to UWL emails every month, but Narcotta-Welp said she believes website access will drive more engagement for future events. She expressed her excitement to speak with students in order to better understand and serve their needs.
Nevin Heard then spoke on their experience at UWL thus far. “It’s been a wonderful week full of exciting faces, meeting new people learning all about what UWL has to offer and what makes this place unique,” said Heard.
Heard said that in their new role as assistant vice chancellor for DEI, they specifically will support and manage the Pride Center, the Office of Multicultural Student Services Office (OMSS) and the Center for Transformative Justice. Heard echoed Narcotta-Welp on the importance of student input and called on SA to let them know what needs to be changed.
During her advisement report, Dean of Students Kara Ostlund reminded SA of the alcohol-free campus events that are offered during Oktoberfest. She shared that the UWL Responsible Action Policy should be emphasized while students engage in the weekend’s festivities. The Responsible Action Policy protects students from university discipline when they call for help in cases where someone is in a dangerous situation and alcohol or drug use is involved.
Senator Fleegal of the Committee for Academic Policies and Standards (CAPS) shared an update with SA on a policy change the committee discussed on Friday, Sept. 20. The standing Posthumous, Extraordinary, and Honorary Degrees Policy awards posthumous degrees to students who passed away in their final year before graduation. Individuals who passed away with more than one year left in their degree would receive an extraordinary degree under this policy, Fleegal explained.
Fleegal said the committee intends to alter the policy to allow all students who pass away before their degree is completed to be awarded a posthumous degree.
SA then moved focus to new business, which involved two resolutions to appoint and swear in the Executive Cabinet and Student Court positions. These resolutions both passed unopposed.
The Executive Cabinet appointments were as follows: Director of Staff, Grace Guyer; Local Affairs Director, Avery Britz-Brown; State Affairs Director, Adrian Moreno; Public Relations Director, Grant Hohman; and Inclusivity Director, Emma Wittman. Those sworn into Student Court positions include Jacob Martens as chief justice and Madelyn Oechsner, Hannah Bauknecht and Ephraim Anglemyer as justices.
Student Association will meet again on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to discuss new business and possible resolutions.
