This past Wednesday, Sep. 11, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) held a consequential meeting in which a potential overhaul to the classification of student organizations, an upcoming voter registration drive, changes to orientation, and updates on the issue of dining dollars not working on campus vending machines were discussed. 

The classification system proposed by Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, Danielle Meirow would categorize student organizations into three tiers: interest groups, independent student organizations (ISOs), and sponsored student organizations (SSOs). SSOs would be sponsored by a unit of the university and receive several benefits, while ISOs would continue to operate independently with a restructured support system.

This proposal would address conflicts between current practices and actual policy.The plan received mixed responses from those attending the meeting.

A voter registration drive was also announced, and will take place this week Tuesday through Friday, starting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. all other days, and ending at 5:00 p.m. each day. Tables will be set up in Fisher Hall and the Van Pelt & Opie Library. 

During the meeting, it was also announced that freshman orientation for the 2025 academic year will significantly change from this year’s model. Instead of a full week before classes, orientation will last only two days and be offered on multiple optional dates in late summer. The new process was decided on last year without the consultation of USG.

Other updates include vending machines across campus not accepting dining dollars. USG disclosed that the change likely stems from the machine distributor. The USG is working collaboratively with HuskyEats to amend the issue.

The post USG meeting highlights first appeared on The Lode.