The Multicultural Law Student Association, a student organization experiencing a recent resurgence after six years of inactivity, requested $1,439 to fund activities for Diversity Week, which will begin Jan. 30. The organizations collaborating on the week’s events will emphasize cultural awareness through events such as a sushi-making workshop.
The University of Wyoming Equestrian Team will host the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition, an event hosted at UW last year. Nine colleges will to compete this year with an expected 120 riders. The competition showcases 60 classes over two days and gives student riders the opportunity to discuss their riding techniques with knowledgeable judges. ASUW approved $1,700 for the event, a portion of which will fund the $500 a day fee for the judges.
The third student organization, the Association of Black Student Leaders, was awarded $3,200 for events scheduled during Black History Month in February. Each Wednesday, ABSL will distribute “cups of knowledge,” free warm beverages with informational stickers. ABSL has also worked with students at Laramie’s Linford Elementary School and will host an educational panel on the project. Other events include a soul food dinner and a gallery of modern enslavement photographs recently donated to the university.
The Associated Students for the Performing Arts received $300 to help send 44 students to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, where theater students learn performance skills such as stage combat and dialects. They received $100 to send dancers to the American College Dance Festival and $100 to send technical theater students to the Institute for Theater Technology Conference.
ASOPA representative Derek Epstein expressed his regret over receiving $500 less than the organization hoped. They originally asked for $1,000 to help send some of the organization’s 90 members to conferences.
“It’s interesting to see this much discussion on students going to a conference over such a small amount of money in comparison to how much money [students of the RSO] pay to go to these conferences out of their own pockets,” Epstein said.
In other business, ASUW Director of Finance Ben McKay reported on funds left unused last semester. McKay said $1,140 was left over in the conference fees category and $8,000 in the general funding category. McKay told ASUW senators, “thank you for being financially conservative over last semester.”
Laura Wespetal, orientation team leader, addressed ASUW with a call for orientation leaders. The UW Orientation Program is actively seeking knowledgeable and outgoing students to give tours and welcome new students.
ASUW senators and executives met with Gov. Matt Mead and UW President Tom Buchanan to discuss upcoming budget proposals and their role in helping the Wyoming Legislature decide which projects to fund. ASUW Senators will be meeting with legislators next week.
