Associated Students of Madison held its fall kickoff event Tuesday, capping off a month-long recruitment drive.
Approximately 100 students gathered to learn more about ASM.
“ASM is really for all students,” said business school representative Joe Laskowski.
ASM, UW-Madison’s student government, consists of different subdivisions within the government.
ASM is currently promoting four campaigns: Plan 2008, which is a program to increase diversity on campus, tenants’ rights, campus relations and campus safety.
ASM’s five main committees include judiciary, finance, legislative affairs, diversity and advising.
Campaigns change from semester to semester, while committees remain the same.
“We’re really a campaign- and a volunteer-driven organization, ” Laskowski said.
ASM provides an opportunity for student representation.
“I joined last year to register voters,” campus relations chair Philip Ejercito said. “We had one of the highest student voter turnouts in the nation. For me this is the best thing that I have ever done.”
Other members wanted to have a say in campus politics.
“I wanted to feel like my voice was being heard in campus with more than 40,000 students,” Letters and Science chair Elizabeth Stinebaugh said.
In addition, the student-run organization coordinates some free student resources.
“We are students working with students,” ASM chair Jessica Miller said. “We provide everything from professor evaluations to free bus passes.”
After introductions, representatives from each committee and campaign performed skits to explain their function.
Following the skits, students were invited to participate in breakout sessions where they could learn more about the committees and campaigns that interested them.
“We are currently working on lowering tuition, increasing financial aid and increasing diversity,” said Miller.
Miller emphasized ASM’s open-door policy, noting that any student can help out or even start a campaign of their own.
“This was probably one of the best kickoff events that I can remember,” said Miller.
ASM holds elections every fall and spring.
Currently, 33 representatives are in ASM. 31 of the 33 representatives are from the different schools across campus.
