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Two students were appointed director and assistant director of the Associated Students of Madison Press Office Wednesday.
ASM approved the appointment of University of Wisconsin sophomores Saul Hafenbredl and Edward Anderson for the newly established press office.
Hafenbredl said he has experience writing for local papers and the student newspaper at Drake University, the school from which he recently transferred.
“I look forward to working with local media and fostering some strong relationships,” Hafenbredl said.
ASM is still looking for someone to fill the web director position, Chair Brittany Wiegand said. The press office is expected to be up and running within the next few days, she added.
“All the press will be put through them, and they’ll make sure it’s cohesive and coherent,” Wiegand said.
Jeff Wright, ASM Constitutional Committee chair, said the committee could possibly use the press office to design newspaper advertisements or formulate press releases to advertise the constitutional feedback sessions, but he added the committee has done a “fine job” of advertising on its own.
“Obviously we’d like to utilize it as much as feasibly possible, but I don’t think advertising is beyond the capabilities of the (Constitutional) committee,” Wright said.
ASM also approved a $9,000 grant for the UW Homecoming Committee.
UW Homecoming begins Oct. 17, and the committee will run events for the entire week. ASM grant funds will be used to pay for the Homecoming kickoff, a movie night at the Union Theater and the Homecoming parade.
ASM Finance Committee Chair Tim Fung said the committee approved the funds based on the large number of students and community members that attend the events. With more than 25,000 people expected this year, he said the grant seems like a lot of money, but when the price is broken down per attending student, the cost is not very high.
“Homecoming provides a lot of opportunities for students to get involved in event and to build up school spirit,” Fung said.
Fung added the Finance Committee approved more grant funding for Homecoming this year compared to last year due to redirected funds from the Student Services Finance Committee after several student groups were denied funding.
ASM also approved several bylaws creating more specific allocation procedures for the Student Activity Center Governing Board, a group that provides meeting space for student organizations.
“The bylaws just clarify everything, like procedures for applying for space and establishing other protocols,” Wiegand said.
ASM also voted to dissolve the University Health Services and Student Activity Center Standing Board, which had previously been in charge of facilitating student input and control in the building of the Student Activity Center.
SSFC Chair Kurt Gosselin explained that since the SACGB has authority over the standing board and those on the standing board are now on the governing board, it does not make sense to keep both boards functioning.