This coming Monday, Feb. 17, the voting process will begin for this semester’s student initiatives. From health-focused initiatives, such as improving the selection of fresh fruit in the Dining Hall, to more playful initiatives, such as replacing all of the campus bikes with Razor Scooters, this year’s selection of initiatives should appeal to a wide range of student interests.
Of the 16 initiatives, six come from Eric Mistry ’14. Despite his graduation in three months, he hasn not slowed his creation of initiatives, hoping to see a change in the school.
“Hold on,” he said as he tried to recall the aims of the initiatives. “I have trouble remembering all the initiatives I have.”
Mistry is very passionate about his scooter proposal.
“They’re more accessible, they’re easier to use and they’re cheaper,” Mistry said.
Although the scooters can be seen as fun, the initiative has received some criticism.
Scooters are smaller and more transportable than bikes, which could make them easier to steal.
“Have a little trust,” he said. “Believe in Self-Gov, it will work, these initiatives will show.”
Another student submitting a proposal is Nathan Kim ’16, who wants to see a graffiti wall constructed on South Campus. This idea seeks to combine originality with creativity, as students will be free to paint on the wall in any way they want, at any time they want, so their art can be shown to anyone who drives along 8th Avenue. If space is not available on the wall, students can add on to others’ artwork, or if they have an idea planned, start anew.
Another campus initiative, proposed by Mistry, plans to turn every wall on campus into a student’s personal art canvas. His proposal will give students the option to paint, draw or write on any of the indoor walls on campus.
“If we can cut the red tape and set the students loose, we’ll have a campus that both looks better and is more representative of the students,” Mistry said.
Other noticeable campus initiatives that will go to the polls on Monday include: a hot-water tap located just outside of Spencer Grill, better toilet paper, three foosball tables, opportunities for driving lessons and paper towels in dorm bathrooms.
This year’s selection of initiatives went through a signatory process in which at least 100 names were required to put the proposal to the voting process. Co-Chair of the Student Initiative Fund Committee Eliana Schechter ’17 explained that once students have submitted their proposals, STIfund edits them and sends them back, asking for ways in which the idea can be implemented and accomplished. But even if the initiatives are passed, they still need to be signed by the relevant committees. The process, although long and somewhat tedious, proves promising in the end.
“These initiatives are just small changes that could make a difference in peoples’ lives,” Mistry said.
