The Leader

Hi. My name is Samantha Prahl, and I am the president of the Student Association here at UWM. The Student Association is the student government on campus and has been the voice of students since 1975.

Each spring, you elect student senators, a president and vice president to represent your interests as a student here at UWM. Our job is to represent you, and make sure that your student rights are upheld. We are your voice to the local, state and federal governments on issues concerning the UWM student body.

In addition to protecting your rights and interests, the SA senate, comprised of 50 student senators and led this year by senate Speaker Russ Rueden, sets policy and determines funding levels for countless student organizations and other services that cater to the various interests of our diverse student body. In addition to legislation and funding responsibilities, the senate is designed as the branch most responsive to you. Each school within the university has specific student senators representing them on the senate floor.

The judicial branch is comprised of seven justices and exists to settle disputes between students and between student organizations and it interprets the Student Association governing documents.

The executive branch, led by President Samantha Prahl and Vice President Jon Tingley, consists of a diverse staff, each one specializing in a subject area that directly impacts UWM students. Those subject areas are: legislative affairs, shared governance, academic affairs, diversity and campus activities.

Some of the campaigns the executive branch will be working on in September are: Residential Preferred Parking (RPP)—stopping local elected officials from implementing a program that would take 721 parking spaces off the streets directly surrounding UWM and reserving them for residents only; Get Out the Vote 2006- registering and informing students about the 2006 gubernatorial election in November; Welcome Back Week—welcoming new and returning students to UWM with free food and a free band in Spaights Plaza on September 13. We will also be visible at many Panther sporting events with free food and Panther apparel.

Now that you know a basic breakdown of what the Student Association is, I want to personally invite you to take advantage of one of the countless ways that YOU can get involved.

Volunteering to help work on an issue or serve on a University committee are some ways that you as a student can get involved and work towards positive outcomes for both yourself and other students on a wide variety of topics. Interning is a productive way to earn university credit while assisting your student government in making UWM an even better place to get an education. Contact Chief of Staff Alicia Bagley by calling (414)229-4366 or send an email to adbagley@uwm.edu if you think you might be interested in a volunteer or internship opportunity. There are also vacancies on the student court, if you’re interested in serving as a justice, contact sapres@uwm.edu.

Also, if you’re a freshman, there are five vacant seats specifically set aside for freshmen senators. If you would like to serve as a representative of the student body, please contact Deputy Speaker Amanda Voigtlander by emailing amandav3@uwm.edu for information on becoming a freshman senator.

I’d just like to end by saying that the Student Association is here to serve you. If you’ve got a question, concern, or problem, please don’t hesitate to stop by our office on the ground floor of the Student Union in room EG79.

Article Tools