David Mesta - Vice President
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I went to DC advocating to Congress about student issues and went to the Department of Education meeting with the chief of staffs. I visited St. Paul College to meet with the senate. I chaired the GC and talked about the election process and created an election committee that I will chair. I testified with Axel to the Board of Trustees about the issues with the HTC college president. I held a PC meeting and equity training with the group. I held check ins with members and visited both SCC Faribault and North Mankato campuses to engage with the senates.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have been traveling to different campuses to meet with senates to attend Spring GA and pushing students to run for leadership positions at Spring GA.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement has been going to DC and advocating about student issues and visiting campuses to get involved and holding PC meetings and helping other members of the cabinet.
Ali Tomashek - Public Relations Coordinator
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
In March we went to Washington DC! We advocated for college affordability, open educational resources, and providing funding for emergency grants. It was great to facilitate the legislative training game and get students prepared to speak to their legislators about issues that impact them and other students throughout Minnesota. We had a Governing Council meeting soon after, where I took meeting minutes. Continued to take minutes for Cabinet and Platform Committee meetings as well. Joyce, myself, and the Scholarship Gala committee polished up all the scholarship silent auction donations and prepared them for the auction starting a week prior to April GA. We have spent many hours planning and organizing for April GA, the Voters Summit, LeadMN Awards ceremony and the Scholarship Gala happening in a few weeks - I truly can't wait!
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have encouraged a lot of students to run for upcoming vacant leadership positions, prepared them to speak to legislators and help them feel empowered to use their voice to make a difference. I've spent so much time putting together auction items to ensure we have a full variety of items and fundraise as much as we can - all proceeds go to scholarships. I've promoted the spring scholarships prior to the April deadline. Starting planning a mentorship program with our new staff organizer, Bridget. My plan for the coming month is to promote more leadership positions, engage students as much as possible before the year is over, and start planning what LeadMN campaigns could look like for next year.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement was advocating for students at Washington DC - big bucket list item checked off for me. Not only did our advocacy work make a huge impact on legislators, I felt a sense of accomplishment and achievement just getting the chance to go out there and speak about student experiences. We even got the phenomenal chance to speak at the Department of Higher Education about how college has impacted us during the pandemic. It's heartwarming that decision makers care about what students are going through - we are the future generation of workers, innovators, and change makers. It's inspiring to be a part of.
Marcelus Ifonlaja - Treasurer
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
We do not slow down. This month we've sent over the completed contract for volunteering, I'm working on getting our volunteers trained.. along those lines - please fill out the google form to indicate availability - this way I can continue scheduling. We've also been preparing feverishly for GA. The hoodies haven't sold much since release day so we're also looking at better ways to advertise. I've also been appointed to the election committee.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
We've been doing outreach as well as visiting campuses to promote our GA. Really at this point it's about GA. GA is going to be the place to establish the foundation for next year. It will also be the place I can identify my successor and begin to get them comfortable with the job as well as project I have personally launched that they will be picking up.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
Release date for the hoodies and actually making sales!
Logan Rempert - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Ethan Browning and myself have been in contact with our NEHED senate students attempting to find a mutual agreement for MN North Bylaws, an Athletics Fee Implementation, MN North Senate Structure, and about Dr. Raich's proposed tuition differential increases.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have talked more with students, in-person and have posted fliers and urged them to apply for scholarships as well. It is difficult to gauge such a large group of students when I am only available outside of my work study hours.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
I have been told that ICC&VCC will not have a football team next year, I am unsure why. The MN North Merger had been approved, but some concerns are still up in the air. One specific issue that has gone unanswered, is how Online classes' fees for student life, will be distributed for the Summer 22 and Fall 22 term; as these classes are not assigned to a specific campus and "float" for the 5 schools within MN North. Collectively, Tuition differentials are going up despite our pushback.
I also have been talking with the nursing students at HCC after last month's report. Although I may have been a little presumptuous in that last report, it has proven true today. The nursing program has had many students fail on the last test. According to students, one teacher instructed them and taught new topics, while another wrote the test for them. This led to many students doing poorly on the assessment and many are worried if they will graduate, let alone pass the NCLEX.
I am aware that some have dropped out this semester, as well as many last semester. HCC posted two nursing instructor positions, but none of the current students would even benefit. I asked the HCC provost about tuition refunds, remedial credits, or solutions for those nursing students who have adversely been affected, and have not heard back.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I have casually brought the LEADMN platform into discussion within the classrooms I'm taught from. I attempt at making my friends aware of what work I am doing, but I haven't received much interest. Jon DeCent from HCC is highly interested in what LEADMN has to offer and is running for HCC student senate president.
Betsy Harasyn - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Because I had been awake for 36 hours straight and knew I wouldn't be able to understand what was being said clearly, I was able to review the notes from the DESR committee meeting after it had concluded. Students with low Accuplacer scores and who are not college level appear to be forced to divide their first semester in half between Level 1 and level 2 writing. They will need to take 16 weeks basic math skills and reading all before they can start college courses. Not sure if there is a level 1 and 2 for reading. The professors are unsure of what to do for those students who need ongoing assistance or who may have forgotten about some skills due to a semester off.
I was able to attend the Fiscal committee and the Governing Council meetings.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
It greatly disappoints me that I was unable to bring the Senates of Pipestone and Luverne together for a meeting with LeadMN Cabinet members before the end of March. Also, I had planned for the Canby and Granite Falls campuses to meet together, as well as the Jackson and Worthington campuses to meet together, but neither of these events occurred. I'm going to contact the southwest senates to find out exactly what it would take to get all future senate officers more involved in LeadMN statewide events. If I do hear anything back, I will let LeadMN office staff/cabinet know.
It appears that no one from the southwest region was willing to contribute to the LeadMN Silent Auction Scholarships as well.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
The two Provost Candidates are scheduled to meet with students on campuses, at the end of March and beginning of April on specific dates and times. For those students that attend, they are being asked to fill out an online survey. I believe not many students will attend these meetings.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I will be speaking to many students at the spring GA.
Caledon Johnston - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
The current progress I have made with the duties as PC have been to submit the leadership report for March 2022 and have a 1:1 meeting with the Vice-President of LeadMN. I also was able to meet for the PC Meeting this month. While it is not a PC duty outline in the LeadMN bylaws, I did also attend the D.C. Summit this month.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
This month I was able to meet for the PC meeting and have a 1:1 with the Vice-President of LeadMN. I also attended the March D.C Summit conference. With this, I was able to learn the skills I need to be able to talk to legislatures for DC on capitol hill, and then was able to share my story to both the board of education at D.C, as well as share my story to staff and legislatures of the hill. I was able to grow my communication skills with the trainings we had during the conference, as well as be able to form a way to tell my story. This will help advocate for the agenda that LeadMN has that we drafted as PC members to hopefully pass one day into congress.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Currently I have no update on any campuses in the region, there is currently still no communication.
MSCS in Winona has scheduled the Hunger Free Campus Award Ceremony for April 6th. We also have a scholarship & PTK banquet on April 7th. Otherwise, there are no other new events currently scheduled for the rest of this month.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
As of right now there is not much progress regarding getting new students involved, but hopeful that once the weather starts to warm up and we get closer to the end of the semester we may be able to have an event to end the year and could advertise for LeadMN and how students could get involved at that time. I have been able to talk to one student though and have a potential story to share so if I can get that I will share it for them this month.
Amona Donald - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have organized events that include getting student stories - specifically for Women's History Month. I posed the question "How has education impacted your life?" to women students to highlight how important access to education for women actually is.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
As the Community Outreach and Events Director, I am able to create a space that allows to promote LeadMN and its events. We have students registered for Breezy Point and those who are looking to join more conferences. Also, marketing the tabling event that is occurring on April 14th so students know to come on campus.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Minneapolis College is setting up for events throughout this month including World Health Day, Student Employment Appreciation Week and Earth Day and others. This is to engage more students on campus and increase community.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
We are planning to host tabling events rest of the semester to see what students are looking forward to for the Summer semester and the Fall. We are getting students' names and emails that are interested in leadership and advocacy.
Chelsea Birasa - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Worked with the Outreach manager to conduct COVID-19 Listening session and vaccine clinic through an equity lens.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I am working alongside the Outreach Manager to conduct a tabling on April 18th on the MState Moorhead campus and have students engaged and attend an equity training workshop
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
There was a Housing Law 101 session on the MState Moorhead campus.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I have utilized several resources such as text banks to reach and engage more students in events and reaching out about various resources available. And organizing tabling to engage more students.
Cody Gunsalus - Student-at-Large Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I attended PC equity meeting and attended a workshop about code-switching at the NTC campus, attempted to reach out to dark schools, no reply. Was not able to attend the main meeting due to class conflict.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I plan to bring the card and book of the speaker of the workshop to leadership of LeadMN to attempt to get him to offer his 6 to 8 hours of information pertaining to code-switching to student leadership across the state, expanding minds and helping people understand in a deeper way how racial and cultural bias are integrated into our subconscious.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
There is a bit of disgruntlement pertaining to voting/number of votes vs price of ticket to spring GA. (as in a school that has much fewer students and thus have a harder time setting aside money for LeadMN is getting charged the same as a school that has the largest schools with an abundance of funding to participate in LeadMN, the term "pay for play" has been said a time or 2)
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
Those campuses I am in contact with I have been asking that they see how much good LeadMN does but they have no interest in going themselves and they refuse to send anyone not associated with the Senate.