ASUM devoted to diversity

Ashleen Williams has lofty goals for the ASUM senate this year, and at the top of the president's list is promoting diversity. At the group's first meeting of the semester last night, Williams cited the summer fiasco where three Saudi students were detained for expired visas as a primary example of misunderstanding between diverse groups. 

"Those students didn't know their rights. If they don't know their rights they can't be contributing members of our community," Williams said.

ASUM is hosting a panel Sept. 8 that focuses on immigration and helping international students understand their rights. David Aronofsky of UM's legal counsel will advise the students with any questions or concerns they face.

Williams said diversity is paramount in her presidency on a personal level as well.

"I have an African-American brother. I remember when I was a child someone asked me how he could possibly be my brother. That really struck me," she said.

Williams hopes UM students will take their own initiative to promote diversity in whatever capacity they can, especially using ASUM as a platform.

"Everyone has a seat here," Williams said, gesturing around the conference room.

Amplifying the theme of diversity, the University of      Montana Alumni Association and ASUM have teamed up to create the Hello Walk. The walk is an extension of the homecoming theme, "We Are the World." The emphasis of Hello Walk is to promote different cultures by exchanging the word "hello" in as many languages as students can come up with. Students can grab a paintbrush to write as many as 2,792 greeting phrases all over University of Montana sidewalks on Sept. 24. 

Also at the meeting was University Center Director Candy Holt, who welcomed the senators back to school and told them how she spent their budget over the summer. Holt said money was allocated to renovate the UC – a project that included new outlets at most of the tables on the second floor atrium, new furniture in the game room and plans to bid on new service elevators for the building.

"Even with the cosmetic upgrades around the building, we still ended in the black," Holt said of balancing the budget. 

Three MontPIRG representatives also attended the meeting and explained how students can get their $5 refund check for the sustainability fee that was tacked on to tuition this semester.

"Not a lot of you have been knocking down the door to get your refunds. But we're allowing people to get refunds by coming to our office, filling out a form on our website, visiting our table next to college republicans and various other ways," MontPIRG Board Chairman Neil Bennett said.

Dean of Students Charles Couture left the senators with a challenge to remind themselves daily of the duty to serve the students at the University of Montana by embracing diversity.

"As you look around the room you will see some diversity. Some diversity cannot be seen. We must appreciate all kinds of diversity," he said, "from Native Americans to all students of color and students who would be traditionally labeled as white."

hannah.stiff@umontana.edu