Initiatives

USG Initiatives -- What are we working on?


2024-2025 USG Initiatives & Priorities

President: Elyse Adrien | Vice President: Madison Jefferies

  • Sustainability
    • Symposium on Sustainability Pt. 2 (Sept 19, 2024)

      • Featured tabling by sustainability orgs & Marvin Center

      • Included a collaborative focus group with questions by USG & Office of Sustainability

      • Outcome: A pathway for continued, community-minded sustainability work

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian, President

    • Campus Tree Planting (Nov 20, 2024)

      • Partnership with Office of Sustainability, Environmental Service Club & Topsoil

      • Planted trees to support carbon neutrality goals

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian (Organizing); Will Hattery (Day-of Coordination)

    • MLK Day Ecobricking Workshop (Spring 2025)

      • Over 50 participants learned and created 30+ ecobricks

      • Final President-led workshop before passing materials to Topsoil

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian, President

  • Civic Engagement
    • Fall Falcon Food Drive (Oct 28–Nov 8, 2024)

      • Collected 219 items (207 food, 12 toiletry) for Falcon Food Pantry

      • Donation stations in library, USG office, and residence halls

      • Lead: Abby Burger, Internal Affairs Chair

    • Point and Counterpoint Dialogue Initiative

      • Built after SNF Dialogue Conference to combat political apathy

      • Created a safe space for honest political conversation

      • Leads: Elyse Adrian, Tiago Gaboardi, Ava Kramer, Rudrashis Mandal, Karlee Heilman, Casey Knutson, Sam Conrad

    • Cozy Cats: Blanket Making Event (Feb 26, 2025)

      • Created 26 tie blankets + 15 chew toys for Wood County Humane Society

      • 22 volunteers participated

      • Lead: Abby Burger, Internal Affairs Chair

    • USG Mixer (Oct 21, 2024)

      • Connected with 32 non-USG students and several deans

      • Included activities, community mural, initiative board, raffles, and tabling

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian, President

    • Advocacy Day (Nov 19, 2024)

      • Held 15 legislative meetings to support higher ed and food pantry funding

      • Promoted student engagement in direct democracy

      • Lead: Madison Jeffries, Vice President | Supported by: Elyse Adrian

    • BG SONG: Lease in Peace Toolkit

      • Renter education event with legal info and landlord-tenant Q&A

      • Co-hosted with GSS and BG SONG

      • Lead: Agatha Hickerson, Treasurer

    • Red Sky Trivia Fundraiser

      • Partnered with S4C nonprofit admin class

      • Raised funds for local community partner

    • Advocacy Day Pt. 2 (Spring 2025)

      • Met with 5 legislators and attended House committee hearing

      • Focused on Senate Bill 01 and state budget concerns

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian, President

  • Administrative Policy & campus Improvements
    • USG Senate Bill 01 – Cold Weather Policy

      • Called for clearer cancelation guidance, safety education, and cold weather gear access

      • Initiated targeted communications for international students and commuters

      • Lead: Elyse Adrian | Supported by: Abby Burger, Internal Affairs Chair

    • USG Senate Bill 02 – Pedestrian Safety

      • Advocated for better crosswalks, curb cuts, RRFBs, and sidewalk maintenance

      • Passed in final meeting, to be implemented by next USG administration

      • Lead: Avie Householder, Diversity Affairs Senator

    • Student Trustee Selection Committee (Spring 2025)

      • Organized student leadership committee to select BGSU’s next Student Trustee

      • Final decision to be made by Ohio Governor

      • Lead: Madison Jeffries, Vice President

    • Navigate, Early Alert, Handshake, BGP Advocacy (Fall 2024 – Feb 2025)

      • Conducted research on student awareness of academic platforms

      • Shared feedback with university leadership

      • Lead: Madeleine Freyhof, Academic Affairs Chair

    • Shuttle Service Improvement Survey

      • Worked with Groome Transportation and BGSU Parking Services

      • Launched survey on shuttle satisfaction and desired stop expansions

      • Lead: Will Hattery, Student Affairs Chair

    • Honors Orientation Mindfulness Initiative

      • Addressed student burnout from all-day orientation

      • Proposed mindfulness breaks and orientation adjustments

      • Lead: Madeleine Freyhof | Helped by: Hannah Steil

  • Inclusion & Belonging
    • One Page About Classes

      • Created info sheet on credit system and class registration

      • Distributed to international and domestic students

      • Lead: Tiago Gaboardi, Director of Inclusion and Belonging

    • Summer Housing Advocacy for International Students

      • Worked with IPP and Housing to ensure summer break housing availability

      • Lead: Tiago Gaboardi, Director of Inclusion and Belonging

    • Shuttle Driver Accessibility Training

      • Advocated for monthly accessibility and lift retraining

      • Partnered with Groome Transportation

      • Lead: Will Hattery, Student Affairs Chair

    • USG Senate Resolution 01 – Opposing OH SB 01

      • Formally opposed state legislation banning DEI initiatives and faculty strikes

      • Urged legislators to consider student input

      • Leads: Tiago Gaboardi & Abby Burger

    • International Student Associations Board

      • Established collaborative space for international student orgs

      • Monthly meetings coordinated with IPP and Critical Studies

      • Lead: Tiago Gaboardi, Director of Inclusion and Belonging

    • Inclusive Admissions Marketing

      • Partnered with Admissions and student orgs to visit historically Black and Latino high schools

      • Lead: Tiago Gaboardi, Director of Inclusion and Belonging











Updated: 06/06/2025 06:45PM