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