Initiatives

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