Amidst the bustling corridors and echoing lecture halls of Syracuse University, a narrative of student empowerment and advocacy unfolds. From the perennial struggle for textbook accessibility to the unrelenting campaign for inclusive healthcare services, the Student Association’s relentless pursuit of progress resonates across campus. As the 67th session unfolds, a tapestry of initiatives emerges, each thread woven with a commitment to enhancing student life. Throughout the semester, students can anticipate a range of initiatives and events awaiting them.
Textbook Accessibility Initiative
Syracuse University students have long grappled with textbook accessibility issues, with Anne Rauh, Head of Collections and Research Services, noting that a staggering 85% of required course textbooks remain unavailable in any format other than print. This unavailability extends to key publishers like Pearson, Cengage, Houghton, McGraw Hill, Oxford University Press Canada (Textbook Division) and imprints under Elsevier, particularly in health science domains such as Elsevier Health Science, Mosby, Saunders and Thieme. In response, the Student Association (SA) has spearheaded a bill designed to furnish students with textbook information prior to the official commencement of the semester. The bill seeks to establish guidelines urging professors to explore low-cost resources, evaluate various textbook options and acknowledge the pressing issue of affordability in textbook access. By affording students earlier access to textbook requirements, the initiative aims to empower them with additional time to strategize their payment options.
Menstrual Hygiene Support Program
Another paramount concern on the student association’s agenda for the 67th session is the provision of free menstrual products to students. Student Association has offered complimentary items such as tampons and sanitary pads to students since 2016. This year, student healthcare takes precedence, as affirmed by Otto Sutton, the SA Board Elections Chair, emphasizing the necessity of accessible healthcare, particularly regarding menstrual products, without financial burden. The initiative endeavors to enhance sustainability as the organization progresses. Dispensers for menstrual hygiene products are slated for installation in 11 buildings across campus, including Hinds Hall, Link Hall, Slocum Hall, Bowne Hall, the Physics Building, Huntington Beard Crouse Hall, the Hall of Languages, Hendricks Chapel, Carnegie Library, Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Whitman School of Management.
Grocery Store Transportation Service
A significant proposal awaits a decision during the upcoming voting session: the implementation of a new transportation system ferrying students from main campus to Target and Wegmans. Recognizing the absence of major grocery stores within walking distance of the University, the spring trolley program seeks to fund grocery store trolleys throughout the year. Introduced on Jan. 29, the bill has diligently secured funding in the intervening period.
Google Drive Capacity Restoration
In a recent development, Student Association has greenlit a proposal to reinstate students’ access to unlimited Google Drive capacity, overturning a prior bill that restricted students to a mere 10 gigabytes. Student Association contends that the current 10GB limit on g.syr.edu accounts fall short of the storage capacity provided by a free Google account (15GB). This legislative move comes in response to the fervent petitioning of over 300 students who sought the restoration of previous unlimited access.
Student Association remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for student welfare and fostering a vibrant campus community. Students are encouraged to express their concerns regarding any of these issues during the assembly meetings held at Maxwell Hall every Monday at 7:30 a.m.
Written By Elijah Brown ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications