DCGA's End of the Year Report

Office of the DCGA President

Slayter Union

May 8th, 2023

Dear Denisonians, 

As the Spring 2023 Semester comes to an end, I want to highlight the wins that the Denison Campus Governance Association has notched for students and express thanks for your generosity as the 2022-2023 academic year comes to a close. Here are some highlights: 

• $150,000.00 was allocated to renovate the Huffman Basement into a student co-working space. As the result of DCGA legislation highlighting the demand for dedicated student organization meeting rooms, intentional professional workspaces, and a place for every Denisonian to activate their creativity. We heard you. Phase 1 of this renovation is expected to be completed by Fall 2023, with resources that add value to the rest of campus. You can access supporting documents here.  
• $50,000.00 was allocated to add 25-50 new automatic water bottle fillers on A-Quad. Pushing for a more sustainable campus requires the reduction of plastic waste - starting with water bottles. Sustainable living should be simple on campus, and this piece of DCGA legislation does just that. Whether you fill your bottle before entering the classroom or during a break, this ensures that this is an easier journey for all of our community. 
• $16,265.00 was allocated for an innovative IDEA-related project supplying hair care products that aim to expand product selections for people of color and improve the collegiate experience for Black college women. Dr. Sylvia Washington in the Center for Belonging and Inclusion and an incredible team of student leaders worked tirelessly to provide a holistic proposal; as a result, the DCGA Senate unanimously passed a funding bill that aims to supply relevant hair care products, a vending machine for distribution, and upkeep fees for three years. This is a quality-of-life project that will benefit all students, supply an essential item for an affordable price, and an initiative that will improve accessibility and wellness across the board for all students. 
• Plans to phase out plastic soda bottles campus-wide. Recently, a pulse survey was released to gauge student support for phasing out plastic bottles for aluminum containers at campus convenience stores such as Slayter Market. Before that, DCGA passed legislation in collaboration with the Campus Sustainability Committee and Green Team to leverage Bon Appetit's supply chain conversion program to do just that. By Fall 2023, we’re aiming to see the conversion of these products to more sustainable options, thus further reducing our plastic waste.   
• $1,088,169.66 in total was allocated to support campus organizations during the 2023-2024 academic year as of April 11th, 2023. Funds will support student activities and capital expenditures. This figure does not include DCGA’s Finance Appeals, pending final approval by the DCGA Senate. 
• Progress on the OneDCGA Strategic Plan continues. Denisonians need a roadmap that both holds their advocates accountable and moves our community into the future. This plan is a high-level view that will guide resource commitments, our advancement of IDEA, and our institution from 2022-2026. You can access the plan here. 

As we move into Fall 2023, I’d like to note our near-term direction:

• Focus on quality of life. DCGA will have a continued focus on utilizing the DCGA Reserve Fund on capital projects in support of the student experience. Students on the Governance System’s Dining and ResLife Committees will also be tasked with specific scopes to guide the college through new meal plan implementation and create a vibrant culture for students to enjoy. 
• Engagement in the University’s Governance System. Students' voice is valued and highly sought after not only by DCGA but also by the University’s Governance System. Alongside passionate faculty and staff, elected students to represent campus perspectives on an array of topics from dining to enrollment, personnel, and even curriculum. We’d love to have you join us at an info session in early September 2023.
• Fall DCGA Elections. First-year elections always happen in September as we welcome our new peers to the hill. Simultaneously, a DCGA Presidential Election will occur to fill an open seat in that position. In the interim, Vice President Ashwin Krishnamurthy will serve as Acting President until the seat is filled. If you are interested in running, we will offer information sessions in early September 2023. Please contact Alex Pan (pan_a1@denison.edu) or Zora Whitfield (whitfi_z1@denison.edu) as election co-chairs for the Fall 2023 cycle with any questions.      

It’s been an incredible honor to serve you during the 2022-2023 academic year as DCGA President, and I do not take your confidence lightly. We’ve notched wins and record investments unseen since the 2014 renovation of The Nest, done substantial advocacy on behalf of students, and strived to elevate the best interest of students to the forefront of our work. As a former President, I will continue to encourage community participation and work for the best interests of all Denisonians. 

Sincerely,
Alex Pan '24

Outgoing DCGA President