College students are not a historically reliable voting block. Some people would make that out to be because we are lazy or uneducated, but the truth of the matter is it's hard to remember to go the polls when your day-to-day life is riddled with struggles that feel a lot more immediate…
Read moreFarewell from Intern Will Claussen
Just as summer turns to Autumn, my time with Students United has come to an end. It’s time for me to gather all of my experiences and everything I’ve learned and head back to school for my senior year. It has been an absolute honor and blessing to have this internship
Read moreAugust Equity Update
Students United is proud to launch Fund the American Dream[ers] to respond to our students leaders’ desire to enact positive change in support of Minnesota State students…
Read moreVice Chair Feature | Get to know Krysta
written by | Krysta Sanders
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imaginationloom embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” Albert Einstein
I wholeheartedly believe that we need to think outside the box to challenge the status quo to become our better selves not just for ourselves but for our fellow people!
The words of Einstein and my personal belief are what led me to join Students United. This last year I was afforded the opportunity to become part of Students United and instantly fell in love with everything about it, from the daily work being done on campus to the delegate meetings where I was introduced to like minded people. Their individual work as well as collaboration on creating policy changes fully opened my eyes to the power of students. As an outspoken person who believes that everyone's voice should be heard in a respectful manner led me to pursue the vice chair position. Being part of a nonprofit where I can be the voice of each student is a huge responsibility, one that I look forward to.
Besides being passionate about bettering the world we live in I am passionate about science. Currently, I am in the process of receiving my Masters degree at Bemidji State University in biology with an emphasis in microbiology. My research is focused on finding a new bacteriophage for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that is prevalent in hospital infections, cystic fibrous, and periodontal disease. Finding an alternative to antibiotics, which is what bacteiophages can provide, will be beneficial in negating the creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria aka “Super Bugs”. My ultimate goals is to become a dentist so fingers crossed!
On a more personal note I have done summer theater for the past 6 years. This summer I was in a musical called “Nunsensations: The Vegas Review” starring as sister Robert Anne. I have three cats (yes three); Eros, Dashes, and Káura. I love puzzles and board games. The latest is the star tribune cryptoquip because they are witty and a bit corny, which is the language I speak. I'm a person who loves to stay active and engaged. Traveling and learning about other cultures is something that I will always strive for. I have visited seven countries so far and learned that travel leads to acceptance of others. I'm looking forward to working with the amazing students and staff this year to accomplish great things.
State Chair Feature | Getting to know Kayla Shelley
My name is Kayla Shelley, I am currently in my fourth year at St. Cloud State University where I am majoring in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Persuasion…
Read more25th annual penny golf scramble recap
On behalf of everyone at Students United, thank you to those who took part in making our 25thannual Penny Golf Scramble a special one to remember. This year, the golf scramble took place on June 21stat Mississippi National Golf Links in…
Read moreWhat I Love About Students United
My very first day at Students United (formerly MSUSA) in 1997 was the Saturday of a November Fall Conference. I spent the day totally energized by the many issues the students were learning about, organizing around, and preparing to support. I immediately knew I was in the right place, working with passionate leaders who wanted to make a positive impact at the system…
Read moreJuly Equity Update
written by | Abeer Syedah
System & Campus
Students United: Announcing Fund the American Dream[ers]
Students United is proud to launch Fund the American Dream[ers] to respond to our students leaders’ desire to enact positive change in support of Minnesota State students who are impacted by changing immigration policies, specifically undocumented students. We are fundraising to provide modest emergency financial assistance to Minnesota State students whose finances have been adversely affected by recent immigration policy changes.
Learn more and donate: www.studentsunited.org/dreamers
State & National
Science, Engineering, and Medicine Panel Says How Universities Deal With Sexual Harassment Needs Sweeping Change
“Years of efforts to prevent sexual harassment in science, engineering and medicine have failed, and universities need to make sweeping changes in the way they deal with the issue, a searing new report by a national advisory panel concluded.”
Read more from the New York Times
In A Case Closely Watched by Higher Education, Supreme Court Upholds Travel Ban
“An analysis published by Inside Higher Ed in early February found that the number of F student visas granted for students from the affected countries had fallen sharply, as had the number of short-term B visas, a category used by foreign scholars when they come to the U.S. for conferences. Beyond the countries that are specifically affected, many in American higher education have raised concerns about the unwelcoming message the blanket visa bans send to international students and scholars from around the world.”
Read more from Inside Higher Ed
Middlesex Community College Focuses on Asian & Pacific Islander Students
“These [southeast Asian] students have as high a risk of dropping out of college as low-income Hispanic or African-American students, researchers say. Yet colleges and policymakers often don’t realize it because Southeast Asian students’ statistics are lumped in as part of overall Asian student performance. Their problems are hidden partly because of the model minority myth that all Asians are academic superstars and flourish in high school and college.”
Read more from the New York Times
Inside Queer Students’ Fight to be Heard at Brigham Young University
“The flier was bright, with words splashed across a rainbow background. It advertised a panel on LGBTQ issues at Brigham Young University — the first-ever university-sanctioned event on the topic. But...”