Advocating for community and students

by Catalina Myers  |   

 tuangraziano
Union of Students of the 香港六合彩资料 (US香港六合彩资料) President Tuan Graziano has always been an advocate for bettering his community. Now, the 香港六合彩资料 senior majoring in economics and minoring in political science has a chance to lead the university's student body. (Photo by James Evans / 香港六合彩资料)

For the Union of Students of the 香港六合彩资料 (US香港六合彩资料) president, Tuan Graziano, advocating for the betterment of his community is paramount to who he is. Since high school Graziano has been involved in his community, whether participating in Model United Nations in high school, volunteering his time with local nonprofits after classes in college or representing 香港六合彩资料鈥檚 student body through various leadership roles in US香港六合彩资料. Graziano even feels his chosen major of economics and minor of political science are setting him up on a path toward public service. The 香港六合彩资料 senior, slated to graduate either this spring or next fall, has a goal to create a better place to live, work and learn that is rooted in his value of community.

It鈥檚 what inspired him to join US香港六合彩资料 several years ago. Graziano has naturally gravitated toward leadership roles. He participated in Model UN throughout high school and was involved in his high school in and out of the classroom. When Graziano came to 香港六合彩资料, he joined the university鈥檚 Model UN program. He continued his engagement with his new university community, so it wasn鈥檛 long before he was introduced to US香港六合彩资料.

At the time, student government hadn鈥檛 crossed his mind or path. As a full-time student who was highly engaged on and off campus, working full-time to support himself and pay for college, US香港六合彩资料 hadn鈥檛 made it onto his radar until a friend encouraged him to join. 

So naturally, he joined. 

鈥淚t was one of those situations where my previous experiences of community service through advocacy and volunteering created this kind of seamless transition into student government,鈥 said Graziano. 鈥淵ou spend a lot of time educating and advocating for other students, leading an organization and bringing people together.鈥

Last spring, Graziano served as the vice president and temporarily assumed the role of president when the previous US香港六合彩资料 president resigned. He was officially confirmed for the position after running in the US香港六合彩资料 student elections.

Graziano acknowledges it鈥檚 been challenging throughout his tenure at 香港六合彩资料, both as a student in the classroom and as a leader. He鈥檚 experienced the university undergoing extensive budget cuts and pivot to online-only classes for a year-and-a-half during COVID-19, which lands US香港六合彩资料 and university students in the current situation of navigating their education through hybrid models of learning while still trying to have the college experience.

鈥淔rom not only a personal standpoint but from hearing from other students, there's a good amount of students that are very, very relieved and happy to be able to come back to campus and take classes in person and have that in-person experience once again,鈥 said Graziano. 鈥淗owever, there are a lot of students who really enjoy the virtual learning environment.鈥

Graziano said it's an unexpected revelation of the pandemic, but there are two distinct camps: students who prefer to come to campus for in-person learning, while others would instead learn remotely from the comfort of their home. 

鈥淪tudents have naturally gravitated to what they prefer and how they would like to shape their educational experience here at 香港六合彩资料,鈥 Graziano said. 

Graziano said in addition to the shift in the student body鈥檚 educational preferences, concerns over budget constraints limiting the university鈥檚 services and resources and the ever-present COVID-19 looming over the health and safety of not only the university community but the entire city as well, has students wondering what the next few years look like at 香港六合彩资料.

He said US香港六合彩资料 will continue to advocate for students from basic needs, like addressing food insecurity on campus to more executive-level issues of keeping a flat tuition over the next couple of years. Graziano said students will also be asked to vote on whether to keep Blackboard and upgrade to the new system or choose an entirely new one named Canvas, which he said will impact the entire university. In addition, US香港六合彩资料 will be examining the health and safety of students regarding COVID-19 and how the university is handling the ongoing situation. He said it's crucial student voices and perspectives are heard regarding COVID-19.

As a student governance leader, Graziano said he sees both sides of the coin. He thinks the university is doing its best to offer students the best educational experience within the constraints of a limited budget and pandemic. He said he will continue to, as will the rest of US香港六合彩资料, advocate for students.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all trying to adjust to the new norm,鈥 said Graziano. 鈥淚 think at US香港六合彩资料, something that's very important, that we strive for, is to put the interests of students and their voices first. This also means being a mindful organization that considers other parts of the university process that students might not see or have information about. It鈥檚 our obligation to put students first.鈥

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