After a semester of contentious resolutions and the veto of Senate’s most recent resolution, Student Union (SU) Senate has shifted their attention to data-driven reports highlighting prominent issues affecting students in hopes of further capturing the University’s ears.

Student Union (SU) released its 10 term goals for the 2024-2025 academic year, which focused on improving the organization’s operations to better serve the WashU student body. 

Three members of WashU’s Student Union (SU) Senate resigned from their roles — two on Sept. 17 and one on Sept. 25. Multiple senators told Student Life that they are considering leaving or not running again due to an environment that is divisive and stressful. 

When a resolution contains an overwhelming number of tenuously-connected demands, it dilutes the effectiveness of each line item and confuses what students should prioritize.

In a joint session on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Chancellor Andrew Martin addressed Student Union Senate and Treasury in a rare Q&A, expressing gratitude to the student leaders and fielding questions regarding campus protests, encampments, and concerns with Title IX policies from various Senators. 

Student Union (SU) Senate passed a resolution calling for WashU to drop suspension cases against students and faculty, disarm the WashU Police Department, and create an Indigenous Studies department, Sept. 10. The resolution, which passed 11-7 with two abstentions, also called for Chancellor Andrew Martin to resign from his post. On the morning of Sept. 12, senior and SU President Hussein Amuri vetoed the resolution, saying that it would divide the student body. 

A majority of Student Union (SU) senators have signed a letter alleging that Washington University administrators have attempted to block Senate from meeting to pass a pro-Palestine resolution, leading other SU members to call for more transparency and communication in the organization, May 1. 

Student Union (SU) announced the SU Leadership Award to honor student leadership on campus, April 3. Student leaders on Washington University’s campus have until April 19, 2024 to apply for this year’s application cycle. 

Washington University’s Student Union (SU) held their annual inauguration ceremony to swear in newly-elected and re-elected senators, treasury representatives, and members of the Executive Council, April 11.

Emily Chen, the outgoing Student Union (SU) President, sat down for an interview with Avi Holzman, one of StudLife’s Editors-in-Chief, on April 5 ahead of the SU inauguration on April 11. The conversation covered topics from past Q&A’s, reflections on the year as president, WILD funding, and what she will take with her from this experience after she graduates. The Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.