Story by Carly Lidzy. Photo by Alexander King.

The University of Arkansas Associated Student Government has officially announced the new class of Freshman Leadership Forum recruits, along with the new school Senate chairs.

The Associated Student Government is a student-led organization that focuses on the betterment of the campus community. They are split into the three government branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. They also boast 51 senate seats, in correlation with the academic colleges, for students to propose bills, resolutions, and proclamations relating to campus.

Along with the aspects of office students run for, there are solely application-based opportunities-such as the Freshman Leadership Forum and the Associate Membership Program.

AMP is an open-enrollment membership program that helps connect students from any year to ASG and other leadership opportunities within the community While AMP is an application-based program, it is open to students from any year, and applications are open year-round. FLF is a freshman-only membership program that introduces new students to campus leadership and campus involvement opportunities, including community service projects and leadership opportunities.

ASG recently announced the newest group of 52 FLF recruits. Rhea Patel, a freshman recruit, applied because of her high school experiences and her friends.

“I joined FLF because the people that are in it really pushed me towards it,” Patel said. “I was student body secretary (in high school), and I really grew from that experience.”

Patel also noted that part of the reason she applied was to gain connections.

“I’m also going into the field of law hopefully after college, and it’s like a good base for that,” Patel said. “I mostly just want to gain connections and make a lot of new friends that are also in the same field.”

Students within FLF are also able to participate in mock-election simulations throughout the year. These simulations give FLF recruits the ability to create their own campaign as if they were running for office, to see the work involved and gain productive feedback.

“I know ASG is over the elections for president, and I just really want to see that experience first-hand and see everything that goes on,” Patel said. “I know it’s a ton of work and nothing like high school”

FLF had its first meeting and new member retreat Sept. 19 for all new members to get to know one another. Throughout the year, the new recruits will be able to work with different community service organizations around the campus and community.

Outside of FLF, ASG has announced the 16 new senators. One new electee being Samson Parker, who has a focus on mental health.

“Many of the recent hardships and tragedies across our campus have made me, among countless other students, realize how much we value this community and every single member of it,” Parker said in his candidacy statement.

Parker’s goal is to advocate for student-based resources to create more comfortable, “peer-to-peer” mental health resources for students.

“I’ve realized that sometimes the people who struggle and need this help the most can be incredibly hard to spot,” Parker wrote. “The idea here is that at least some students in all communities across the campus would be more aware and available to help fellow peers that need it.”

Senate meetings are held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Union Ballroom, and all students are welcome to attend. There is allotted time at every meeting for public comment. If you’re unable to attend, the senate meeting minutes are posted every week on the ASG senate website.

All information regarding ASG and its many parts can be found on the ASG main page, from the different branches of student government to gaining Registered Student Organization funding. The goal of ASG is “to effectively represent students in the University’s decision and policy making process, and to provide a broad educational experience for students, while promoting citizenship on campus and in the greater community,” as stated in the Purpose of the Associated Student Government.