Six Indiana colleges have come together to create the first-ever Indiana Student Government Coalition. The coalition brings together student government representatives from universities across the state to encourage collaboration and enable advocacy efforts.
“It aims to serve as a unified voice for student governments statewide, empowering us to address critical educational issues, promote policies that enhance the student experience and champion student rights at the state level,” an Oct. 30 press release from the FUSE administration of IUSG said.
Student government leaders from IU, Butler University, DePauw University, Grace College, Purdue University and Valparaiso University signed the charter officially creating the coalition Oct. 25.
IUSG has discussed this coalition with student leaders from other colleges for several years, IU student body president Cooper Tinsley said. Previously, the goal was to host a conference with student government leaders from around Indiana, but the FUSE administration decided to focus on creating a coalition and making official connections with other student governments first. Over the summer, Tinsley and his administration reached out to student leaders at other colleges to begin the process.
Now that the coalition has been officially established, they are excited to begin working together on new initiatives.
“We’re already looking at expanding the Lifeline Law,” Tinsley said. “It’s a project of Purdue student government that I think was just well-suited to be adapted, so now the coalition is working on that.”
The Indiana Lifeline Law provides limited immunity for people who seek help for those experiencing an alcohol or substance related emergency. Currently, the law protects the person calling the police, provided they follow certain guidelines. The law does not necessarily provide immunity for the person who requires assistance. The coalition hopes to advocate in the state legislature for an amendment that expands immunity to the person who requires assistance.
Tinsley anticipates the coalition will discuss rising tuition prices and DEI-related bills and laws in the state legislature such as Senate Enrolled Act 202, which requires intellectual diversity in higher education. He also hopes the coalition will allow for greater collaboration with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, which is the coordinating agency for colleges in Indiana.
IUSG is also a member of the Association of Big 10 Students, which serves as the collective voice of students who attend universities in the Big 10 Conference. Tinsley said he appreciated the opportunity to speak with other student leaders and share ideas through the association, and he hopes the Indiana Student Government Coalition will provide similar opportunities for Indiana colleges.
“I’m excited to see what the coalition can do,” Tinsley said. “I think there’s a lot of power behind the institutions we represent, so I’m excited to see where it goes.”
