The Emerson College Students’ Union (ECSU) came together for its second meeting of the semester last Wednesday, tackling big ideas around outreach and brainstorming initiatives, campaigns, and new forms of student engagement for the future. 

After an eventful couple of weeks for ECSU following the RAs voting to unionize and the student union’s upcoming committee elections, there was a lot of enthusiasm among the members at the meeting. 

“I’m excited to see where [the RA Union] goes and how they use their union power and voice,” said Viralika Arora, a sophomore majoring in political communication and the chair of Grassroots Mobilization for ECSU. 

In addition to their work with the newly formed RA Union, ECSU discussed collaborations with other student-led and non-profit organizations. Ideas such as another clothing swap, an advocacy festival, and collaboration with students on their tuition hikes campaign were part of the discussion. 

“I’m excited to get more people signed up for tabling and getting more people to understand what the union really does,” said Arora. 

One of their main focuses is to help the student body understand that the union is there for them to feel heard.

With recent emails sent out on their upcoming campaign and committee elections, ECSU members said they are dedicated to seeking impactful representation for members of the Emerson community. ECSU’s committee elections are currently taking place with multiple openings for all its chair positions, with results to be announced this Wednesday. The union has already hosted events this semester to engage with students and keep them informed on their new initiatives. 

According to National Development Chair Dylan Young, ECSU’s campaign against “Emerson’s unjust financial aid system” will be an issue at the forefront of their actions this semester. With information being given at different pop-up stands around campus about ways students can show support, Young said there is substantial energy building toward future events for the cause. Other events are in the works to boost awareness of ECSU’s new semester campaign, such as their advocacy organization, which they hope to announce and give details around some time in mid-February. 

Members of the student union are hopeful for the change to have an impact in the future.

“Just in the past couple of weeks that we’ve been on campus, there’s been a lot of energy and a lot of great ideas coming,” Emma Cudahy, a junior political communications student, said.

ESCU continues to see a consistent increase in its members since they first started, introducing four new members already this semester. With this new growth, members feel a new kind of momentum building. 

“Each semester, I feel like our outreach gets better and better and we put a lot more effort into other ways to connect with the student body,” Cudahy said.