Recent elections in campus organizations have resulted in new leadership, with student-led clubs congratulating their newly elected presidents. The newly elected presidents of these organizations step into their roles with a blend of enthusiasm, vision and commitment with the anticipation of a new academic term on the horizon.
Geology Club: Meredith Brashear
As the newly elected president of the Geology Club, Meredith Brashear, junior geoscience major, envisions fostering a space where scientific expression has no boundaries. Brashear aims to expand the club’s attendance from mainly geoscience students to students across all majors.
“This year, we’ve been really good with the events that we’ve planned. Last semester, we went to the Witte Museum as a group, and we’ve had pretty consistent group meetings that are just a chance to hang out and chances for people to build a community in the environmental and geoscience area,” Brashear said. “I really want to keep that. Going forward, we’d like to involve more people outside of the geoscience majors and get them interested in the club.”
Under Brashear’s leadership, Geology Club plans to launch themed projects that invite members to enjoy time with their friends while learning about new things. Brashear is excited to involve other students on campus when Geology Club hosts events.
“We’re trying to branch out in our activities and things we’re doing. For example, for Earth Week, we’re doing a ‘make your own rock candy’ event this year, and things like that, but we aren’t doing just little hangouts because sometimes we do Kahoots or game nights, which are a little more community-focused,” Brashear said. “These rock candy events and going to a museum are chances for people to do things that people who aren’t in geosciences can do.”
Eco Allies: Miranda Noren
In an era of environmental challenges, Miranda Noren, junior geoscience major, hopes to make a difference with Eco Allies and is ready to steer the club toward impactful initiatives and tangible change. With a fervent commitment to sustainability, Noren hopes to make a difference in the culture around environmentalism at Trinity.
“I’m an intersectional environmentalist, and I’ve started my own subcommittee called EcoRights that focuses on human and non-human rights. I wanted to make EcoAllies more intersectional while still preserving the club,” Noren said. “I think what I’m hoping to keep the same is the film screenings, trash pickups and monthly or bi-weekly meetings depending on members’ schedules, but I am going to make it more arts-and-crafts-y than lecture.”
Noren plans to foster relations between campus clubs by holding partnership events and advocating for sustainable practices in the wider community. Through education, advocacy and hands-on projects, Noren hopes to instill a culture of environmental stewardship that transcends campus boundaries.
“I think what I’m hoping to change is that EcoAllies has more collaborative events with other clubs, such as working with TU Progressives, because we’re in a presidential election year and climate change is a leading campaign issue, so I wanted to team up with the TU Progressives so people are aware of climate change. But we will have guest speakers and lectures but just not as much,” Noren said.
Trinity University Students with Disabilities Society: Jackson Delhagen
Jackson Delhagen, junior political science major, hopes to spearhead advocacy for students with disabilities by creating the Trinity University Students with Disabilities Society, allowing for more inclusivity and accessibility on campus. Delhagen has already worked on creating this society, and is excited to continue his role next semester.
“I started the club really with the intention of creating a community for students on campus with disabilities because that’s not something that’s existed on campus before,” Delhagen said. “And though I only really have a year left of school, I want it to be able to outlast me, of course. I want it to have a strong presence at Trinity and be able to make a proactive and good change here on campus, and so that’s what I want to do.”
Delhagen outlined his vision for the club, emphasizing the importance of advocacy, support and community-building initiatives. Under his leadership, the society plans to host awareness campaigns, workshops and social events aimed at promoting disability rights, fostering dialogue and providing a supportive network for students with disabilities.
“I really want to be able to sort of create a network that people can rely on as a form of support, as a form of community where, though it’s a club organization, it feels like a natural group of people together that are able to work together for things that they find needed on campus,” Delhagen said. “Especially with the issues I’ve dealt with in the past, relating to campus accessibility, accommodations, things like that, it just means a lot to be able to have sort of an extension of that advocacy, but coming from students.”