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Student Senate

Project Groups

Project groups are teams we have created within Student Senate to work collaboratively on our major goals and initiatives. All Senate members are required to serve on a minimum of one Project Group.

Anyone can be a part of our project groups... including you!  Email us at studentsenate@wayne.edu to get involved with our initiatives!

  • Community Affairs

    Chair: Hassan Ezzeddine h.f.ezzeddine@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Huda Syed, Gabe Shamam, Rabika Ali, Amulen Rozmus

    Community Affairs is a liaison between Student Government and the Detroit community. Their work involves anything outside the boundaries of the university. Examples include working with neighborhood associations, community organizations, transportation, and off-campus safety issues.

    Current Initiatives:

    • Free Single Use Parking Pass Cards
      • Our goal is to provide more students with the opportunity to use the parking facilities through a parking pass initiative, which offers students single-use swipe passes to be used when parking in the structures or lots around campus, free of charge.
    • Health/Contraception in Vending Machines
      • By providing health and contraception products in vending machines around campus, more students are able to practice healthy and safe measures, while being able to purchase products in a discrete manner. This will help decrease any stigma around sexual health on campus.
    • Mobility Initiative
      • This initiative serves to inform students about transportation on campus, as well as to advocate for new methods of mobility around campus. A How to MOGO video has been posted on our social media, with goals of creating a campus-wide survey about how students feel about transportation/parking on campus.
    • Student Senate x WSU Athletics Collaboration
      • Wayne State is home to many incredible athletic teams and student-athletes. However, there is a clear disconnect between main campus and Wayne State’s athletic achievements. This initiative hopes to improve visibility of varsity sports on campus through tabling-events and collaboration with Student Athletes.
    • Environmental and Infrastructure Affairs Working Group
      • Led by Amulen Rozmus, this collaboration with the Student Services project group strives to connect students with university administration and local leaders. Its goal is to address environmental and infrastructural concerns, such as pedestrian safety and crosswalk timings.

    Meets Monday at 7:30 pm

  • Government Affairs

    Chair: Fatima Yahya fatimayyahya@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Cordelia Krajewski, Rachel John, Rabika Ali, TK Khan, Jamison Harris, Finnley Culhane, Huda Syed

    The Government Affairs Project Group works on advancing student initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. While maintaining non partisan views as the elected student representative body of the University, Government Affairs exerts all efforts of bridging the gap between our Warrior community and our local elected government officials. Government Affairs is also actively advocating for civic duty and civic engagement among students through various forms. On campus, you might find Government Affairs project group members hosting tabling events to register students to vote or even providing resources to help students learn more about their right to vote. As such Government Affairs is involved in voter registration and engagement, elected official speaker series, and awareness of current legislative affairs. You are more than welcome to join the Government Affairs Project Group and join us in our efforts of effectively advocating for our students and being a resource to our Warrior community in all aspects. 

    Current Initiatives: 

    • Voter Advocacy on Campus
      • Setting up voter registration and voter engagement tables throughout our university campus to maintain our civic advocacy efforts of making sure every Wayne State Warrior is equipped with the necessary tools, information, and resources they need to exercise their right to vote, amplifying the Warrior voice! Working hand in hand with Campus Vote Project and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's Collegiate Advisory Task Force to increase student participation in Michigan elections.
      • Working in collaboration with Campus Vote Project and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's Collegiate Advisory Task Force to increase student participation in civic advocacy. 
    • Government Officials on Campus
      • An initiative in efforts of bridging the gap between Wayne State students and our elected government officials. 
      • Exerting efforts of hosting elected officials including our Detroit City Council and our State/Federal representatives to speak to Wayne State students. 
    • Civic Education: Social Media Edition
      • Aims to create non partisan educational content through our Student Senate Instagram, a social media platform in which many students are often times scrolling through, staying connected with, and learning more from.
      • Intended to educate students on issues that may be relevant to date, spoken about increasingly, or may directly affect them. 

    Meets every other Sunday at 1:00 p.m. 

  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)

    Chair: Ridaa Khan ridaakhan@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Zaynah Jadallah, Huda Syed, Vansh Bhardwaj, Noor Suleiman, Rabika Ali, Jamison Harris, Andrew Rassam, Kayla Kristen, Zahra Hassan, Zeinab Alghanem

    The JEDI project aims to address justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion issues affecting the campus.  

    Current Initiatives:  

    • Black Student Success (BSS) 
      • Improving the experience of black students across campus through administrative programming. ​​​​​
      • Focus on supporting black students through volunteerism, mentorship, and research.
    • Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian (MENASA) 
      • Focuses on initiatives that encourage MENASA student success and comfortability. 
      • Instagram: @menasa_wsusenate
      • Email zjadallah@wayne.edu for more information
      • Current initiatives: 
        • Creating a MENA/SA race category.
        • Provide more halal dining options on campus. 
        • Advocating for MENASA struggles and discrimination on campus.
    • LGBTQ+ University Council 
      • Focuses on increasing communication between queer students and student organizations.
      • Current initiatives: 
        • Initiating a queer prom.
        • Advertising and spreading information about on-campus resources.
        • Implementing the option to put pronouns on OneCards. 
    • Window Magazine
      • A multi-media open submission magazine by and for marginalized students
      • Instagram: @windowmagwsu
      • Contact: windowmagwsu@outlook.com or hh2145@wayne.edu
      • Current Goals: 
        • Expanding medium to physical zine
        • Outreach to more students and faculty to expand submission and reader-base
        • Challenge pressures and norms students face in writing and expression

    Meets every other Friday at 8:30 PM 

  • Mental Health

    Chair: Sheva Khaimov sheva@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Cordelia Krajewski, Huda Syed, Hassan Ezzeddine, Amal Elsaleh, Rachel John, Gabe Shaman, Nicole McMath

    The Mental Health Project Group (MHPG) works to promote, support, and implement initiatives that aim to benefit the general mental health and well-being of the WSU community. Our work includes collaborations between departments such as the Campus Health Center (CHC) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). The priority of the MHPG is to destigmatize mental health issues and disorders, and together, cultivate a compassionate campus culture that nurtures resilience, personal growth, and overall mental wellness. 

    Current Initiatives: 

    • Vaping Education and Student Health Initiative (VESHI)

      • Chaired by: Sheva Khaimov
      • Members: Hassan Ezzeddine, Issa Hosari, Cordelia Krajewski, Huda Syed, Annemarie Whorf 
        • Our mission is to educate and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their physical, emotional, and mental health by raising awareness through education, providing resources and support to those seeking to quit through collaborations with departments on campus, such as the Campus Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and other WSU and non-WSU affiliated organizations who have conducted research or have insight on nicotine use, specifically, e-cigarettes. 

    • Mental Health Panel Series

      • Chaired by: MHPG Members 
      • The MHPG Panel Series will be conducted throughout the school year, featuring panels with Wayne State professors, mental health experts, and others who can speak on a variety of topics pertaining to mental health, such as drug use and addiction, policies surrounding mental health treatment, societal norms around mental health, and more. Events will be open to all students, with approximately one event per semester.
      • “Discussion: Mental Health and Treatment in Society” held on 10/3/2023
        • Featuring Dr. Erin Comartin, Ph.D., LMSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Dr. Marilyn Franklin, Ph.D., LP, Associate Professor, Psychology Clinic Director, and Julia Stewart, M.A., Project Coordinator, Center for Behavioral Health and Justice.
        • Covered mental health treatment with incarcerated populations, barriers to treatment among college students, incarcerated individuals, and other populations, current research in the field, societal stigmas around mental health treatment (including the government), drug treatments (psychedelics), open Q&A and more. Light refreshments, Insomnia cookies, and Student Senate swag included.
      • Suggestions are always welcomed and can be emailed to sheva@wayne.edu. 

    • What is Therapy? (WTV) 

      • Chaired by: Rachel John
      • Members: Gabe Shamam
        • This initiative’s focus is to create a brief video that will address common questions students have about therapy to better serve the Wayne State University community’s understanding of and access to mental health services on campus.

    • CAPS in the Classroom Education Initiative (CCE)

      • Chaired by: Nicole McMath
        • Our mission is to empower graduate students by bringing in a WSU mental health expert into the classroom to educate students about various mental health services they can utilize. By breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and working to ensure their emotional well-being, we strive to support students through our partnership with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Wayne State University. Through this initiative, students can learn more about how to cope with mental health issues.

     

    Fall 2023 Meeting Dates:

    • Tuesday, Sept. 12, 5:30PM
    • Tuesday, Oct. 24, 5:30PM
    • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30PM
    • Tuesday, Dec. 5, 5:30PM 
  • Public Health  

    Chair: Vansh Bhardwaj vanshb@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Huda Syed, Rachel John, Issa Hosari, Cordelia Krajewski, Jalyssa Hill, Braeden Milbrandt, Emmanuela Johnson, Mazin Alam     

    The goal of the Public Health Project Group is to conceptualize, design and accomplish student-led initiatives that promote the success of the WSU student body, focused on the expansive field of public health. This project group is an excellent medium to practice public health principles in our community and make meaningful connections while doing so. The group works to improve current initiatives and efforts on campus revolving around student health, sustainability, public safety, and more. 

    Current Initiatives: 

    • Amplifying Campus Health Center Resources
      • Ensuring a standardized procedure that dispels anxiety when seeking out Plan B at the Campus Health Center. Creating straightforward access to emergency contraceptive products and providing education on further sexual/mental health resources.
    • Safe Sex Vending Machines
      • Implementing vending machines in residence halls or around campus that promote and encourage the use of contraception. Partnered with the Community Affairs Project Group.
    • Free Menstrual Products
      • Continuing the Free Menstrual Product Pilot Program that is currently offered in select campus bathrooms. 
    • Vaping Education and Student Health Initiative (VESHI)
      • Educating students and providing them with the resources necessary to limit nicotine use. Partnered with the Mental Health Project Group.
    • Sharps Disposal Bins
      • Adding sharps disposal bins to select restrooms across campus.
    • Biodiversity Gardens 
      • Reintroducing biodiversity gardens to campus.
    • Campus Composting Education 
      • Working to create a map and furthering the information given to students about composting on campus.
    • Recycling Signage
      • ​​​​​​​Maximizing awareness and accessibility for recycling, focused on student housing. Ensuring that custodial staff has the capacity to sort waste into recycling as well.

    Fall 2023 Meetings: Every other Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

  • Student Services  

    Chair: Mohamed Dabaja gk1828@wayne.edu

    Active Members: Amal Elsaleh, Joël Hammoud, Veronica Fahmi, Mohamed Karaali

    The Student Service Project Group studies, reviews, and makes recommendations concerning resources for students within the university, while supporting their unique needs by creating initiatives that promote their overall success and wellness during their time at the university and beyond.  

    Current Initiatives: 

    • Working to create more reflection rooms across campus.
    • Bringing Artistic Rooms to the Student Center and looking to increase these rooms in other areas in University.
    • Increasing access to resources through technology-based initiatives.
    • Working on renovating the UROP website and its accessibility to students.
    • Working to improve International Student Success on Campus.
    • Increasing awareness of Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET).

    Meets Friday at noon