Nicholas Capalia
Co-News Editor
On Oct. 8 from 2–4 p.m., Associated Students (AS) President Le Anh Metzger tabled outside the Arbor for her first Coffee with the President. With Spudnuts coffee and donuts provided, students stopped by with a range of questions from student government to general advice.
Spread about her table was an assortment of AS flyers and stickers alongside the donut boxes and coffee carriers. Students attached notes to a trifold board, sharing what they were most looking forward to this school year. The decorations were all resting atop a large table cover with “Associated Students Office of the President” printed beside the AS logo.
“The main goal is having students aware they have a student body president. Multiple people who I’ve talked to today didn’t realize we had one,” said President Metzger when interviewed by The Bottom Line, regarding why she started Coffee with the President.
The student body president serves as the executive of AS — the student-run and funded government for UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). President Metzger highlighted some notable programs and initiatives run by AS — such as the AS Food Bank and Narcan distribution in the residence halls. She helped run both programs before her presidential election.
But Coffee with the President is just one approach that AS is taking to reach out to students.
“I started AS Newsletter. The first one went out in September, and it’ll be monthly for the rest of the year. I coordinated with Student Affairs so it is sent out to every student,” President Metzger said.
It is worth noting that President Metzger also posted stories throughout that same day on the AS president Instagram, guiding a follower through her day from morning classes to late meetings, which is another program to build greater communication with the student body.
Besides outreach efforts, President Metzger and the Senate are focused on the closure of late night study in the library. She assured that the student government is in discussion with the UCSB administration about the issue and said that she is helping to plan meetings between passionate senators and Vice Chancellor David Marshall.
“I’d say it’s going pretty well in terms of them being receptive to meeting us, referring to Campus Administration and Librarian Administration,” President Metzger added.
Yet, most student conversations with President Metzger concluded with her pointing them towards a committee that could address their specific needs or concerns.
“If a person is having an issue, I’ll say they can talk to this person or this person. Otherwise, I say I can take that to the chancellor or the Senate,” President Metzger said.
One such person approached the table and asked for directions to the Financial Aid Office, and the president promptly provided instructions.
If a student has other questions for President Metzger, they’re encouraged to stop by the next Coffee with the President on Oct. 21 at the same time and place. The event will be held every other week for the remainder of the quarter, or until Dec. 2.