Voter turnout for this year’s Student Senate elections spiked significantly, as 25 percent of the student body cast their ballots, compared to a measly eight percent last year. This year was also important because a new coalition—Ad Astra—overthrew KUnited from their reign over Senate for the last 18 of 19 years.
One of the key players in this movement was senior Haley Miller, who worked behind the scenes as a senior advisor for Ad Astra. Miller helped guide coalition members toward success, answering their questions about campaigning and Senate involvement. It helps that Miller has been a member of Senate for the past two years, serving as chair for the Multicultural Affairs Committee this year. She has been through the campaigning process twice, but she said that this year was the most involved she had ever been.
“I don’t think I’ve been as excited about a coalition or a campaign season as I am about this year in this coalition,” Miller said. “There was a group of us in Student Senate that started talking about forming a new coalition, and that led up to meetings with Emma and Marcus and other people that we thought might be interested.”
During this time, Miller and a few other senate members came up with the name ‘Ad Astra,’ a nod to Kansas’ state motto “Ad Astra per Aspera,” which translates to “To the stars, through difficulties.” So far, the coalition’s run this semester has lived up to that standard, as they strived to make a change in the way Senate interacted with the student body.
“This was more of a grassroots effort. Which is what politics, and all of that should be,” Miller said.
Ad Astra’s platforms were simple, but would have a direct impact on students. They hope to decrease transcript fees, and improve the campus parking situation, for example.
Miller’s interest in Senate was piqued after she had been involved in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) her freshman year. She ran after seeing the effect Senate had on the groups she was involved with.
“Finances were a big part since Student Senate is where most student groups get their money from, and also the changes you can make on campus, it’s done through Senate most often,” Miller said.
She is still involved with CSW and served as vice president last year. This year, the group went to Topeka to sit in on committee hearing about a bill, passed by the Kansas House of Representatives that would allow doctors to not disclose full information to patients about their pregnancies, even if health risks are involved.
“I actually had the opportunity to go last week to Topeka for a Press Conference and gave a quick two-minute spiel about how I felt about the bill, and what would happen if that passed,” Miller said.
Last year, Miller also put together a campaign, which featured photos of members from all across campus, men and women, sporting t-shirts that said “This is what a feminist looks like.” She also won the KU Women of Distinction award through the Emily Taylor Center.
After she graduates Miller plans to take a break before looking into law or business school. She advises current students to “definitely get involved with at least one organization, because really, that’s all it takes. Something that you care about. Get involved with one thing, but make sure that doesn’t interfere with your grades or academics because ultimately that’s what we’re all here for, and all of this extra stuff just validates what we’re doing in the classroom.”