Meet the Senators

Thomas Johnstone

He:him/his

Social Work

Cincinnati, OH

College of Education and Community Innovation

Senior

Vice-President of Student Affairs Student Advisory Board; Michigan Irish Music Festival; GVSU Mental Health Ambassador;

- Student Life/Support: Promote downtown campus to incoming students and require one class a semester downtown. - Class Materials: Make it required that professors offer GVSU Save to students as an option. - Student Dining Options: Access to healthier options at downtown campuses. - Student Voice heard by administration and Board of Trustees

In the fall of 2024, I will be a senior working on dual majors in Social Work and Legal Studies. My time at Grand Valley has been nothing but remarkable as I am not only considered a First Generation but also a Non-Traditional student. I also sat as a member of the Vice-President of Student Affairs Student Advisory Board during the 2023-2024 term while achieving Deanýs List and becoming a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society. Being a part of the Student Senate has transformed my outlook on campus life and what needs to be changed to make both Allendale and Downtown campuses better for our students. During the 2023-2024 term, I was able to bring to the attention of DSR the need to install braille on signage and keypads on campus, as well as find out why a ramp at Mackinaw Hall is not heated. If re-elected, I will strive to update our food policy to offer healthier food options to our downtown campus, require professors to offer the GVSUSave program to all students and promote that incoming students be needed to take one class a semester at one of our downtown campuses. I will also work to make sure that not only our local administration hears the studentsý voices, but our voices are heard by the Board of Trustees as well.

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