State of the University | Student Perspective

A speech by Student Body President Claire Krebs, given at the State of the University:

Good afternoon everyone,

It is a privilege and a pleasure to be with you all. My name is Claire Krebs and I am a senior majoring in neuroscience and philosophy from Portland, Oregon. I have the honor of serving as the Student Body President for this academic year. 

Being a Santa Clara University student means committing oneself to a life of interdisciplinary learning, looking ahead to the future with compassion and an eagerness to contribute, and wearing flip flops no matter the weather. I’m proud to be a Bronco and grateful for the opportunity to join you today to share the State of the University from the student perspective. 

This year, the Associated Student Government has remained dedicated to representing and empowering our student body. We have honed in on this mission through new systems of internal accountability, community-centered engagement strategies, and proactive advocacy work.

To start, I’d like to highlight a simple but impactful initiative that ASG Vice President, Sophia Standard, and I took on to ensure the availability of the ASG executive cabinet to the student body. We, along with our executive team, began hosting a total of 40 weekly office hours, at minimum. During this time, our lights are on, our door is open, and students are invited to come speak with us to ask questions, share their concerns, or even just chat. These office hours have created a space for us to connect more frequently and intentionally with members of the student body.

I am also particularly proud of our coalition-building efforts across student organizations. Sophia and I meet regularly with leaders from Chartered Student Organizations to share ideas and establish direct lines of communication. One event where this collaboration shines through is our quarterly Diversity Forum, which we organize jointly with the Multicultural Center. These forums continue to be a space where students, faculty, and staff alike can gather and join in difficult conversations. This academic year, topics have included campus mental health, student safety, divestment, anti-Blackness, providing support for undocumented students, and improving the Residence Life experience. I am grateful to live and learn on a campus where students feel comfortable sharing their opinions with administrators and strive to work together toward meaningful solutions. 

In fact, each of our signature, quarterly events—Diversity Forum, Greek Forum, and Town Hall—now feature revamped formats in favor of increased student participation and fulfillment. We have received positive feedback on these changes and are looking forward to continuing to center student voices and needs in our initiatives.  

With student concerns and feedback at the forefront, our branch members and Senators have spearheaded a variety of projects aimed at improving the student experience for all Broncos. Members of our judicial branch are currently working to improve the off-campus living experience by compiling resources and frequently asked questions about leases, landlords, and all things in between. A few weeks ago, the ASG Senate unanimously passed a resolution aimed at improving on-campus living by reforming the RLC model and protecting student workers. For most students, the SCU experience begins in their residence halls. This legislative action reflects our ASG commitment to helping guarantee a positive and truly community-oriented experience for both student staff and residents. Another group of Senators is examining a way to expand student access to reproductive health and resources, while still upholding our Jesuit values. We also have members organizing a 5k for mental health awareness, which we plan to host in the spring.

Much of Sophia and I’s projects this year have also focused on improving student mental health, which we have identified as a critical issue in need of care and attention. If you know me, you’ll know I am a huge dog person (almost insufferably so). As it turns out, so is the SCU student body. In the fall, we surveyed hundreds of students across various majors and class years to gauge interest in getting a campus therapy dog, with the hopes of supporting student mental health in a new way. Much to my delight, 98.2% of students agree or strongly agree that they would like a therapy dog on campus. Since then, we have partnered with Canine Companions, a national organization that trains puppies to become service and therapy dogs, and we are currently exploring ways to implement a therapy dog program here at SCU.

Our most significant achievement is the installation of almost two thousand mirror clings, one for every vanity mirror in the residence halls and University Villas, which list key mental health resources available both on-campus and off-campus. Our goal is to reduce barriers for students to seek help for themselves and their peers. Now that each living space is equipped with the clings, we are looking to expand these resources to include public restrooms around campus. I am incredibly thankful to Campus Safety Services, Housing, Residence Life, and Student Health, Counseling, and Well-being for their partnership in developing the clings and ensuring their successful installation. 

Santa Clara Students are incredibly resilient and motivated; nevertheless, we are not immune to challenges of growing up and the unique stressors present in society today. There are countless factors that contribute to a student’s mental health, but from my experience and observation, many students struggle from the overwhelmingness of current realities. Students are facing social and academic pressures, an extremely competitive job and internship market, and a continuous onslaught of deeply worrying news about the state of our country and the world. These difficulties culminate in different ways for different students. 

However, in true Bronco fashion, students are finding new ways to come together in support of one another and in the hopes of fostering change on campus and beyond. I was particularly inspired by the civic engagement and solidarity present at our campus’ ICE Out demonstration two and a half weeks ago. Such moments highlight the impressive activism of SCU students and the powerful impact of an education which prioritizes Jesuit ideals of faith that does justice and being people for and with others. 

As we turn the corner and approach the latter half of this academic year, the campus energy feels excited and, in many ways, optimistic. Students are enjoying the increased attention on the Bay Area with events such as the Super Bowl and World Cup hosted up the road at Levi’s Stadium, and are looking forward to hearing about updates regarding the Semester Analysis Working Group and Core Curriculum Revision Committee. Lastly, the growth and success of Bronco Athletics is both inspiring and incredibly fun to watch.

Santa Clara University students stand in a critical position—not only to shape our campus culture for the better but also to foster tangible change in society at large. I am grateful for the opportunities we are afforded, proud to be a member of a student body that is mission- and value-driven, and confident that we will continue being a force for good in the world.

Thank you and go Broncos!