ENCOUNTER News
By: Elizabeth Badalamenti Staff Writer
SGA Elects New Senators Five new senators have joined USF’s Student Government Association (SGA) this past month. These students will be representing their respective classes during SGA meetings and will sit on various committees to assure that student opinions are considered in university decisions. Alexus Maldonado, the newly-elected freshman class senator, is focused on improving the commuter student experience at USF. Maldonado says that she “enjoy[s] being active in [her] community” and looks forward to the opportunity “to initiate change” on campus. Mary Mathieu, SGA’s sophomore class senator, is prioritizing students’
mental health. Mathieu notes how she strives to “[uplift] others during this time of darkness” and has hopes to “[unite the campus] as one USF family to overcome the circumstances of the time.” Juniors Michelle Osei Larbi and Craig Kampmier will be serving as SGA’s junior class senators and have the goal of connecting students with each other and with the administration. Larbi plans to improve dining at St. Clare campus and Kampmier wants to find new ways to get student input on important issues. The final new senator to join SGA is Miryam Perez, who will be serving as a Senior Class Senator. Perez’s focus will be on improving
sustainability at USF and plans to work closely with the sustainability committee to make this happen. Due to the pandemic’s disruption to the end of the 2019-2020 school year, SGA’s senate elections were postponed until mid-October. While five senate seats have been filled, Student Government is still searching for a freshman, sophomore, and senior class senator; two senators-at-large; and a Vice President of Publicity. Those interested in running for these positions should email StudentGovernment@ stfrancis.edu for more information.
Photo courtesy of the Joliet Patch
The Future of the Joliet Kmart
Pending review of Joliet officials, the empty Kmart store at West Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue may soon house indoor and outdoor storage units, a 60,000 square foot grocery store, and one or two restaurants. While the 10.6-acre space has been vacant for the
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past four years, it caught the attention of 1801 Jefferson Development LLC, an investment group that intends to convert the space. According to the real estate attorney representing the group, Michael Hansen, if all goes as planned, the redevelopment project will be
approved later this year and construction of the storage units will begin in the spring of 2021. More information will be announced as plans are finalized and approved.
