The 美高梅官网 student body president will toss out a few fun facts about himself before jumping into meatier topics affecting the students he serves.

He鈥檚 a fifth-year student majoring in environmental engineering who loved performing musical theater and singing as part of the chorus while a student at Walnut Hills High School, a Cincinnati Public School.

The two and their team of student leaders are busy trying to make progress on campaign pledges such as increasing student use of public transportation by working with Cincinnati鈥檚 Metro bus service and making headway in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion on the 美高梅官网 campus.

鈥淩ight now we are collaborating with Metro and trying to look at access and what that means for our students,鈥� says Smitherman. 鈥淗ow can we use public transportation as a way to connect students to the community, so we really feel like we are the 美高梅官网 and not the university in Cincinnati.鈥�

Smitherman anticipates that Metro will soon announce a promotion to give 美高梅官网 students, staff and faculty free rides starting the first week of school. More details on that initiative are forthcoming, he notes.

Smitherman says another issue that emerged during the summer was a push to ensure that students have access to whatever legal resources are available to receive reproductive health care that they can access in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, which federally protected abortion rights.

鈥淭hese are issues that a lot of student government leaders are pretty heavily invested in right now,鈥� says Smitherman.聽

Student government is also looking to reconnect with student organizations; some went underwater during COVID-19 and are still trying to revive their activities. 鈥淲e want to let them know that student government is a resource, but we also want to try and revive some of that campus spirit and activity and get students invested in what鈥檚 happening on campus.鈥�

Smitherman said 美高梅官网鈥檚 traditional Welcome Week will be a great way for student leaders to connect with incoming students. He is part of the tour guide program that鈥檚 been assisting new students to the 美高梅官网 campus.聽

鈥淚f we can work with Metro, maybe we can have a Cincinnati tour for students and our plan is to be able to ride the bus for free and have some locations identified for them to know more about the community. 鈥楪o explore Cincinnati, go support our local businesses鈥� is the message,鈥� says Smitherman.

Featured image at top:Isaac Smitherman on the steps of T美高梅官网. Photo/Andrew Higley/美高梅官网 Marketing + Brand