In his State of the Student Body Address last night, Undergraduate Student Government President Sundeep Mutgi said despite tough economic times, the University community is working to stay competitive in higher education.

Addressing a crowd of approximately 20 students in the Black Swamp Pub, Mutgi proudly described the student body as strong and praised the University on reaching national status in higher education.

‘Despite cutbacks across the University, we’ve currently been acknowledged as a national leader … as a school with commitment to education and the undergraduate experience,’ Mutgi said.

Mutgi said USG has been doing its part to make the University’s issues known in the midst of state budget cuts.

‘As the state budget continues to be worked and reworked, student government has joined with other student governments from around the state in the Ohio Student Government Association to not only make sure our issues are still being heard at the state level, but among other institutions.’

Mutgi also congratulated the student body for choosing higher education.

‘More and more as a nation, we’re coming to realize that in order to stay competitive globally, we must start to educate ourselves at the highest of levels,’ he said. ‘Each and every undergraduate student here and listening to this broadcast today is currently putting themselves in the best possible position to not only withstand the difficult current economic times but also the difficult job market.’

The University is putting itself in better standing in the areas of campus parking and bus issues, dining, beautification and its relationship with the city, Mutgi said.

For example, Mutgi said USG is working with the Department of Parking and Traffic and students to figure out how to solve ‘deteriorating parking and bus conditions.’ He said the department’s plan includes a $20-per-semester fee to update parking and the shuttle buses and routes available.

Mutgi said he is also pleased with the new options available to students since University Dining Services partnered with Chartwells.

‘This summer, several of our senators took part in key discussions regarding the reshaping of Dining Services and the functions of our dining services program,’ Mutgi said. ‘And after a great deal of hard work from both student government and the administration, I’m pleased to see that a variety of updates, ranging in food from Jamba Juice and the ever-popular sushi, to many actual structural updates, [are] coming to fruition.’

Scott Bilbrey, a USG off-campus senator, said he hopes the student body learned more about USG’s work through Mutgi’s presentation.

‘I hope that they can just see that President Mutgi has passion, both for the school and the student body, and that every member of USG is consciously working towards improving the relationship between USG and the student body, as well as hoping to improve the lives of the students,’ Bilbrey said.

Sophomore Erika Mills didn’t intentionally attend Mutgi’s speech, but she said she liked it.

‘I was actually celebrating my friend’s birthday, and then just listened to the speech,’ Mills said. ‘It was very informational.”