Student Body President Cooper Tinsley detailed what he and the rest of the IU Student Government FUSE administration have in store for the spring term in an interview with the Indiana Daily Student. Here’s what to know: 
EmpowerED Scholarship 
In a Jan. 14 press release, the FUSE administration announced it will roll out the EmpowerED Scholarship, which will cover materials such as textbooks, lab equipment and office supplies for the term in which a student applies for the scholarship. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. An IUSG committee will award scholarships in a blind review.  
“The effort is to offset those out-of-pocket costs by providing scholarships to a student’s bursar account,” Tinsley said. 
There will be two application cycles for the scholarship per semester, one for the first eight weeks and one for the second eight weeks. While there is currently no cap on the number of individual scholarships or the amount awarded per scholarship, IUSG policy allows them to “establish such limits pending the availability of funds,” Tinsley wrote in an email. Applications for the first cycle of scholarships are open now until Jan. 31 and more information can be found on the IUSG website.  
Calculator Loaner Program 
The FUSE administration announced it will launch a Calculator Loaner Program, which allows students to borrow graphing, scientific and basic calculators for the whole semester at no cost. 
According to a January press release, the “program is designed to ensure all students have access to essential academic tools they need to succeed.” Students can pick up their calculators in the IUSG office in the Indiana Memorial Union and return them by the end of the semester. 
The Makerspace 
Tinsley said his administration’s biggest project is the Makerspace, which will give various student organizations access to equipment such as button makers, a 3D printer and a T-shirt press. 
“The goal with that is to provide student organizations with resources to be able to properly market and promote themselves,” Tinsley said. 
Tinsley said he hopes it will cut down project costs for individual student organizations. They are currently finalizing the details of the Makerspace, which will open in the IMU sometime early this year for all registered student organizations after a pilot run of the program. 
Spring open house 
IUSG will host its spring open house from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday in the IMU Club Hub. It will be an opportunity for students to meet their representatives and learn about the resources IUSG has to offer. 
“That’ll be a great time for students to come get free food and just meet the students that are representing them and working on their behalf,” Tinsley said. 
Princeton Review partnership 
Another program the FUSE administration has in the works is a partnership with The Princeton Review, an educational resource that provides test preparation and admissions services. Tinsley said IUSG has negotiated a 25% discount for IU Bloomington students on all Princeton Review prep courses, as well as a 10% discount on one-on-one test prep, academic tutoring and admissions counseling. 
He said his administration is also planning to order various test prep books in bulk and host an event where they can give them out to students free of charge. Within this partnership, Tinsley said they are also hoping to host proctored mock exams for tests like the LSAT and MCAT to further IUSG’s goal of assisting in professional development. 
Student organization funding 
IUSG is also continuing its funding of student organizations. After IU allowed the Funding Board to overdraft last year, IUSG reallocated about $20,000 from its operational expenses into a student organization fund. 
“We’ve been able to give out a substantial amount of that and continue to offer that to students throughout the rest of the semester,” Tinsley said. 
IUSG’s original cap on funds was $300, which then increased to $425 in November, but, after an executive order eliminating this cap in December, Tinsley said IUSG is trying to be as flexible as it can with the awards.  
Lease gap housing 
IUSG is in the process of negotiating a program with the Biddle Hotel that would let students stay in the hotel between leases. Inspired by a program at the University of Iowa, this initiative will offer students discounted or free stays at the hotel to address student housing insecurity during these gap periods. While the deal hasn’t been finalized, Tinsley said he hopes for it to launch soon. 
Crimson Closet 
IUSG is working to create a program to lend professional clothing to students, which would be called the Crimson Closet. While not able to solidify a permanent plan before the end of the semester, Tinsley said IUSG is trying to host a one-day pop-up event where students can borrow a suit for free.  
While other schools on campus have similar programs, such as pop-up events through the Walter Center for Career Achievement or the Kelley School of Business Professional Dress Closet initiative, Tinsley said he would like to make these resources available for the entire student body. 
“The goal is to kind of fill that gap and make access to professional clothing as equitable as possible,” Tinsley said. 
More information on student resources offered by IUSG can be found on its website, or at its office in Room 250 of the IMU. 
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