Undergraduate Student Senate collaboration brings safety upgrade to Kent Street

Students may notice a new addition to the Blacksburg campus: a blinking, solar-powered signal highlighting the pedestrian crosswalk at Kent Street and Owens Access Drive.

The crosswalk enhancement, contributed by the Undergraduate Student Senate in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Police Department and the Division of Facilities, marks the first use of the senate's Major Projects Fund. It’s also the final project in a year of new activity and civic engagement for the senate.

A symbol of student initiative

The senate's 2023-24 budget allocated some revenue from the Hokie Effect program to a new Major Projects Fund to benefit the undergraduate student body. This spring, members of the senate had an important decision to make: What should the first major project be?

The idea for the crosswalk enhancement originated from a meeting between Leslie Orellana ’25, last year’s undergraduate student representative to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, and Michael Dunn, transportation planning engineer for the Office of the University Engineer. Orellana and Dunn discussed campus safety and transportation and the potential for the senate's involvement in upcoming projects.

With the Major Projects Fund front of mind, Orellana reached out to Chief of Police Mac Babb for input. Babb provided Blacksburg campus traffic data, and Babb and Dunn presented project location options to the senate. 

“After Chief Babb and Mike Dunn’s informative presentation, we had an internal discussion where representatives could share their constituents’ thoughts and concerns, creating an emphasis not only on the data but also on first-hand experiences and concerns as students and pedestrians on campus,” said Orellana.

Representatives determined that the most impactful project based on the police department’s data and the senate’s budget would be a solar powered traffic light signal to draw attention to the crosswalk at Kent Street and Owens Access Drive. They voted to approve the enhancement on March 18, and it was installed over the summer to minimize traffic interruption.

“We remind people regularly that safety is a community responsibility,” said Babb. “Projects like this demonstrate that our students understand this important concept and make tangible contributions to make this a safe environment.”

“My biggest takeaway from this project is that shared governance is the best way for students to get involved in campus life and truly help shape the Virginia Tech experience,” said Orellana. “Being able to engage in discussions with administrators and students over the past year truly showed the passion we all have for creating meaningful change at Virginia Tech.”

Senate funds raised through the Hokie Effect also support the Student Emergency Fund, student athlete initiatives, and general operations. 

A big year in review

The crosswalk project is just one example of how the senate effected meaningful change over the 2024-25 academic year.

For the first time since the senate was formed in 2021, representatives overhauled the Undergraduate Student Senate Constitution to ensure it accurately represents current practices, an extensive process that lasted almost a year.

In October, the senate approved a referendum process to allow the senate to make statements on behalf of the undergraduate student body based on a majority vote of at least a third of students. The process gives the undergraduate student body a more direct voice in university governance. 

For ACC Advocacy Days, student senators met with legislators and representatives in Washington, D.C. For Hokie Day in Richmond, they spent the day advocating for institutional priorities and had lunch with President Tim Sands.

Undergraduate Student Senate (USS) President Emma Roshioru, who served as director of governmental relations last year, led senate members on the advocacy trips.

“Across these events, delegation members from the USS spoke with a total of 21 state and federal legislators, advocating for issues pertinent to the student experience, including encouraging the General Assembly to approve $200.4 million in budget priorities to support the university,” she said.

What it takes to be a representative

After being a part of last year’s campus projects and supporting her peers on advocacy trips, Roshioru ran for Undergraduate Student Senate president to continue her work in improving the student experience.

“I recognized how easy it is for students to feel helpless when dealing with the cards we are dealt,” she said. “Still, I also came to recognize that whether someone is a student or administrator, policy impacts us all and that, as members of the Undergraduate Student Senate, we carry the legacies we create by the actions we take.”

Kat Nelson, deputy director of the Undergraduate Student Senate, encourages any student who wants to make a difference, help improve Virginia Tech, and gain important skills to run for a senate position. 

“USS leaders are able to vote on legislation, improve the undergraduate student experience, decide how clubs receive funding, and much more,” said Nelson. “By providing their perspective, reviewing university policy proposals, and participating in discussions on significant actions that are being considered by the Board of Visitors and the president of the university, USS leaders ensure the undergraduate student voice is included in major decisions.”

To learn more about the Undergraduate Student Senate, visit the website, follow on social media as @ussatvt, or find its page on GobblerConnect.