Two Undergraduate Student Government (USG) senators have been allotted $5,000 for activities relating to the newly-formed Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Student Advisory Council.

Josh Wehe, a philosophy major, and Rudy Alterio, a political science major, founded the council a few weeks ago.

Wehe said the council was established to create a sense of community in the Division of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS), which represents 15 academic departments on campus and the Lamont School of Music. He said the club will use the funding to co-sponsor events and raise awareness around campus, bring speakers and to host events at DU.

“There is a lack of community in the AHSS departments,” Wehe said. “For example, if you’re a psychology major, you’re a psychology major at the University of Denver.  [But] if you’re an International Business student, you’re a student in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.”

Their first major event will be held in early-January. It will be a launch party to kick off the club, generate interest and recruit new members.  Another event, scheduled for April 17, 2012, will feature Latin American author Julia Alvarez.

“We’re honored to have her,” said Wehe.

Another goal of the club is to reach out to DU alumni who have reached prestige or found success in their fields after graduating from DU’s AHSS. Wehe explained that as a philosophy major, this has affected him personally, as he’s had to cope with the stigma of having a degree that some consider impractical.

“This organization will also feature a really cool alumni-student relationship,” he said. “We’re looking to establish a mentoring program between the two.  We’re a multi-faceted student organization. We’re also looking to do an alumni mixer.”

The USG Senate passed the measure in an unanimous vote, thus allotting the new council direct funding of $2,500.  Anne McCall, the Dean of AHSS, who’s also the club’s sponsor, also matched this funding, bringing the new club’s funds to $5,000.