In the short term, attention can be brought to bear on two issues. First is commencement: Besides the larger question of who can walk, there are smaller details as well. Our student leaders can help make sure that the needs of all students and families are accommodated.

The other immediate concern is the set of Board of Trustees meetings next month. Several student representatives serve on Trustees committees and they must be prepared to talk about student needs. In particular, the Graduate Council president has a vital role this year—his voice on the Trustees’ Academic Affairs committee must be a strong one to effectively convey all of the concerns students have about the new tuition policy.

Preparations for the summer also need to be made. Contact information for members who will be off campus should be collected, and every student government officer remaining in Troy should be assigned a group of administrators to stay in touch with. The school has made something of a habit of making major policy changes over the summer and the students should not be caught off guard.

Also, groundwork needs to be in place so that no time is wasted in the fall. Hopefully, before the term ends we’ll have most of the new E-Board in place. The Senate should have goals set and committee chairs appointed. All of the other student government bodies should also have organizational structures in place and tasks set for themselves.

Finally, the various groups need to coordinate with each other. Each council has a different role, but they should all be working under the same paradigm. A meeting of the leaders of these groups can help to prevent the redundancy and internal bickering that have cropped up in the past.