A school spirit initiative to raise morale and build attendance in support of our athletes; a legal music downloading service free of charge; extended hours in the Armory and improved security measures; funding for a shuttle-tracking system; a coordinated national response to protect your financial aid dollars; movement toward improved advising; growing popularity for our midterm progress reporting plan; Pizza with the President; an online student forum board; initiatives to keep you better informed that include an updated website, the Monday Morning Mailing subscription service, and a liaison system that involves more students in shared governance than ever before; a new shuttle route; growing prospects for our Zipcar plan to relieve student transportation issues; collaborative efforts with our peer institutions on a regional level to improve your college experience … and the list goes on. That doesn’t even include our joint efforts with the Union Executive Board to plan the renovation of the Rathskellar. The changes taking place around you are pervasive on every level, from infrastructure and academics to information technology and athletics.
Two weeks ago, I delivered a review of the progress made by the Senate this semester, detailing the items I listed above, and I hope you are happy with the progress we’ve made. If you’re not, I have a challenge for you: name one thing the Student Senate accomplished for you in years past.
We’re working hard to improve upon your concerns and to take the offensive on issues you’ve raised. During my freshman year, I led a thorough review of student feedback gathered from storming all of the dining halls on campus and visiting every greek house. Believe it or not, most of the issues identified were the same as those described in documentation from the 1960s. Even today, based on smaller-scale feedback efforts, the issues haven’t changed much.
Coming into office, my goal was to actually stir up the system to respond to the age-old issues identified by students, but the effect of doing so has awoken a formerly torpid discussion about student government and its agenda. Some folks have disagreed with our efforts. Some folks have praised our efforts. What is important to realize is that we will never be able to please everyone. Anytime you change the status quo, you inevitably will face a few squawkers. A leader that walks away without any arrows in his or her back clearly isn’t a leader. No longer will we sit by and talk about the issues, careful not to ruffle any feathers. We’re taking progressive action and we’re doing our best. Like you, we are students. We go to class with you, we eat the same food as you, we wait on the shuttles with you, and we pull all-nighters with you. So for their extra efforts to serve you, give your senators credit every once in awhile. They’re just trying to improve life for all of us here.
I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to some of your Senators who have worked so hard and provided leadership that has been so beneficial to the entire student body: Julia Leusner ’08 for her work on midterm progress reporting; Zack Freeman ’07, Lindsay Denton ’06, and Kim Conway ’06 for their work on Project Hope; Dietrich Murawsky ’07 for his work on Ruckus; Kevin Ly ’06, Mark Andrews ’06 and August Fietkau ’08 for their work on the Senate’s website and Monday Morning Mailing; Donald Pendagast ’07 for his work on advising; Brian Zaik ’09 for his leadership on the capital district joint initiatives; Courtney Sweeney ’08 for her work on Pizza with the President; Nick Wood ’07 and Dan Horvath ’08 for their oversight of tuition and Institute finances; Bob Fishel ’07 for his work on the shuttles and Zipcars; Mike Goldenberg ’06 for his work on the Student Advocacy Corps; Nate Parker ’06 and Anna Kate Murtagh ’07 for their work as liaisons to the greek community and Jason Rokeach ’08 for his job as a liaison to the independent community; Matt Newman ’05, Jacqueline Krajewski ’05, and Tim Sprock ’09 for their work on student rights; and Amy Moise ‘09 for her continued dedication as an active freshman senator. Our secretary, Marcus Griep ’07, is purely to blame for the behind-the-scenes work of the Senate this year and is hardly recognized enough. I also express gratitude to the rest of the Senate committee members who have been dedicated to our bold agenda. Keep up the energy and enthusiasm in the second semester!
Good luck with your finals and God bless you all through the holiday season!
