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Student Association reviews the year and looks to next
By DAYNA D. LANDGREBE
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
iISSUE: 78/27
TYLER SWEENEY / STATESMAN
Mandly Liberty, Web master of SA
spends time working in the office.
With end of the year quickly approaching, the Student Association (SA) has spoken about the events and initiatives that did and did not succeed for the 2007-2008 academic school year. This year the SA outlined 10 initiatives. President Thomas Deminico stated that while the SA looked at many tasks and had to let go of some, the medical amnesty and UMD beautification initiatives were the main accomplishments. “These are two initiatives that we made really good ground on. Some were looked at more closely because of their possibility of actually being accomplished,” he said.
Deminico said that while other initiatives like recycling and energy efficiency were equally important, many other organizations on campus were already working toward them. Likewise, initiative like the revised parking options did not receive as much work this year. However, the medical amnesty initiative was tackled through a series of surveys originally put out by the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) and most recently, the SA. The initiative is an attempt to promote
underage students under the influence of alcohol to call for help in a medical emergency without having to worrying about immediate law enforcement.
The SA’s survey was distributed by random sample to 3,000 UMD students via e-mail and was open for 10 days. The survey asked students if they would or would not call for help and if they knew the signs of a medical emergency. “Results of the surveys are currently being tabulated and the program could be implemented for a trial period for next year,” said Laura Lindberg of SA. Lindberg also stressed that this program would be working closely with UMD Police and Student Housing.
The second main initiative was UMD beautification. Lindberg, also on the committee for this task, stated that this current initiative was being undertaken through the help of Facilities Management. The beautification initiative aimed at improving the hallway between the Dining Center and the dorms to create a more aesthetically pleasing area with new lighting, signs, and tiling. “This is a hallway that many incoming students see when touring UMD and it doesn’t fit with UMD’s image,” said Lindberg. Lindberg also stated that this was a priority made by Facilities Management to take on and that the remodeling is to begin this summer.
As for plans for next year, Deminico said that the SA forms its initiatives for the next academic year after elections by taking an annual retreat with incoming and outgoing members in a weekend long “think-tank.” Likewise, Deminico stated that the student-housing district was another big goal to take on next year. “It’s a big issue and I don’t think students are being represented the way they should on this. I don’t see anybody actually coming to the students and seeing what they want,” he said. The student-housing district mentioned would aim to provide a student living area similar to Dinkytown in Minneapolis. “I will personally make sure it is at the top of the list. I want to make sure people are addressing our needs, as they are the rest of the community,” said Deminico.
Finally, initiatives that will better serve the academic life of students like textbook affordability, course guide synopsis, and the liberal education task force are also being looked at. The course guide synopsis will give a student get a better breakdown of a professor’s requirements, their grading and style of the class. SA member Ashley Brown also stressed that hopes from the SA are high to create a public forum next year that would allow students to voice their concerns. “I would really like to see our face out there more with student events and governmental changes and let the students meet us,” said Brown.
