March Update

Hello UMD Students!!

It has been a while since the last update but the UMD Student Association has accomplished a great deal since November! We have made much progress towards our initiatives!

I hope those of you who stayed up late cramming for finals last semester had a chance to grab a cup of coffee and a cookie from the Library. The Academic Affairs Committee sponsored "LATE NIGHT LIBRARY," which was held outside of the Library entrance. Cookies, cider and coffee were served to students needing a little something extra to get that 'A+'. For those of you desperately needing a study break, I hope you had a chance to grab some free food and a massage in the Kirby Lounge. The Committee of Student Affairs sponsored a relaxation event with professional massage therapists. Snacks and pop were also served to all who attended.

February 20^th was "SUPPORT THE U DAY" at the state capitol. The Student Legislative Coalition sponsored and organized the event. Students from each U of M campus participated in a rally to show support for the University of Minnesota and to lobby for university related initiatives. Members of SLC, Representatives of Student Association, and many other UMD students met with Minnesota legislators to lobby for a new UMD Civil Engineering Building. This year, UMD had a larger student turnout than any other campus, including the Twin Cities campus! Thank you to all students who participated in the event!

UMD was initially accredited as a stand-alone campus in 1967. Every 10 years the campus completes a self-evaluation report and meets with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. March 3-5 the Higher Learning Commission met with students, faculty and members of the administration. SA's Public Relations Director, Katie Best, organized the UMDSA Executive Consultative Committee to meet with the HLC to discuss important student topics.

I'm sure that you have noticed the FREE newspapers placed around campus! Hopefully you have enjoyed them but unfortunately the four-week test pilot has come to an end. The Collegiate Readership Program is designed to enhance the learning environment on campuses by providing students with access to a daily assortment of leading national and local newspapers. The newspapers we chose were USA Today, Star Tribune, and Duluth News Tribune. Student Association implemented the program to promote civic engagement and global awareness. We have been working with the administration to permanently bring the program back to campus starting next year!

The Committee on Student Affairs has submitted a Medical Amnesty Survey for IRB approval. The survey will be available to students shortly. Also, Student Affairs has made progress on the UMD Beautification effort! Look for changes in the coming year to "the dungeon" between Lake Superior Hall and Burntside Hall. If you have any questions or comments regarding Student Affairs' initiatives, please contact Laura Lindberg, VP of Student Affairs.

Student Association has put together an ad-hoc Liberal Education Task Force Committee to represent student opinion on UMD’s Liberal Education Program. The committee will begin meeting shortly. If you have any thoughts on Liberal Education, please feel free to visit the Lib Ed Task Force's blog at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/wpayne/libed/ or contact Ashley Brown, VP of Academic Affairs.

Student Association's Campus Outreach Director, Anna Lundberg recently organized this semester's President’s Council. Representatives from student clubs and organizations across campus formally meet once a semester to discuss issues, ask questions, and provide updates for their groups. In addition, groups can apply for funding from the Student Association Budget, Loans and Grants Committee. This year 39 student clubs and organizations applied and interviewed with the BLG Committee. All groups who apply and interview receive funds! Good luck this semester to all student clubs and organizations! Any questions or comments regarding the Budget, Loans, and Grants Committee please contact Ben Kirk, VP of Administration and Finance.

As a reminder you must re-register every semester for the Bulldog Taxi Program. You may re-register in the SA Office in Kirby 115. Any questions or comments about the Bulldog Taxi Program contact Jeni Kiewatt, BTP Director.

Spring elections are approaching!! Make a difference! Represent your fellow students and run for a position on UMD STUDENT ASSOCIATION! Pick up an application in the SA Office in Kirby Student Center 115. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 4th. Elections will be held the following week. Voice your opinion on important student issues! Pick up an application today

If you would like to know more about Student Association initiatives, events, and accomplishments, please contact me at demi0042@d.umn.edu. Any suggestions, comments, questions, or concerns please feel free to stop in the SA Office to let us know or leave a note in our suggestion box outside of our office.

Thank you everyone, see you around campus!

Thomas DeMinico
Student Body President
UMD Student Association

November Update

Hello UMD Students!!

November was a busy month for the UMD Student Association!!

• Academic Affairs has made much progress with Textbook Affordability! The policy that they have worked on implementing recommends that faculty consider costs when selecting textbooks, faculty make sure that a significant part of the required text is used for the class, and that multiple editions of books be allowed for use throughout the class. This policy that was proposed has now been put into place and the committee is now making their rounds to every collegiate department to promote these simple guidelines. If you would like a copy of the Textbook Policy, please contact Ashley Brown at brow1713@d.umn.edu. Along with that, Academic Affairs is doing research on the distribution of Tech fees, working on finding areas in the classroom that need improvement, and is preparing for Late Night Library, which is a time during finals week when the library will be open and available to students until 2 AM. Coffee, hot cider and snacks will be served from 12-1 AM on Sun., Mon., and Tues. in the library during finals week.

• Student Affairs has been working with the administration on putting together a student medical amnesty survey and they have made much progress on UMD beautification! Currently, they are managing the Salvation Army bell ringing outside Kirby Plaza. Thank you to the other student organizations that have also helped out with that. In addition, Student Affairs has been working with the Kirby Program Board on hosting and co-sponsoring an event before finals week. Please look out for any additional information concerning the event. If you would like to know more about Student Affairs initiatives and events please contact Laura Lindberg at lindb236@d.umn.edu.

• This month Better Neighbors, Student Association, and the Duluth Association for Responsible Rentals (DARR) organized a Student Renter Forum.Issues we will discuss will address parking, trash, and noise violations, new city ordinances, and there will be an information session.Our goal is to gain student input and feedback on these neighborhood issues.There will be FREE PIZZA AND POP!! The forum will be held in Montague 80 @ 5 PM on Wed. December 5.

If you would like to know more about Student Association initiatives, events, and accomplishments, please contact me at demi0042@d.umn.edu. The next UMDSA update will be posted early January for updates of December. Until then, good luck on finals and HAPPY HOLIDAYS UMD!!

Thomas DeMinico
Student Body President
UMD Student Association

(webmaster note: Please comment in the most recent post! Thank you!)

October Update

Hello UMD Students!!! The month of October went very well for UMD Student Association!

The SA Open house was a success!! Thank you to Katie Best and to all that came in and helped or participated.

UMDSA and Better Neighbors will assist and support the Duluth Association for Responsible Rentals with a Responsible Renter Forum held on December 5, 2007. Issues of discussion will include ordinances, noise, trash, and parking issues, etc. There will be free Pizza and Pop, so please attend!

Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and the Student Legislative Coalition continue to work on there initiatives for this year.

• Student Affairs is making progress on Medical Amnesty, Revised Parking Options, and UMD Beautifications. The hallway in between the Dining Center and the dorms is our main area of focus for UMD beautification. We are working with facilities management and the chancellors to find ways to fix this area up.

• Academic Affairs is working on the academic side of UMD beautification by looking at replacing destroyed desks and chairs in classrooms and is also making progress on textbook affordability. We have made recommendations to the faculty to consider costs when selecting textbooks for courses, and to use the same book for year-long courses and sections of multi-sectioned courses.

• The Student Legislative Coalition is working with government officials of Duluth to develop a student housing district plan. Issues between student renters and Duluth residents are ongoing problems that UMDSA will continue to work on reforming.
  

As always, if you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment!

Thomas DeMinico
Student Body President
UMD Student Association

September Update and Upcoming Events

Hello Faculty and Fellow Students!!

Hope the first month went well. It has been an exciting month for Student Association!

First, here are some important dates and events to keep marked on your calendars.

• The Budget Loans and Grants Committee has changed the student group grant application deadline to October 8^th to ensure groups get the funds they need in a timely manner. If you are a part of a student group and you need funds for this year, you must pick up an application in the SA office (KSC 115) and turn it in to the office by 5 PM on the 8^th
  

• Presidents Council will be on October 16^th and 17^th.

• Come to the SA open house and learn all about your student association! The open house will take place in the SA Office October 25. We will be serving cookies and apple cider to our knowledgeable guests!

Academic Affairs and Student Affairs continue to work on our initiatives for this year. Student Affairs is working hard on parking options, medical amnesty, the Student’s Rights Policy, recycling modifications, UMD beautification, and on-campus energy efficiency. Academic Affairs is continuing to work on textbook affordability.

The proposed city council ordinance that would have restricted the number of students living in off-campus homes did not pass on the 24^th of September! Thank you to the students who made an appearance at the meeting. I am extremely proud of the way we came together and organized ourselves to make our message heard; however, the problem is not solved. As far as what happens next, Student Association will continue to work with the administration, the residents of Duluth, the Duluth Police Department and the students to fix the issue. Noise violations, parking violations, trash, etc. have been a problem for too long now. It is no secret that the living styles of the students are very different from the living styles of the residents, but the entire community (both students and residents) must come together to work on these issues. Am I saying that parties must stop? HA! Most definitely not! I understand that this is a college community, and the parties may never stop. However, despite this very true statement, we must be respectful to our neighbors and in turn we may receive some respect as well.

Thank you students and faculty. Keep in touch for another update on our progress! If you have any suggestions or concerns, please leave a comment.

Thomas DeMinico
Student Body President
UMD Student Association

Coming Soon

Check back soon for monthly updates from SA President, Thomas DeMinico.