Editorials

GUSA administration successful

By the

March 20, 2003


Outgoing GUSA executives Kaydee Bridges (SFS ‘03) and Mason Ayer (SFS ‘03) have led one of the most successful administrations in recent memory. They achieved a variety of their goals, and made progress on a variety of issues. Above all, they have demonstrated an understanding of both University bureaucracy and students’ needs.
It’s a popular opinion among students involved in GUSA that Bridges and Ayer started off strong, especially over the summer, but were less active during the second half of their term in office. True or not, they still accomplished far more for students than most GUSA executives, and for that they should be commended.

The most visible accomplishment of their administration was the launching of my.georgetown.edu, a student-run website with news, schedules and useful links. It’s a simple, effective service that provides exactly what students need, and it has been a great success. GUSA executives often have difficulty accomplishing controversial goals; the ongoing battle to open a student pub or reinstate block party are fine examples. The new website demonstrates that uncontroversial goals can still have substantial effects on student life.

They have also made a great deal of progress with administrators in securing soon-to-be-vacant space in New South for student groups. How that space will be allocated is a long-term project, and one that our new executives are well-placed to handle. Bridges and Ayer have done an excellent job getting the ball rolling.
Bridges and Ayer also accomplished a number of their less ambitious goals. Online add/drop was implemented for the first time during registration for this semester. Sellinger Lounge has been renovated, and several public computer terminals have been added. Students of Georgetown, Inc. has successfully opened a caf? in Lauinger library. Several thousand “Safety Cards” with campus safety information have been distributed to the student body, GUSA has created a Housing and Facilities commitee, and last fall, the University had its first Traditions Day.

As should be expected, several of Bridges and Ayer’s goals remain unaccomplished. Some are still in the works, some were abandoned when student interest waned, and some simply proved to be impossible.

Hopefully, newly-elected GUSA executives Brian Morgenstern (CAS ‘05) and Steve de Man (CAS ‘04) will follow through on initiatives that the outgoing executives began. Those projects still in the works include getting the Department of Public Safety to patrol Burleith and adding another SafeRides van which will make a constant loop between campus, the M Street area and Burleith. Bridges and Ayer also implemented an online syllabi system in which more professors need to take part. Morgenstern and de Man would do well to complete these partially-atained goals. Bridges and Ayer, meanwhile, have set a high standard for GUSA executives, and their accomplishments should serve as a model.

A synopsis of the platform goals for Morgenstern and de Man is provided below.

Morgenstern/de Man: Goals for 2003-04

  • Ensure the creation of a pub and entertainment venue in New South.
  • Promote successful student bartender nights at Hoya’s.
  • Develop a new student-alumni relations website to give students easier access to alumni and to increase connections between graduates and current students.
  • Expand GUTS service to cover Capitol Hill and the Rosslyn Safeway, and ad more weekend buses.
  • Ensure that University administrators follow through on their commitment to end the lockdown.
  • Get the men’s basketball team to play at least three home games in McDonough Arena.
  • Provide an electronic version of the facebook.
  • Make club funds more readily accessible.
  • Encourage alumni-student interaction and bring more alumni back to campus.
  • Expand the scope and variety of Homecoming activities.
  • Ensure that the new Jesuit residence promotes interaction between Jesuits and students.
  • Implement new programs to celebrate diversity on campus.
  • Work with the University to encourage students to pursue legal resolutions for violent crime and sexual assault.
  • Work to remove registration boundaries that limit undergraduates to their respective schools.
  • Ensure that the University maintains its need-blind financial aid policy.
  • Develop a Safety Shuttle to ferry students between the front gates, M Street and Burleith.
  • Work with the Advisory Neighborhood Commission to remove barriers that prevent students from receiving DC parking permits, and encourage students to register their cars in the city.
  • Work to transform Sellinger Lounge into an on-campus business center for students.
  • Make sure that newly-available space is assigned in a student-friendly manner.
  • Review Housing and Facilities, DPS and the GOCard office to ensure that they are efficiently and properly run, and work to eliminate the distinction between Debit Dollars and Much Money.
  • Ensure that the Student Primary Care Clinic provides free and anonymous testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Add students to committees of the Board of Directors.


Read More


Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments