The Voice traditionally evaluates the performance of the outgoing Georgetown University Student Association executives by comparing their original campaign goals with their actual accomplishments. For former GUSA President Ryan DuBose (CAS ‘02) and former Vice President Brian Walsh (CAS ‘02), however, this kind of comparison would not provide a completely fair assessment of their administration. Although we have still chosen to print our conventional “check mark evaluation,” any accurate judgment of the DuBose/Walsh administration must take into account several factors beyond simply meeting campaign promises.
DuBose and Walsh’s effective handling of campus issues following Sept. 11 showed their strength as student leaders early on in their tenure. They were quickly forced to change their priorities and reorient their focus toward the more pressing need of student safety and stability on campus. That they first dealt with these issues and were unable to begin other projects from their platform should not be held against them.
DuBose and Walsh’s focus on advocating for students, primarily at meetings with various administrators, does not make itself readily apparent on the “check mark” list, but it nevertheless was an important component of their tenure in office. Their advocacy may not have produced immediate or tangible results, but it set the precedent for future administrators, who?like DuBose and Walsh?should be sure to include some sort of student voice in their deliberations.
Finally, DuBose and Walsh’s term in office was shorter than most of their predecessors. The pair’s term in office lasted just shy of 11 months, which may account for the partial completion of several of their projects. The executives would have benefitted from an extra month to push through recently begun projects.
That said, here is how well the DuBose/Walsh administration followed through on their specific campaign promises.
DuBose and Walsh: Campaign Goals 2001-2
(A ”+” indicates a completed goal, a ”-” indicates in incomplete goal and a “o” indicates a partially completed goal.)
+ Encourage student-Jesuit interaction through monthly dinners in New South Cafeteria and regular open houses in the Jesuit Residence.
The executives met with members of the Jesuit Community and formed a working group, which led to a few Jesuit-related events, but no regular meetings took place.
– Reclaim the Block Party.
Despite meetings with student organizers and administrators, there has yet to be a Block Party.
– Create a Georgetown History Museum on campus
They point to other sources of Georgetown history available in the Carroll Parlor and the University Archives, but DuBose and Walsh failed to deliver on this campaign promise.
o Display student artwork in the ICC Galleria and bring more recognition to performing arts groups.
GUSA tackled this issue, but encountered resistance from the Art Department. Plans to place student art in Sellinger Lounge are reportedly forthcoming.
+ A series of monthly spirit events, including Fountain Day, Georgetown Day, NSO Pep Rally, Christmas Tree Lighting, Jack the Bulldog’s Birthday and John Carroll Day.
Each of these events either occurred successfully or is slated to take place by the end of this academic year.
+ Continue to make Hoyas more student friendly.
Student Bartending Night and other events geared towards students have been extraordinarily successful this year.
o Place a small stage, lighting and sound equipment in Sellinger Lounge.
Both a moveable stage and a projector and screen have been purchased but have yet to be set up for student use.
– Place 50-60 picnic tables around campus for outdoor socializing space.
No picnic tables have appeared, and the projected number of tables has been adjusted downward. A plan has been put forward to place approximately 10 tables between ICC and Reiss, but the requisite funds are not yet available.
– Create a late-night coffee house or other venue in an endowment house.
Despite several efforts, the executives were unable to secure an endowment house for this project.
o Designate New South Cafeteria and other buildings for student use when the Southwest Quadrangle opens.
Although GUSA has secured the vocal support of several administrators, the Main Campus Space Committee has not yet given its written approval for this plan.
– Create a unified student webpage, a Yahoo of Georgetown, and implement a Student Access+ e-mail system.
SAC, Saxa Server and GUSA all improved their websites but have not yet provided a single place for students to access information.
o Lobby the D.C. City Council to repeal the sales tax on textbooks.
The executives and the Office of Federal Relations made a presentation to members of the District government but received no support.
+ Expand SafeRides throughout the night.
The executives succeeded in extending the Safe Rides program an additional hour, but the service does not run throughout the night.
+ Place more security cameras in trouble spots around campus.
A DPS Advisory Board created by GUSA identified and focused on other safety issues, such as lighting and emergency call boxes.
+ Create a Spring SAC Fair and a virtual SAC Fair online.
Spring SAC Fair took place in conjunction with Late Night at Leavey on Feb. 13. But no virtual SAC Fair was ever developed online.
The campaign promises of Kaydee Bridges (SFS ‘03) and Mason Ayer (SFS ‘03) are summarized below.
Bridges and Mason: Campaign Goals 2002-3
- Increase utilization of Hoyas and The Faculty Club for Student Bartender Night, special events, basketball away games, Jesuit Bartender Night and Friday Night DJs.
- Develop a new student website to include a calendar, entertainment options, cafeteria menus, an online auction service, space for student artwork and an online ombuds form for University complaints.
- Address space issues for student groups, including securing space in New South, eliminating event-by-event space fees and increasing equality for student practice space at Yates.
- Follow-up with the development of online add/drop and online syllabi.
- Make Leavey Center and Sellinger Lounge more student-friendly through more programming and renovations.
- Improve Lauinger Library by adding a CORP-run coffee shop and programming space for student groups.
- Host a Student-Neighbor Holiday Mixer and NSO Barbeque with Neighbors.
- Create a film/slide show about Georgetown traditions and place pictures from Georgetown’s past in Sellinger Lounge.
- Create a Club Union Council with representatives from groups of clubs with related purposes.
- Purchase a new VPS van and revamp the current VPS van policies to allow groups to use the vans outside of the District.
- Allow student organizations to solicit donations from alumni, which they could use to supplement their annual budgets.
- Create a review board for non-academic University departments to improve efficiency and accountability.
- Hold monthly media and public information sessions and weekly dinners with randomly selected students.
- Provide a weekend shuttle between M Street bars, Healy Gates and Burleith to increase student safety.
- Rent an additional van to supplement the SafeRides service on weekends.
- Restart the SafeWalks program and hire a new coordinator.
- Offer Safety Cards, which would include campus safety information, including van escort schedules and emergency numbers.
- Lobby the Department of Public Safety to patrol the Burleith area.
- Encourage the Office of Facilities to increase lighting and install or replace emergency call boxes on campus.
