Although outgoing GUSA executives Brian Morgenstern (CAS ‘05) and Steve de Man (CAS ‘04) ran into significant difficulties in implementing their agenda, they nonetheless led a fairly successful administration. Coming on the heels of former GUSA execs Kaydee Bridges (SFS ‘03) and Mason Ayer (SFS ‘03), Morgenstern and de Man faced high standards as they tried to build on their predecessors’ record. Though an inability to navigate University bureaucracy to find necessary funding limited many of Morgenstern and de Man’s projects, their perserverence in implementing policy changes that directly affect students saved their record.
Most importantly, Morgenstern and de Man ended the campus-wide lock-down policy. In what Morgenstern calls a “great example of cooperation between administrators and students,” the GUSA execs worked effectively with Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Spiros Dimolitsas and Director of Housing Operations Bob Robinson to repeal the policy. The original policy proposed that all buildings be locked from the outside 24 hours a day. Seeing this policy as a potential safety risk and major inconvenience for students, the GUSA executives worked with the appropriate administrators to keep doors unlocked from the outside at all times while implementing a guest sign-in policy after 9 p.m.
While Morgenstern and de Man successfully completed these projects and started several others, many stalled due to bureaucracy, and, often times, specifically a lack of funding. They proposed expanding GUTS services to include weekend routes, as well as a Capitol Hill bus, which was abandoned due to insufficient funding. While Morgenstern and de Man have launched a Saturday GUTS pilot program, its effectiveness remains in question, as results from the first weekend’s service have not yet determined whether extended weekend service is warranted.
Similarly, Morgenstern and de Man faced difficulty in bringing at least three men’s basketball games to McDonough and creating an online facebook. While the executives pursued both projects, the University’s contract with the MCI Center does not allow them to move games back on campus, and legal issues relating to the publication of the online facebook have stalled this project as well.
Despite significant challenges somewhat out of their control, Morgenstern and de Man have attempted to make up for short-comings by making changes that directly affect student life and encourage school spirit. In addition to the ending the lock-down policy, Morgenstern and de Man brought back student bartender night at Hoya’s and cooperated with Hoya Blue to institute Hoyapalooza, a concert, barbeque and pep rally in the early fall. Though progress has been slow, the development of interim student space and a long-term new student center in New South have remained priorities.
Hopefully, the next GUSA executives can learn from both Morgenstern and de Man’s successes as well as their dificulties with University bureaucracy to create a more effective GUSA next year.
Though next year’s executives have not been certified yet, keep this handy clip ‘n’ save synopsis of both platforms for next year.
