Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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GOLD KEY BOARD OF GOVERNORS GOLD KEY SENATE 125

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UGBC As the only organized, university-wide voice of student opinion at Boston College, the Undergraduate Government provides direction for student participation in the political, intellectual, social and cultural affairs of the university. In its eighth year of operation, the Undergraduate Government is designed to function as an organizer of student action. A major task is to channel, coordinate and strengthen undergraduate input into all centers of university decision-making. UGBC officers function as student ombudsmen, appoint students to a variety of university policy-making bodies, negotiate with the university on behalf of the 8000 undergraduates, and lobby for student interests. The UGBC President is the only officer of the government elected annually in a university wide election. The President is ultimately responsible for representing the undergraduate student body to the administration, and for supervising the proper functioning of the entire Undergraduate Government. Executive officers are appointed to assist the President in this task: several Executive Assistants, the Executive Secretary and the Executive Treasurer. The UGBC Cabinet is completed by the Chairpeople of the standing committees, each of whom is appointed by, and responsible to the President. The purpose of the cabinet structure is to render needed services to both the student and university communities. The UGBC budget, which totals $192,000.00 in 1974-1975, is derived from the Undergraduate Government Fee charged to each student. It is allocated through the cabinet committees and used for myriad programs and events of benefit to the student body. Through the work of the various UGBC Committees, equal emphasis can be simultaneously placed on a multitude of student life and academic concerns. A number of notable advances were made during 1974-1975 largely through the efforts of UGBC. Security and campus lighting were drastically improved, infirmary services were upgraded, a studio arts major was initiated, and the administration became increasingly sensitive to the general status of women on campus. Minor dorm renovations were made, and approval was received from the Trustees for an addition to the overcrowded Student Recreation Complex. UGBC officers were successful in convincing the administration to implement a bottoms ' up approach to university budgeting, and O ' Connell Hall was substantially renovated for exclusive use as a student union facility. Most importantly, however, was the realization of several longtime academic objectives of the Undergraduate Government in the report of the University Task Force on Newton College. A Center for the Arts, Communication, and Theatre was proposed by this body, and concrete recommendations were made to the university administration regarding the development of real interdisciplinary education and a living learning environment. But probably the single most important recommendation for the majority of students came in response to UGBC concern for the adequacy of existing library and study facilities. Student leaders on the Newton Task Force were successful in obtaining a recommendation to substantially increase undergraduate study seating with the establishment of an Academic Student Union on the Chestnut Hill campus. 126