College of William and Mary - Colonial Echo Yearbook (Williamsburg, VA)

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Making Our Lives A Little Easier, The SA Provides A Year of Gradual Change! The Student Association was not content just to put on dances, run a film series, and get students to the airport for less than half the regular price. Those were iniportant programs, but the students pushed student government beyond the traditional role by emphasizing issues which opened up another dimen- sion of the organization. Initiatives of the SA were not as visible because it chose not to scream loudly and or- ganize marches and protests. It found it was more influen- tial by taking a professional approach, being persistent, and doing its homework. By working within the system, the SA was taken more seri- ously and made a much great- er impact. There were many notable changes in student life. Last fall, after more than ten years without one, students were able to capitalize on years of efforts to get a Deans ' List. Somewhat controversial, compromises were worked out to have a floating GPA re- quirement and an unpub- lished list. Letters were sent to those who made it, thus al- lowing individuals to choose to tell others if they desired. Persistence and extensive background work won stu- dents a long sought-after vic- tory in the passage of the 3- consecutive final exam res- cheduling policy. The SA also had many broad goals. Among them was public relations - getting the word of the SA out through various means. The SA was movin ' on up in a greater sense than just the of- fice moving from the Campus Center basement to the first floor. To achieve some of these PR goals, the SA Forum program was established to get the message out to indi- vidual residence halls. Rec- ognized by the Office of Resi- dence Life as an educational program, the SA Forum sur- prised many and taught oth- ers, as it gave students a chance to have direct input into the way the SA made policy for the student body. The Master Plan, first re- leased in October, was the most controversial issue this yean With much confusion over its purpose and use, many students were con- cerned with rising enroll- ment, the preservation of the Lodges, and maintaining the natural beauty of the campus. As a result, the SA Master Plan committee was formed to first of all educate the col- lege community about its in-

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tentions and usiv Secondly, it was to be the official student body voice in represenfinn student concerns and ensur- ing proper input to the ad- ministration. Lastly, it acted as the liaison to the consul- tants hired to make recom- mendations about what a new student center and new student residences might look like The committee, which held open forums, fo- cus groups, and made presen- tations on residence halls as another educational pro- gram, was organized to exist as long as there was a William and Mary Master Plan. Student Associatin efforts in food service resulted in Marriott offering a 6-meal plan for the fall, targeted for off-campus students, but available to all. The ground- work was laid for the eventu- al realization of a modified declining balance program. The College met with fan- tastic success in tund-r.ii-.ing and development, yet W M still could not meet the lull financial needs of every stu- dent Perhaps the change with the most potential for tangible results was the set- ting up of the Student Ad- vancement Association, a group of students dedicated to function. Eistablished as a special committee of the Wil- liam and Mary Endowment Association, one of the group ' s goals was to try to shorten the gap in unmet stu- dent financial assistance. Based on the concept of stu- dents helping students, the Advancement Association hoped also to raise the level of Endowment Conscious- ness the importance of giv- ing back to one ' s institution, even if it began in small in- crements. In another area, it was de- termined that a way was needed to effectively and fairly allow students to chiHisf cl.issfs jiid instrucfiirs which emphasized their in- dividual strengths I or exam- ple, if a student learned easi- er fn m a lecture than a book, he or she would be able to choose the professor who based a course more on pre- sented material It also brought forth information about course requirements. The end result was a profes- sional quality Course and Pro- N ' ssor Guuifbook. Maintaining registered lobbyists with the VA Gener- al Assembly, the SA estab- lished more contacts and made sure that legislators had the SA ' s position on ev- ery issue affecting students, such as the military family in-state tuition bill. The stu- dent government also strengthened its already good working relationship with the Board of Visitors, and gained greater respect in the administration. It was a year of gradual change, a year that moved to- ward less student apathy, and a year where students gained an even greater role and voice in the policies of the College. —jay Austin Opposite Pjrc Pn-sontiPR a n-iolu- lion fnim the SA to Hjrrii-ll Storm. |jy Austin i-xpn-sst-s his thanks for her ye.irs of service .is a member of the Board of isitors and Chairper- son for the Student Affairs Commit- tee. At the end of the year. Harriett Storm retired from her position. Below: Working hard to improve old ideas, the Student Affairs Committee meets weekly to discuss new sugges- tions Implementing some of the new ideas made Hope Drake. Monty Mason, and Duane Milne reali .e that Left: Taking a break ln m her pres- sure filled )ob as Faces and Events editor of the Echo, Sandi Ferguson thumbs through the new Couri.fl fV|,ffss ' r CuiJfhvk As one of the newest projects of the SA, it allowed students to be mor« selective during pre- registration.