ND, SMC student government structure may be complex, but opportunities
By JASON McFarley
News Editor
It's likely that more than half the members of the Class of 2005 are entering Notre Dame with leadership experience on their resumés. If recent University admissions trends hold up, that experience will come in the form of student government involvement in high school.
But first-year students, beware: Notre Dame student government is not your high school's student council.
Office of the President
At the head of campus government are the student body president and vice president. Elected every February by the majority vote of the undergraduate student body, they take office April 1.
"We work to bring everything together," said senior Brooke Norton, 2001-02 president. "We have many focuses, but our role is to represent student opinion."
"We're basically working to serve students, being their voice," added Vice President Brian Moscona, a junior.
The Office of the President staff includes elected students Norton and Moscona and their appointees to the Chief of Staff position and to other posts in divisions just as academics, diversity, and service.
A key concern of the Norton-Moscona administration will be communication, according to the officers.
"We definitely want to have students provide input to us. We're trying to get more students involved in their student government," Norton said.
Student Senate
This body includes one elected student from each undergraduate residence hall as well as one senator who represents off-campus students. Senators are elected during the spring semester and take office in April.
The group meets weekly, and members must sit on at least two of the senate's standing committees that target such issues as residence life, gender concerns and University affairs.
The policy-oriented senate considers resolutions, which, if approved, are forwarded directly to administrators or the Campus Life Council.
"The senate can reach every student on campus," said Moscona, who chairs the body. "Ideally, students will take their concerns to their individual senator."
Campus Life Council
The council's membership relects all sides of Notre Dame residence life and includes administrator, faculty, rector and student representatives.
The CLC's members are elected to the body from other groups, such as the Faculty and Student senates and the Hall Presidents and Club Coordination councils.
CLC members consider resolutions forwarded to them by other groups, generally the Student Senate. In the past, the CLC has been the only body with student membership to make policy recommendations directly to the Office of Student Affairs.
"It's hard to say what areas we'll focus on in any year, because, by nature, we have to look at a lot of different campus issues," said CLC chair Norton.
Student Union Board
Think concerts, movies, and other forms of entertainment. SUB is responsible for organizing and bringing these events to campus.
Headed this year by Paul Krivickas, the programming board in the past has brought actor James Earl Jones and singer Ani DiFranco to the University's Stepan Center. In March, former Indiana University head basketball coach Bob Knight spoke at Stepan.
Annual SUB events include the Collegiate Jazz Festival; the Sophomore Literary Festival; and Antostal, the weekend spring carnival.
Other student government
If any of the previous arms of student government don't appeal to you, there are still other options. Getting involved in your class council is one way to get a foot in the student-government door.
Each fall, 27 first-year students are elected to their class council through their residence halls. The freshman representatives then elect from among themselves the council's four executive officers.
In the spring semester, rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are elected on a four-person class council ticket. The officers then appoint other students from their class to committee membership positions on the council.
Individual dorms, of course, are also a prime place to pick up leadership experience here.
There are many dorm commissioner positions avaiable to students as well as hall presidents posts. Hall presidents also serve on the campus-wide Hall Presidents Council.
Bottom line: If you're not willing to leave student government behind with your high school days, or if you're looking to get your first taste of power, the opportunities are there.
Start by being on the lookout for announcements and position postings in your dorm. There will also be an open house Sunday, Aug. 26 in the LaFortune Student Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.
But first-year students, beware: Notre Dame student government is not your high schoolÕs student council.
Office of the President
At the head of campus government are the student body president and vice president. Elected every February by the majority vote of the undergraduate student body, they take office April 1.
ÒWe work to bring everything together,Ó said senior Brooke Norton, 2001-02 president. ÒWe have many focuses, but our role is to represent student opinion.Ó
ÒWeÕre basically working to serve students, being their voice,Ó added Vice President Brian Moscona, a junior.
The Office of the President staff includes elected students Norton and Moscona and their appointees to the Chief of Staff position and to other posts in divisions just as academics, diversity, and service.
A key concern of the Norton-Moscona administration will be communication, according to the officers.
ÒWe definitely want to have students provide input to us. WeÕre trying to get more students involved in their student government,Ó Norton said.
Student Senate
This body includes one elected student from each undergraduate residence hall as well as one senator who represents off-campus students. Senators are elected during the spring semester and take office in April.
The group meets weekly, and members must sit on at least two of the senateÕs standing committees that target such issues as residence life, gender concerns and University affairs.
The policy-oriented senate considers resolutions, which, if approved, are forwarded directly to administrators or the Campus Life Council.
ÒThe senate can reach every student on campus,Ó said Moscona, who chairs the body. ÒIdeally, students will take their concerns to their individual senator.Ó
Campus Life Council
The councilÕs membership relects all sides of Notre Dame residence life and includes administrator, faculty, rector and student representatives.
The CLCÕs members are elected to the body from other groups, such as the Faculty and Student senates and the Hall Presidents and Club Coordination councils.
CLC members consider resolutions forwarded to them by other groups, generally the Student Senate. In the past, the CLC has been the only body with student membership to make policy recommendations directly to the Office of Student Affairs.
ÒItÕs hard to say what areas weÕll focus on in any year, because, by nature, we have to look at a lot of different campus issues,Ó said CLC chair Norton.
Student Union Board
Think concerts, movies, and other forms of entertainment. SUB is responsible for organizing and bringing these events to campus.
Headed this year by Paul Krivickas, the programming board in the past has brought actor James Earl Jones and singer Ani DiFranco to the UniversityÕs Stepan Center. In March, former Indiana University head basketball coach Bob Knight spoke at Stepan.
Annual SUB events include the Collegiate Jazz Festival; the Sophomore Literary Festival; and Antostal, the weekend spring carnival.
Other student government
If any of the previous arms of student government donÕt appeal to you, there are still other options. Getting involved in your class council is one way to get a foot in the student-government door.
Each fall, 27 first-year students are elected to their class council through their residence halls. The freshman representatives then elect from among themselves the councilÕs four executive officers.
In the spring semester, rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are elected on a four-person class council ticket. The officers then appoint other students from their class to committee membership positions on the council.
Individual dorms, of course, are also a prime place to pick up leadership experience here.
There are many dorm commissioner positions avaiable to students as well as hall presidents posts. Hall presidents also serve on the campus-wide Hall Presidents Council.
Bottom line: If youÕre not willing to leave student government behind with your high school days, or if youÕre looking to get your first taste of power, the opportunities are there.
Start by being on the lookout for announcements and position postings in your dorm. There will also be an open house Sunday, Aug. 26 in the LaFortune Student Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.
But first-year students, beware: Notre Dame student government is not your high schoolÕs student council.
Office of the President
At the head of campus government are the student body president and vice president. Elected every February by the majority vote of the undergraduate student body, they take office April 1.
ÒWe work to bring everything together,Ó said senior Brooke Norton, 2001-02 president. ÒWe have many focuses, but our role is to represent student opinion.Ó
ÒWeÕre basically working to serve students, being their voice,Ó added Vice President Brian Moscona, a junior.
The Office of the President staff includes elected students Norton and Moscona and their appointees to the Chief of Staff position and to other posts in divisions just as academics, diversity, and service.
A key concern of the Norton-Moscona administration will be communication, according to the officers.
ÒWe definitely want to have students provide input to us. WeÕre trying to get more students involved in their student government,Ó Norton said.
Student Senate
This body includes one elected student from each undergraduate residence hall as well as one senator who represents off-campus students. Senators are elected during the spring semester and take office in April.
The group meets weekly, and members must sit on at least two of the senateÕs standing committees that target such issues as residence life, gender concerns and University affairs.
The policy-oriented senate considers resolutions, which, if approved, are forwarded directly to administrators or the Campus Life Council.
ÒThe senate can reach every student on campus,Ó said Moscona, who chairs the body. ÒIdeally, students will take their concerns to their individual senator.Ó
Campus Life Council
The councilÕs membership relects all sides of Notre Dame residence life and includes administrator, faculty, rector and student representatives.
The CLCÕs members are elected to the body from other groups, such as the Faculty and Student senates and the Hall Presidents and Club Coordination councils.
CLC members consider resolutions forwarded to them by other groups, generally the Student Senate. In the past, the CLC has been the only body with student membership to make policy recommendations directly to the Office of Student Affairs.
ÒItÕs hard to say what areas weÕll focus on in any year, because, by nature, we have to look at a lot of different campus issues,Ó said CLC chair Norton.
Student Union Board
Think concerts, movies, and other forms of entertainment. SUB is responsible for organizing and bringing these events to campus.
Headed this year by Paul Krivickas, the programming board in the past has brought actor James Earl Jones and singer Ani DiFranco to the UniversityÕs Stepan Center. In March, former Indiana University head basketball coach Bob Knight spoke at Stepan.
Annual SUB events include the Collegiate Jazz Festival; the Sophomore Literary Festival; and Antostal, the weekend spring carnival.
Other student government
If any of the previous arms of student government donÕt appeal to you, there are still other options. Getting involved in your class council is one way to get a foot in the student-government door.
Each fall, 27 first-year students are elected to their class council through their residence halls. The freshman representatives then elect from among themselves the councilÕs four executive officers.
In the spring semester, rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are elected on a four-person class council ticket. The officers then appoint other students from their class to committee membership positions on the council.
Individual dorms, of course, are also a prime place to pick up leadership experience here.
There are many dorm commissioner positions avaiable to students as well as hall presidents posts. Hall presidents also serve on the campus-wide Hall Presidents Council.
Bottom line: If youÕre not willing to leave student government behind with your high school days, or if youÕre looking to get your first taste of power, the opportunities are there.
Start by being on the lookout for announcements and position postings in your dorm. There will also be an open house Sunday, Aug. 26 in the LaFortune Student Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.
All News Stories for Sunday, August 26, 2001
