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October Newsletter

Student group RiGhTeOuSNoIsE of Spelman College takes a stand against gun violence: We Want Common Sense Gun Laws

Students Say that Enough is Enough, Gun Violence is Too Much

Atlanta, GA, September 11, 2009 – Jasmine Lynn, a sophomore at Spelman College, was hit in the chest and killed by a stray bullet on Thursday, September 3, 2009 on the campus of Clark Atlanta University.

Jerome Jones, a student at Clark Atlanta University was also hit by a stray bullet on the wrist and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. The shots were fired during an escalated fight.

Students are hurt and angry, fed up with the countless lives lost to senseless gun violence. They are banning together and letting their voices be heard.

RiGhTeOuSNoIsE, a student led social justice movement on Spelman’s campus, has organized a rally against gun violence in honor of the lives of Jasmine Lynn and other unnamed victims loss to senseless gun violence. The student movement will rally for Common Sense Gun Laws and an Operation Cease Fire Intervention Program within the city of Atlanta.

The RiGhTeOuSNoIsE march against gun violence will take place on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 12:00pm. It will be begin at the intersection of James P. Brawley, proceed down MLK Dr and at the Georgia State Capitol Building located at 7 Martin Luther King Dr, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia 30334.

The RiGhTeOuSNoIsE rally against gun violence will take place on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 2:00pm. It will precede the march and be held at the Georgia State Capitol Building located at 7 Martin Luther King Dr, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia 30334.

RiGhTeOuSNoIsE will join forces across the nation on said date with Father Michael L. Pfleger of Saint Sabina Church and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, both of Chicago, as well as Melech Thomas (Mr. Howard Univ.) of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

“I think that it’s amazing that organizations across the country can come together to rally around the same cause (gun violence), on the same day, and with the same goals.” says Brittnee Austin, co-founding member of RiGhTeOuSNoIsE “The effort being put forth by all parties really speaks to the urgency of addressing out of control gun violence in our communities.”

RiGhTeOuSNoIsE encourages anyone for the cause of controlling gun violence and minimizing the number of countless victims to bring their persons, their thoughts and opinions, and their healing to the rally on September 18, 2009 at 2:00pm.

Contact: Brittnee Austin

RiGhTeOuSNoIsE

Phone 3133007583

SGA Summer Updates 2009

All Student Newsletter- The SGA, in an effort to communicate more effectively with all Emory students, has been granted permission for an all-student, university-wide, monthly email. The email will concisely present events and announcements from every division. If for example there is a forum in the medical school, then students interested in the event (Rollins, Pre-Meds, Nursing, etc) will have an opportunity to hear about it. This initiative is just one of several in the works to promote One Emory.

Bookstore Updates-

-New Bookstore- The Bookstore Advisory Committee has awarded the new contract for the new bookstore space to Barnes and Noble. After input from faculty and students alike, the committee determined that Barnes and Noble has a lot to offer Emory. The new contract will include a robust website with personalized options and the in-store product offerings will be expanded greatly. The new bookstore location will open May 2010 as part of the new Oxford Road building project. The bookstore will also include a large study area with a Starbucks. It will be the largest Starbucks on a university campus!

-DUC Bookstore Space-After a series of proposals from various offices and departments vying for the old bookstore space, the SGA proposal ultimately won the approval of the campus planners! Proposed by last year’s SGA President, Maria Town, the proposal was to use half of the space for student lounge and study space. The area will be look much like the Cox Hall Computer Lab space without the computer equipment. The other half of the old bookstore space will be another food option. At this point, the plans are for a New York style deli combined convenient store. SGA is proud of the work Maria put into this project and it has certainly paid off!

Budget Cuts- The Office of the Provost has launched a campaign to address the missions, priorities, and core activities in every administrative and academic unit on campus. The compilation will be complete near October 1^st. These reviews challenge offices to predict 3, 5, and 10% budget cut scenarios within each office to be evaluated and to be addressed during the 2011, 2010 fiscal year. The campaign will charge offices to determine ways to increase revenue and increase office efficiency. The SGA will play an active role in advocating for student needs as much as possible throughout this process. Although a difficult period in Emory’s history, the tough times can also spur new ideas and creativity in continuing to offer students a first-rate educational experience.

Campus Construction- As promised by Emory’s administration, the completion of projects already begun has progressed this summer. The most prominent construction site being Freshman Hall 4, a 350 bed Residence Hall along Eagle Row and Means Drive. The SGA will play a role in identifying issues that may arise due to construction on campus (pot holes, lighting issues, etc.)

Campus Safety- SGA is seeking to improve campus safety through several initiatives in conjunction with the Emory Police Department. Keep a look out for the release of specifics this fall. Due to increased crime in the Atlanta area, Emory wants to make a strong, preemptive push. The SGA is also participating in a collaborative summit of SGA Presidents from Atlanta area Universities. The main point of conversation will be the increased crime on campus.

Classroom on the Green- SGA has already begun planning Classroom on the Green, an event that seeks to integrate an academic topic of conversation and current event with academic discourse. The event will take place in early March. The release of the topic and keynote speaker will occur late fall.

Community Dinners- SGA has partnered with the Provost’s Office and the Residence Hall Association to continue a program referred to as Community Dinners. These dinners will take place in residence halls and will allow students to interact with administrators and learn more about changes and events at Emory. Students will also be given the opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns, and ideas.

Copy and Print Center: The Emory Copy and Print Center will be relocated from the basement of the library to the old Medical School Bookstore in the DUC. Additionally, a new vendor will be selected to serve in this role. The SGA serves on the Request for Proposal committee in making recommendations for the new vendor selection.

Counseling Center Space- The Counseling Center’s office has relocated from Cox Hall to 1462 Clifton Road building. The Counseling Center lacked adequate space to accommodate it’s full staff. As a result of the Mental Health Fee in fall 2008 and the anti-stigma campaign, requests for use of services have increased over 15%.

CPR Anytime-Aug 23^rd-7-8:30pm Woodpec- Partnering with the Emory First Responders Unity, the SGA is again supporting and promoting the CPR Anytime event. For the first time, the event was open to all new students at Emory, instead of just new undergraduate students. 1,175 new Emory students were trained in CPR at the CPR Anytime event!

Dean Search- Provost Earl Lewis appointed SGA President Alex Kappus to serve as the student member on the Dean’s Selection Committee for the next Dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences. The committee has met several times already to discuss goals, expectations, and to select a search firm to help recruit candidates. Candidates will be identified by late fall 2009 in the hopes of having final candidates by late 2009 or early 2010.

Dining: What’s New 2009-2010?

Emory Dining:

-Dining Plan K- a Kosher plan has been unveiled meeting the AKC guidelines of a Halal diet.

-Late Night Options- Jazzmans in Woodruff library will continue to have late hours and the new “Dobbs After Dark” option will offer meals from 10-midnight, Sunday-Thursday in the DUC.

-Eagle Fly By- Will continue due to the huge success.

Cox Hall:

-Burger King has left the building.

-World of Wings (WOW) Café will move into the old space. They will offer wings and local grass fed beef.

-Southern Tsunami-A steam table, Asian-food option is in the works.

-Dooleys- Will be under new management…meaning new menu! Zaya Med Grill will be the brains behind the new food and shows a lot of promise.

Emory Card Move- This summer, a decision was made between Dean Ford, Dean of Campus Life, and Ms. Edith Murphree, VP for Finance to transition the Emory Card office from Campus Life to the Bursar’s Office. The relocation has occurred and the office can now be found in the Boisfeuillet Jones Center. The relocation of the office was made with the hope of a more efficient use of staff resources, cost savings in operation, and support an increased number of clients. The relocation should also provide individuals with a more convenient parking option.

Festapaloozaganzaroo 2009- Emory’s Welcome Party- The 2^nd-annual Festapaloozaganzaroo Concert party will take place on August 28^th in order to welcome both returning and new students across the university. The headliner will be Eric Hutchinson. This event is a true collaboration between Orientation, Fridays @ 10,  College Council, Coca-Cola, SPC, Goizueta Business School, BBA Council, Student Government Association, Office of the Provost, Oxford College has made this a reality yet again.

Financial Initiatives- Over the summer, SGA has been working hard to not only advocate for stronger Financial Aid at Emory, but to also design creative ways to support students during these difficult economic times. Keep an eye out for developments of these initiatives.

Friday’s at Ten Co-Sponsorship Grant- The is a co-sponsorship program by The Office of Student Leadership & Service (OSLS) and coordinated by The Student Programming Council (SPC) to promote alcohol free alternative social activities on Friday nights at Emory. Approximately once per month, Fridays @ 10 will be cosponsored with a student organization or department, and provide a variety of funding options, to ensure that a large, fun, social opportunity occurs for Emory students to attend. Funding has been graciously provided for this program by the Division of Campus Life and Emory Dining. Awarded co-sponsors will receive funding as well as support programming the event provided by SPC. This application for co-sponsorship is available for any student organization or Emory department to apply. The organizations or departments that submit the strongest, most promising program that will maximize the Fridays @ 10 funds while providing excellent alcohol free social activity will be awarded the co-sponsorship. To download the application, and to learn more about the levels of funding that can be provided, www.osls.emory.edu/f@10.

H1N1- The SGA, Residence Life, and Student Health have collaborated this summer to discuss precautionary measures to prevent and also react to the potential for an H1N1 outbreak on Emory’s campus. Plans to streamline reporting of illness on campus for example are in the works.

Long Term Planning- SGA has secured student seats on a number of  long term and strategic planning committees including the DUC/Cox space committee, the Bookstore RFP committee, the Bike Emory Committee, and the Student Health Advisory Committee. Students will be formally appointed by SGA and recognized by the Emory administration.

Mail Services Quality Control Committee- The SGA and IKON Mail have formed a strategic partnership to meet quarterly with student representatives and discuss future projects and improvements for Emory Mail. The committee reflects standing committees that are established across the university in other contracted service area’s like dining, transportation, etc.

Student Health- If you signed up for Emory’s insurance program, you are given priority in the ER room and pay a flat $50 fee. The SGA and student health will be collaborating this year on some projects that will be disclosed this Fall.

Student Leader Roundtables- New this year, the SGA President and leaders from some of the largest organizations on campus will meet four times a semester to discuss ways in which Emory students can be better served. This initiative will be especially beneficial due to the current state of the economy.

Student Organization Registration and Training- Also new to Emory this year, we will be requiring every student organization to attend a well-organized training. Organizations must reregister annually with SGA, immediately after the new officers have been selected and take office. The Student Government Association, along with the Office of Student Leadership & Service, has launched a new online database management program. For the fall of 2009, all student organizations will be required to register their organization in September. One the data is collected, all organization information will be found under the “Wiki” tab to the left under student organizations. This change will increase the accessibility, visibility, and record keeping of all of our registered organizations. Additionally, Emory’s Office of Student Leadership & Service (the primary University departmental advising contact for all SGA student organizations), the SGA Business Office (the primary University departmental business and finance contact for all SGA student organizations), along with SGA and each of SGA’s divisions have developed a new required Student Organization Training.  We can assure you this time will be invaluable to you and your success as a leader in your organization, and we promise to honor your time as you attend. Please visit the Registration and Training tab on the left-hand side of the SGA website for complete details of these two essential pieces of information!!!

Unity Month- SGA will again be supporting Unity Month with the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services in November.

University Wide Calendar- Trumba, the university wide calendaring system was unveiled last Fall. This summer, SGA is working for the rights to allow student organizations to post events on this calendar. SGA plans to help student groups get their events on the calendar and will help students familiarize themselves with the calendaring system to ensure better publicity of events in the future.

Vision and Value Statements- In conjunction with Board of Trustee members Teresa Rivero of the Gates Foundation and Board Chair, Laura Hardman, student leaders, faculty and staff are working to better define the Emory experience through an initiative to put into words some defining characteristics of the shared Emory experience for students. The hope is to provide prospective and current students a sense of the unique Emory identity.

We Are Emory Campaign- The “One Emory” slogan has taken hold in the administration through the office of Community and Diversity and is being referred to as the “We Are Emory Campaign.” The campaign will look to build a stronger and more cohesive campus by working on initiatives that link together the entire Emory community; Students, faculty and staff, family, alumni. The promotion of annual university-wide events will be a key component of the SGA role. The SGA President has been meeting with the Deans of every division in an effort to help identify some ways to help isolated divisions of Emory feel more apart of the Emory experience. Making university-wide offices and services better known to graduate divisions for example.

Website Redesign- The SGA website is completely redesigned! Fit with a running blog which will be updated frequently, the website will soon feature a searchable database with every student organization on campus. The SGA website and all of its new resources can be found at www.students.emory/SGA .

Take the opportunity to voice your opinion about Emory, SGA, or anything that might be on your mind. We are here to serve the students.

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April 13, 2009

Dear Student Leaders,

Congratulations on your induction into the 43^rd term of the Student Government Association! You have the enormous opportunity and challenge of both representing your specific constituency and their interests, as well as keeping an eye upon maintaining and improving the overall well-being of the University. As you know, the SGA is the University-wide government body representing all 12,000 students at Emory. This weekly meeting is one of the few places where representatives from every division of our school can meet and discuss the status of Emory.  What an amazing opportunity we all have!

The University faces a very important period in our rich history. These uncertain times continue to challenge Emory, both present and future. Holding a unique position in influencing the Emory experience, the SGA must responsibly distribute the student activity fee, but also maintain a strong student voice. The “One Emory” campaign slogan I set my platform upon will serve as the theme I wish the SGA to push for and embody in the coming term. Please take the time to get to know the members of SGA in this room. Please do not hesitate email me personally if you ever have any issues or concerns (akappus@emory.edu). Soon enough, this body will witness the excitement of learning and working within a university. Welcome and I look forward to working with you all.

Warmest Regards,

Alex Kappus

President

Student Government Association