This semester the Government of the Student Body senate has been working hard to voice student concerns on a variety of issues, as well as finding quality student-oriented projects to fund and looking at ways to make itself more efficient. I would like to take this opportunity to summarize some of the major projects the senate undertook this semester, and in addition, to encourage continued student input and ideas on the issues that affect us — the students — most.

This semester has seen an impressive amount of financial legislation be considered and passed — funding improvements to the Memorial Union Underground bowling alley and purchasing terrace furniture for the Memorial Union accounted for two of our largest expenditures of the semester. The senate also voted to purchase computers for student use at the Hawthorn Market and Café, while also voting to fund a number of different student organizations, ranging from multicultural and international student groups to sports clubs. In addition, under the leadership of our public relations committee, GSB was able to host its second successful tailgating event during the Nebraska game, handing out beads and cups while informing students about what GSB is and what it does.   

The GSB senate was also given opportunities throughout the semester to voice student concerns and opinions on a variety of issues to the university administration and community. Heading up these efforts was the leadership in the university affairs committee. The senators worked hard to gather student opinions on what the university’s new e-mail provider should be — Google or Microsoft. Students spoke loudly and clearly that they would prefer Google’s Gmail, and the senate voiced that support in a resolution delivered to key university administrators. In addition, GSB senators have been active in reforming the Campustown Student Association, and have been working closely with city government officials and local businesses to look at how to improve our beloved Campustown. The senate also expressed its support for the textbook tax exemption program the ISU Ambassadors have developed and are working to get legislated. This program would help combat the high costs of college textbooks. 

For any organization, GSB included, to continue to best serve the needs of its members, periodical reviews of the organization’s internal structure are necessary in order to truly operate in an efficient and effective manner. We started by continuing the efforts of previous GSB administrations in working to recruit and retain good student leaders in positions within the GSB. For the first time in four years, all thirty-seven seats of the senate were filled. Through the work of the senate rules committee, the committee system was reviewed and the sizes of the committees were increased. In addition, substantial revisions were made to the bill flow structure, required composition of the executive branch and some financial procedures. These and other internal reorganizations have accounted for the overall shorter senate meetings, despite the increase from last year in legislation considered. And for the first time in years, all revisions to the election law, along with the establishment of the GSB election timeline for 2009, have been passed and published before the end of the fall semester. 

I am very proud to say that the GSB senate has been more active than in past years, actively searching out new projects that benefit students while working hard to represent the concerns of the student body at-large to members of the university administration, city council, and state government. If you have any questions, ideas, or would just like to learn more about the GSB, please feel free to visit our Web site at www.gsb.iastate.edu or e-mail [email protected]. 

Jonathan M. Turk

GSB speaker of the senate

Junior

Political science and sociology