Fellow students,

It’s been a pleasure working for you this year on the Government of the Student Body. We’d like to recap some of the great things we have achieved with your help.

Dozens of student volunteers walked the streets of Campustown and the sidewalks of campus in two separate Safety Walks this fall, identifying safety risks to pedestrians in the area. Student interest in a redeveloped Campustown was ignited following a joint meeting between GSB and the City Council, making Campustown improvement the No. 1 issue of the election in November. More students applied for vacancies on city boards and commissions, improving student involvement in city policies. This spring, Campustown Court will be redeveloped as a joint project between the university, the city of Ames and GSB. Student designers participated in the

development of the project and will be able to leave their mark on Ames for years to come.

GSB took students down to the Capitol to testify to legislators about the impact of high student debt. Student lobbyists also helped organize and host the largest student lobbying day in recent history, continuing to improve state appropriations for Iowa State and keep tuition increases low.

In the next few weeks, dozens of student posts on university committees will be filled by GSB as students graduate. We are also working to make it easier for students to find out about these vacancies, ensuring they have as many opportunities as possible to participate. This year, we worked to improve oversight on your computer fees, so students can accurately see where their fee dollars go.

GSB also worked with students to gather input and feedback about arming campus police officers, fencing on campus and whether to move forward with renovating the campus recreation facilities. We will continue to work with all students to ensure that these issues continue being discussed in order to provide the best possible environment for future Cyclones.

Over the last year, GSB has been very fortunate to be able to financially support some amazing student organizations and complete some great projects around the campus. Our funding helps to put on events on campus, services for all students, various projects, and helping student organizations.

This year GSB was able to assist Winterfest in putting on a night of free ice skating for students in the fall semester.

GSB also helped fund Cyclone Idol during Veishea, the Freeman Concert and at the end of this semester, GSB will partner with the city of Ames to put on a celebration event for all ISU students.

One of the exciting financial projects that GSB has taken on this year is to restart an accommodation fund. By using 8 cents per year from each student (through the Student Activity Fee), we will give assistance to student organizations to better accommodate students with disabilities in participating in activities. We strongly believe it is very important to give all students an opportunity to participate in the great student organizations that we have on campus.

GSB has also purchased many items this year that will help students and student organizations. We assisted Student Disability Resources in purchasing a high-speed scanner that will allow students to convert their textbooks and course materials into audio format to accommodate their physical need or preference. We also helped fund items for the Student Activities Center to give all student groups an inexpensive or free option to create posters and other publicity materials for their organization.

Services for students have continued to be a high priority with GSB this year. These on-campus services include legal services for students through Student Legal Services, financial tips and advice through the Financial Counseling Clinic, counseling opportunities through the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic and a large inventory of media equipment for checkout through ITC. Off-campus services include subsidized substance abuse counseling, childcare, battery and abuse shelter and support, and a crisis hotline for hours not covered by Student Counseling Services.

Finally, we provided more than $1 million in funding for more than 150 student organizations on campus. These range from the largest student organizations on campus to new groups with fewer than 20 members.

Thanks for your interest in seeing these projects completed. It has been a great experience to work with the amazing students, organizations and university offices at ISU over the last year. If you are interested in participating in future activities of the Government of the Student Body, please stop by our offices in the West Student Office Space of the Memorial Union or call us at 294-1585. If you ever have questions or concerns about GSB funding, please contact the GSB Finance Director at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.

Brian Phillips

2007-08 President

Government of the Student Body

Ryan Myers

2007-08 Finance Director

Government of the Student Body