The Government of the Student Body has made a lot of progress during the past six months, but there is still room for improvement, said GSB President Angela Groh.

Groh, senior in political science, delivered her second State of the Student Body address during the GSB meeting Wednesday night.

Groh said during the past six months there has been a “slow shift of perception of what GSB is” toward more understanding of the group.

Not all senators agreed, however.

Students don’t really know what GSB does, said Amanda Halfacre, human sciences senator and sophomore in child, adult and family services.

“The information is out there if they want it,” Halfacre said. “It’s just not accessed.”

All leadership groups have trouble getting students interested in what they do, said Sara Snyder, LAS senator and senior in biochemistry.

“Before I was a senator, I really didn’t know what GSB did,” Snyder said.

During the past few months, students have gained “a better understanding of what GSB is and what GSB does for them,” Groh said.

There are several ways GSB can improve to better serve students, Groh said.

Establishing a long-term strategic plan would improve the way GSB serves ISU students, Groh said.

“It will show how we can better do our jobs and better allocate money to better student interests,” she said.

Groh said GSB needs to focus more on social justice.

“I encourage the senate to pass a resolution in support of hate crime legislation,” she said.

Groh also said GSB needs to have a stronger commitment to the creation of a cultural center in the Memorial Union.

A proposed student fund increase to be used toward the creation of a cultural center will be on the next student government ballot, she said.

“All students at Iowa State need to be global citizens,” she said.

Groh said GSB also needs to focus on recruitment, enrollment and retention of students at Iowa State.

“The number of graduating high school seniors in Iowa is decreasing,” she said.

Retention can be improved by implementing a freshman mentoring program and forming a commission to promote the unique tradition and history of Iowa State to potential students, she said.

Groh said “one community” has become a theme during the past few months and will continue to improve relations between students and Ames citizens when discussing issues such as the state of Campustown.