During my tenure, I came to respect the purpose of the Senate and its autonomous position as the voice of the student body. The establishment of the Senate was the unanimous desire of the student body to gain knowledge through more independent education.
The Roaring 20s (1920-1930)
Students were expected to be accountable to the Honor Code and held accountable without Senate oversight. The women's suffrage movement in the early part of the decade influenced the composition of the Senate.
The Depression and Big Government Spending (1930-1940)
In keeping with the thinking of the time, the Senate gave many powers to smaller groups with narrowly defined interests. Soon most of the campus were members of Greek houses and their issues were campus issues. In the early 1930s, the Senate levied a student tax on each member of the student body for campus activities.
Kanakadea reported that this was "reorganized to accommodate the existing problems on campus." It continued: "The campus at this time was governed by fraternities. Although the Senate seemed to have completely transformed from its World War I structure, the war years were fresh in the minds of the students. The 1936-1937 Senate under the leadership of President George Gregory revised the Freshmen Court and accepted the dissolution of the Campus Court.
By 1937, Senate meetings were sometimes secret and were causing consternation from the student body. The recent senate covered its actions so carefully that it could have fermented a revolution for all the students who knew about it… it must not be forgotten by the new senate that they are student representatives, responsible to the students and have no reason. to keep their activities to themselves (Fiat Lux, p.
The War Years (1940-1945)
While many men were fighting overseas, the War also provided many opportunities for women nationally and on campus. The war became very much a gateway through which women came out of the homes where they were confined. During World War II, women in large numbers were required to work outside and inside the home.
This administration also changed the structure of the Senate in support of returning servicemen by adding a representative for. The war had preoccupied the Nation and the Student Senate for the past four years, after the war and with the introduction of the GI Bill, Alfred University would change again.
After the War (1945-1953)
It changed its structure from one that represented Greek organizations to one that was more representative of the entire student population. The Senate began sponsoring a war orphan and provided financial support to a young displaced person who continued his studies at Alfred University (Kanakadea, 1952). The influence of veterans with more global experience made Alfred University's isolated student body more interested in comprehensive harmony.
Membership for Alfred in the National Student Association was ratified, problems of student relations with the faculty administration and village were discussed, and plans were made for the Student Government Conference. The students at Alfred University also began to fight for the rights of the individual. In 1948, the Student Senate led a boycott of Mord's Barbershop in the city "in response to his refusal to cut the hair of the Jamaican seminary students who were living at the time" (Goss, . 1998).
This was the beginning of the Senate's civil rights work that would continue over the next 15 years. It changed the makeup of the student body, increased the size of the school, and changed the students' perspective on global issues.
The 1950s, Civil Rights, and an Interest in Politics (1953-1963)
In February 1956, the Senate voted to send a letter to President Oliver Carmichael of the University of Alabama stating his opinion on segregation at that school. On behalf of the student body of Alfred University, I would like to inform you of our position regarding segregation—more specifically, the problem of segregation at the University of Alabama. The students of Alfred University have a firm belief in the Constitution of the United States and the rights of the individual citizen.
However, as the campus and Senate began to scrutinize its own discriminatory policies on campus, the purpose of the demonstration changed. Within a month, however, the demonstration was called off when President Zoldan proposed a new amendment to the Senate Constitution, giving the Senate the power "to review and veto any rule, law, or provision of any other student organization." The amendment also requested that the organizations with discriminatory. It was mentioned in the New York Post, and the faculty passed a resolution in support of the Senate's actions (Fiat Lux, p.
She publicly denounced Gov. Ross Barnett's actions in blocking Meredith's registration. Taxes were becoming expensive, and some students were thinking that "it is morally wrong to associate conservatives on campus with the liberal positions of the NSA" (Fiat Lux, p.
The Calm Before the Storm” (1963-1968)
The letter, which was printed in Fiat Lux, went on to claim that “Lebohner's actions. In response, the Senate formed a committee to investigate administrative control over student activities (Fiat Lux, pg. The Student Senate as representative of the student body, expresses its deep concern at the administration's gradual encroachment on student affairs outside the classroom (Fiat Lux , pp. 10/06/64).
We hope that the students, through the leadership of (Senate President Bill) Vanech and the Senate, will continue a thoughtful examination of their goals and continue to work for increased student freedom...We urge the University, through the Board of Trustees, to recognize that the award of increased freedom for students is completely consistent with their statement about the character of the university [sic] (Fiat Lux, p. When the administration announced that there would be classes on the Monday after Easter, requiring students to leave on Easter Sunday, the students were furious ... It cannot condone attempts to damage a vehicle in the streets ... I'm sure (the students) will agree that reasonable, responsible dealings with the faculty and administration is the only way these goals can be reached (Fiat Lux, p.
This included increased visits to women's dormitories and a personal statement in defense of student rights (Fiat Lux, p. With more issues developing regarding the Vietnam War and other student rights, however, students their protests had just begun.
Protests, Vietnam and Student Rights (1968-1970)
It is important that the Senate has the mutual respect of the administration, faculty and students. In 1969, the Student Senate fought to eliminate curfews for students and began targeting parietal rules. In November, two students were suspended from campus when the Student Conduct Committee found them in violation of visiting rules.
Most of the students supported the sit-in in support of the violators (Fiat Lux, p. Women's Student Government President Barbara Bredl, an organization that has been active for about 50 years, resigned due to lack of student interest. But hundreds of students would regularly attend any meeting that discussed or encouraged unruly protests for a particular purpose (Fiat Lux, p.
When a matter interested the student body, the meeting was packed; when it was routine, most senators would not even attend.
Student Assembly and Open Forum (1970-1976)
He gave $400 to the Third World Liberation Movement, a group advocating the overthrow of the United States. Funding motions were getting railroaded as politics occurred with student groups making endorsement deals with each other to get both proposals passed (Fiat Lux, pg. The assembly also allocated money to the campus Gay Liberation Group (Fiat Lux, p.
The Gay Liberation Group was an organization that was met with some resistance on campus. The allocation of money to the group after a long discussion allowed it to gain support in the community. We would like to believe that this deplorable behavior towards a visitor to the university is an act of mere gross oversight... and not intended as the shocking insult to (the speaker) and Alfred's gay population (which) it seems (Fiat Lux , pp. .
During the next two years of the Assembly's existence, it advertised events and speakers related to the American Indian movement, the Hispanic Alliance, and the Black Student Union (Fiat Lux, p. The Assembly supported more events radical for its era than at any time in Alfred History of University Student Government.
Reorganization, Apathy, and Communication (1976-1987)
He spoke of how "the radical perspective then was an absolute one that was unrealistic and uncompromising" (Fiat Lux, p. Rose said that student government has more "influence" in administrative policy than in years past. He cited the change in the library hours, student representation on curriculum committees, and creation of minors as examples of student participation in administrative change..."In a way, I will miss the radicals...it was exciting, but when the demonstration ended, there was no follow-up" ( Fiat Lux, p.
Economic stability is a major concern of students as it affects career choices (Fiat Lux, p. This included proposals such as developing residential recycling programs and environmental cleanup (Fiat Lux, p. The main reason I decided to run was that I I have seen a downward trend in student involvement (in campus activities) since freshman year…I feel that with good leadership I will be able to improve the current attitude of the student body (Fiat Lux, pg.
In the spring of 1985, when he ran for office, President Andrew Burns stated that the Senate needed more communication with the student body. The Senate began broadcasting its minutes via WALF, in the Fiat Lux, in the residence halls and via the VAX computer bulletin board (Fiat Lux, pg.
More Student Activities and Leadership Training (1987-1990)
The Senate functioned much like a student union and began meeting weekly to accommodate the increased workload (Fiat Lux, p. However, this time the Administration allocated money to the Senate and to the fund to pay for the Powell- soon-to-be-built campus center (Fiat Lux, p. Although most of the student body accepted the organization's efforts, there were some vocal students who opposed the events held by the group (Fiat Lux, p.
The Senate was represented on a committee that studied ways to increase campus security (Fiat Lux, p. Students also addressed issues related to residence hall life, the health center, and food services (Fiat Lux, p. In April 1998, violent the brawl at Gentleman Jim's Bar in Alfred was perceived to be racially related (Fiat Lux, p.
As a result, a Committee on Racial Equity (CORE) was formed to address issues related to making Alfred a comfortable environment for minorities (Fiat Lux, pg. This is "the Senate's way of making a statement about acceptance and appreciation our diversity in all its forms." (Fiat Lux, pg.
Conclusion
