COLUMN: SA wants to serve but needs your help

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by Anne Countiss

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Maybe it is because I went to the SA Retreat and met two university vice presidents, the provost, deans and faculty members. Or maybe it is because I have already learned ways that I can get involved and become an active member of this community.

What is the SA? The Student Association is the umbrella organization that addresses the needs and concerns of the undergraduates.

It provides channels of communication between the undergraduates, colleges, campus organizations, the administration and other members of Rice. The SA is here to serve you.

Do you realize that you are a member of the SA? Contrary to popular opinion, the SA is not a few, select students from each college and some politicos who make decisions for everyone else.

The actual voting body, the Senate, consists of the executive council plus the president and elected representatives from each college. However, like other campus organizations, you do not need a title or a position to get involved and make a difference.

Is there a reason not to be involved? No. At Rice, it's easy, and you, your peers and future students will benefit.

If there is something at Rice you don't like (for example, uninformed voters or the lack of desks for lefties), change it!

The SA can give you advice on people to contact and recommend a course of action. But you must take the initiative and get involved.

So come to a meeting and form your own opinion about what the SA does. The SA needs your suggestions and input to serve and improve the Rice community.

You do not have to spend all of your time with the SA to be active. Just find an issue or project that interests you; then find the organization that supports it. If an organization doesn't exist, form one.

For further information contact the SA:

* In cyberspace: the SA homepage is located at http://riceinfo.rice.edu:80/projects.

* SA ListServ: the Student Association's newsgroup is at sa@rice.edu .

* Maryana Iskander's (SA President) e-mail address is whales@ owlnet.rice.edu.

* By phone: the SA Office is on the second floor of the Ley Student Center and can be reached at 527-4079.

* In person: meetings are every Monday night at 10 p.m. in Kelley Lounge in the Student Center (free food!).

The SA isn't the solution but a mediator between you and the Rice community. It is one way to get things done.

Anne Countiss is a Hanszen College freshman.

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the September 27, 1996 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
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