By France Nielson

BYUSA President

Last school year Greg Moody and I were elected student body executive vice president and president. As part of our responsibilities, we want to let you know more about your student body association — the Brigham Young University Student Service Association (BYUSA) — and our platform initiative, partnering with the Student Alumni Association’s program, Take a Cougar to Lunch.

BYUSA is students serving students. According to the BYUSA Charter, BYUSA trains leaders who are “centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind.” As part of this mission, we desire that those who get involved feel a sense of belonging to each other and to BYU, refine their skills and talents, develop Christlike leadership, make meaningful contributions, and commit themselves to future service.

BYUSA volunteers plan activities for thousands of students, host more than 80 clubs, research student issues, and advise the BYU administration to better our campus. The Student Advisory Council, supported by volunteers, is working to improve campus. They serve as a liaison between the student body and the administration. It is a forum for voicing your concerns and offering ideas for the betterment of the university. Some improvements they suggested and helped research include credit/debit card usage in the Cougareat. The Council has also provided research and student opinion for The Information Commons and extended library hours. Currently, the Student Advisory Council is creating a committee to improve sportsmanship on campus.

Our leadership team comprises Sam Bennion, vice president of campus activities; Sarah Gardner, vice president of Clubs; Dan Swiss, vice president of Public Relations; and Heather Jacques, vice president of the Student Advisory Council. We, as a presidency, hope to inspire student involvement, implement activities that meet students’ needs, increase our accountability to the students and administration, and improve students’ perceptions of BYUSA. We want to make small changes that will make big differences.

BYUSA Clubs allow like-minded individuals to feel a sense of community. Major effort is going into improving communication with club leaders through a new website.

This Friday, 7 to 10,000 students will enjoy “Fall Fest,” brought to you by Campus Activities. Campus Activities do major events throughout the year such as Campus Home Evening with President Samuelson, Battle of the Bands, Guitars Unplugged, and more.

Public Relations is finalizing the details for flat-screen televisions in the WSC Terrace. In addition, PR volunteers are working more closely with the 100 Hour Board — a Web site dedicated to answering your questions within 100 hours.

You might ask yourself, “What else does BYUSA do for me?” If you use a BYUSA campus courtesy phone, participate in or read about President Samuelson’s student Question and Answer, or voice your opinion on the Soap Box, you’re benefiting from BYUSA. In addition, we are working to get a BYUSA liaison to the Provo City Council, and from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 BYUSA volunteers will register students to vote.

Take a Cougar to Lunch is a program in which BYU students meet with local alumni and discuss career information over lunch. This program is sponsored by the BYU Student Alumni Association. BYUSA’s part in the program is to create student publicity once the program’s Web site is functioning and the Alumni Association has recruited enough alumni to participate. This summer the Student Alumni Association and the eBusiness Center cosponsored a Web site contest for the program. The winning Web site allows students to select a mentor based on area of expertise. The Web site is in the process of being moved to a different server and the Student Alumni Association is preparing to contact alumni. We have submitted the advertising proposal and received approval. Students with Campus Life Design are ready to produce the ads. Special commendation for the program’s improvement and growth should be given to Lauren Bluth, executive vice president of the Student Alumni Association.

BYUSA is students serving students. Jason Smith, a junior majoring in political science and an executive director for BYUSA Public Relations said, “Never have I seen an organization that cares more about people. BYUSA is not all about running great events and creating fantastic programs. We try to improve students’ lives.” Max Hunsaker, a senior majoring in political science and an executive director of BYUSA Student Advisory Council, commented, “My service in BYUSA has helped me to understand the unique role of BYU and the positive impact that I can make.”

BYUSA has plenty of room for students to get involved. If you are interested in serving students, visit us in the Student Leadership offices in 3400 WSC.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Sep 2004