Student Government

Student Government election candidates posted

Student Government has posted the candidates for the 2014 spring election. There are four candidates for President with four Vice President running mates. There are currently thirty five candidates running for Student Senate with thirty spaces available. Campaigning begins March 17, the Monday following Spring Break. Voting will take place between March 31 and April 4.

Student Government election hub

Each spring, Mason’s student government hosts its election for student senate and student body President.  The organization’s constitution states its goal as “advocate the interests of the student body, educate the University community with regard to the state of the institution, and represent the interests of each student”. Furthermore, Student Government serves as a liason between the administration, faculty, staff, and University community.

Declaration of Student Rights continues to be developed

This past semester, the Declaration of Student Rights bill has been the leading project under construction by Mason’s Student Government. Also, with the recent progress from the bill’s main supervisor, Student Government’s Attorney General, Rachael Grimesey, the bill is set to be completed by the end of April. Grimesey has been in charge of the declaration’s overall progress since its recent creation last semester.

Student Government urges Parking Services Advisory Committee to reduce costs

Student Government recently passed a resolution entitled “A Resolution in Support of a Parking Citation Fine Reduction Policy,” which supports a 15 percent decrease in all parking fines. It was passed 33-0-2 at the Nov. 21 meeting.

Evan Del Duke, the author of the resolution and the speaker pro-tempore of the senate, said the main goal of the resolution is to start a conversation with administrative offices, such as the Parking Services Advisory Committee, about how to save students money on parking costs.

Student Senate passes resolution to benefit same-sex couples

At their November 7 meeting, the Mason Student Senate passed a resolution in support of extending Virginia marriage benefits to homosexual couples employed by the university. 

As stated in the legislation, the federal government recognizes marriages of same-sex couples who are married in states where it is legal, even if the couples move to states where it is not. However, Virginia deems all homosexual relationships “null and void” and does not recognize those couples legally married in other states.

Freshmen prepare for Student Senate elections

In less than a week, freshmen and transfer students running for Student Senate will begin campaigning. The candidates will have the chance to campaign over social media and on campus to win support until voting  begins on October 15.

Student government leaders explain organizational hierarchy

Speaker of the Senate Phil Abbruscato, a junior government and international politics major, believes the quote “Serving you and the needs of the Mason community” accurately represents the role of Student Government at Mason. 

“The biggest responsibility student government has is to appropriately and accurately represent the student body,” Abbruscato said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Organization

Student government to expand advertising for next year's election

On April 4, 30 senators were elected in the student government elections as well as a new president and vice president. The election this year was competitive for senators, with 41 candidates running for 30 seats.

Some student government officials believe that additional advertising for the election helped increase the number of candidates running.

Mason students give back through BIG event

The BIG event, first started at Texas A&M University, is spreading to college campuses all over the United States, including George Mason University. Nearly 200 Mason students, faculty and administrators are registered for the upcoming event.