Strengthening the student voice in UB decision-making, while making the entire Student Association stronger in the long-term, will be two of SA's main goals this semester, SA President Anthony Burgio said at a press conference Monday.
Burgio also touched on a number of events and new ideas for the spring semester, such as Spring Fest, online course syllabi, and improving the quality of student life.
"I don't want to be a lame-duck SA president," he said.
In his last semester as SA president, Burgio hopes to turn SA's attention toward strengthening the undergraduate voice in the administration's decision-making.
In Burgio's opinion, a stronger voice could be achieved by creating a "committee of decision makers" made up of SA and UB officials, especially from Student Affairs.
"We're definitely trying to get involved in the long-term university planning," Burgio said in a Tuesday interview with The Spectrum.
Such a committee would allow students to be more proactive than reactive, and although SA has a voice now in UB's administration, "it's fluff to me," Burgio said.
Burgio also talked on Tuesday about the upcoming allocation of funds won during last fall's election, which he said would go toward keeping SA at its current level.
"It's going to go to everything we already have," he said. "No one is going to see an increase."
Burgio added there might be an extra $30,000 to $40,000 after the distribution, but that will go towards rebuilding SA's depleted reserve funds.
As for the SA budget, Burgio said the big issue would not be fully addressed until April, though he said he's already outlined his own idea of what the budget will look like.
"It's very consistent with the last four or five budgets we've had. It's realistic. It meets our needs," Burgio said.
Covering events and issues for the spring semester, Burgio also talked about free SA films for students, the food and clothing drive, the holiday gala, sports clubs getting varsity trainers, and Spring Fest.
Although the dates and performers are not set, Burgio confirmed that Spring Fest would be a hip-hop show since Fall Fest was all rock.
"We will have a sold out show," he said.
After the success of selling out comedian Dane Cook last week, Burgio added there might also be another comedy show or small concert this semester.
Press conferences like Monday's might become common this semester as Burgio feels there is information the student press and student body should know about.
"It was more of a chance to get on the same page than anything," Burgio said.
The first half of the conference was used to sum up the events of last semester, such as Fall Fest and the successful vote to increase the student activity fee.
"Not only did it pass," Burgio said. "It passed by probably the largest landslide of an SA election. Students are voting and they are voting in record numbers."
Much of what was covered in the press conference was minor, like updates to the SA Web site and rule changes in the Student-wide Judiciary, while other revisited topics are sure to impact students in the future, such as further changing student health insurance and settling the parking issue.
Burgio's message, stressing an improvement in the quality of student life at UB, seemed to go over well with the SA staff members in attendance.
"I would like to see Anthony run the administration the same way he did last semester," said SA Assembly Chair Hassan Shibly. "A term is pretty short with school and studying, and you have to take full advantage of the two semesters."
Shibly said he agrees with Burgio's call to take student influence to the next level in administrative decision-making at UB.
Burgio stressed the importance of students becoming a part of SA, whether that means joining clubs, working on the SA Assembly or participating in SA events.
"This is an opportune time for students to get involved," he said. "SA is all we have as students."
