A Few Words from Our SBA President
Becky Harker
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: News
I would like to take this opportunity to explain to everyone what the Student Bar Association (SBA) is and what our mission as an organization is for the upcoming school year. The SBA is an umbrella organization that oversees all of the student organizations on campus. The responsibilities of the Board range from acting as a liaison between the administration and the students to allocating the budget it is given for student activities among the several student organizations on campus. At our most recent meeting, the Board discussed its goals for the upcoming year. Our main goals are to encourage the student organizations to work together to put on more joint events for the school and to increase the transparency of the Board among the students by making sure students are comfortable coming to any member of the Board with issues or concerns relating to the law school.
In an effort to work on one of our biggest goals for the year - improving our transparency - this is the first of many columns in the Docket that will recount what the Board is currently involved in and how we are trying to best serve the student body at George Mason. First, we would like to again welcome the newest class of law students to the law school community. We hope that you get involved in the various student organizations the law school offers and we are excited to have some of you on our board following the 1L elections at the end of September.
So far this year, the SBA has already held 3 meetings to ensure a smooth and successful start to the school year. Bryan Weir and Kelly Gibbs worked hard to make both the Orientation barbeque and the Student Organization Fair a huge success and are in the midst of planning the annual Gold Cup event for mid-October. In addition to working hard on social events, the Board has also had the opportunity to meet with Dean Polsby to discuss some of the current issues facing the student body. Dean Polsby spoke candidly to the Board about the likelihood of tuition increases for the next school year. The Dean further expressed his desire to try to minimize the impact of tuition increases from the Main Campus and keep as much money with the students as possible. Dean Polsby noted that he recognizes the importance of students being able to give back to the law school community upon graduation, which is difficult given the substantial debt many students leave school with but which also would help to increase the school's ability to provide scholarship assistance to students. The Dean also addressed how the new building would benefit the law school. He noted that the space on the 4th floor of Hazel Hall would revert back to the law school in 2012, providing much-needed office space for faculty and student groups. Additionally, the new addition will offer a theatre, a multi-purpose facility, two new classrooms, a catering facility and retail space. Dean Polsby welcomed questions from the Board and is enthusiastic about working to help improve both life on campus at George Mason and the value of a George Mason Law School education.
Please check the SBA TWEN website out for a more detailed account of our minutes each month and do not hesitate to contact any member of the Board to discuss any problems, concerns or ideas you may have.
Upcoming Events:
1L Elections - September 22-24
SBA Monthly Meeting - October 4, 2009
Gold Cup - October 17, 2009 (watch for e-mails near the end of September regarding ticket sales)
In an effort to work on one of our biggest goals for the year - improving our transparency - this is the first of many columns in the Docket that will recount what the Board is currently involved in and how we are trying to best serve the student body at George Mason. First, we would like to again welcome the newest class of law students to the law school community. We hope that you get involved in the various student organizations the law school offers and we are excited to have some of you on our board following the 1L elections at the end of September.
So far this year, the SBA has already held 3 meetings to ensure a smooth and successful start to the school year. Bryan Weir and Kelly Gibbs worked hard to make both the Orientation barbeque and the Student Organization Fair a huge success and are in the midst of planning the annual Gold Cup event for mid-October. In addition to working hard on social events, the Board has also had the opportunity to meet with Dean Polsby to discuss some of the current issues facing the student body. Dean Polsby spoke candidly to the Board about the likelihood of tuition increases for the next school year. The Dean further expressed his desire to try to minimize the impact of tuition increases from the Main Campus and keep as much money with the students as possible. Dean Polsby noted that he recognizes the importance of students being able to give back to the law school community upon graduation, which is difficult given the substantial debt many students leave school with but which also would help to increase the school's ability to provide scholarship assistance to students. The Dean also addressed how the new building would benefit the law school. He noted that the space on the 4th floor of Hazel Hall would revert back to the law school in 2012, providing much-needed office space for faculty and student groups. Additionally, the new addition will offer a theatre, a multi-purpose facility, two new classrooms, a catering facility and retail space. Dean Polsby welcomed questions from the Board and is enthusiastic about working to help improve both life on campus at George Mason and the value of a George Mason Law School education.
Please check the SBA TWEN website out for a more detailed account of our minutes each month and do not hesitate to contact any member of the Board to discuss any problems, concerns or ideas you may have.
Upcoming Events:
1L Elections - September 22-24
SBA Monthly Meeting - October 4, 2009
Gold Cup - October 17, 2009 (watch for e-mails near the end of September regarding ticket sales)
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