By (October 6, 2008)

Student Association Creates a Community on Campus

October 6, 2008 - Tucked into a corner of the Campus Center, Student Association (SA) staff are hard at work managing one of the most crucial offices at UAlbany. Visiting the SA offices is like taking a behind-the-scenes look at student life on campus.

Coordinating an organization that provides entertainment like concerts and comedy shows, funds more than 250 student groups, provides free legal services to students, and runs both Copies Plus and Camp Dippikill, is no easy task. However, President Dan Truchan seems to do it all, juggling the duties of the group that oversees most student activities on campus and that acts as the undergraduate student government. Truchan does all this while finishing up his senior year at UAlbany.

This year, SA is making changes to try to connect with more students and create a community on campus. The SA is now holding Town Hall meetings once a month. The meetings provide opportunities for student groups and SA administration to address any concerns they have, and participate in a question and answer session.

SA also updated its Web site to be more professional and more accessible to students. The Student Association has also started a blog to keep readers up-to-date on student elections, Town Hall meetings, and SA events. The blog will be updated throughout the year to include policies of the University at Albany and information on new majors and minors.

�One of SA�s goals for the year is for students to know what SA is and to use it as a resource,� said Truchan, a senior from Holbrook, N.Y., and a public policy and management major. �We are under utilized -- most students don�t even know we have a free attorney.�

The "Calendar Wall" is another step SA has taken to create a community on campus. There is a space in the SA office for members of student groups to write down the dates and locations of their events for everyone to see. The intention is for student groups to support each other by attending one another�s events and bringing different groups together.

Students interested in getting involved with SA are encouraged to stop by the office, which is located in Campus Center 116. Students are appointed and hired to all types of positions, from senators to Copies Plus employees. SA is always looking for volunteers as well.