Expand the Student Government Distinction Awards to include scholarships for incoming freshman. Secure cafeteria vouchers so students can i) either get free items in the school cafeterias; and ii) or pay discounted prices. Work with Professor’s to come up with ways to reduce the requirements to constantly purchase the most recent editions of textbooks - when older, less expensive editions might su
ffice.
2. WE ARE ADVOCATES
a. Evening Students: Work with the Provost’s Office to extend the hours of the library and the tutoring center to accommodate students that take class at night, especially during midterm and finals weeks. New Student Government Positions: Create two new student government positions to address the needs of Graduate Students and Students with Disabilities. Committees: Establish various committees (made up students, administration and faculty) to look into developing ways to ensure that Graduate Students, Evening Students, Students with Disabilities, and other non-traditional students also get the benefits of their student activity fees. International Students:
- Work with the Department of International Student Services, administration and faculty to enhance the college experience of International Students.
- Work with college departments to implement initiatives that encourage undocumented students to stay in school. Greek-Letter Organizations: Continue to work on the CUNY-wide Greek Life Policy, to ensure that Greek-letter organizations are formally recognized on CUNY campuses. Access to Student Facilities: Work to ensure that all student groups such as academic honor societies and all student organizations that exist on campus have access to conference rooms and event spaces in the Student Life Building. g. Graduation Ceremony: Vigorously advocate for graduating seniors to have their names called out so that they can ‘walk’ at Commencement/Graduation (Currently, the names of graduating students are not called during graduation and they do not walk up to the stage).
3. WE ARE RELENTLESS AGAINST BUDGET CUTS
a. Hold rallies to i) demand a freeze to tuition and ii) protest against the state and federal budget cuts to CUNY and Lehman College Departments. Host letter-writing campaigns to Governor Cuomo, and New York State legislators to demand that funding to CUNY be restored and including the 300 million dollar shortfall incurred over the last two years. Collaborate with other CUNY Student Government groups to create CUNY-Wide cohesive campaigns against budget cuts and tuition hikes. Establish a Student Government legislative conference budget line that would enable representatives from student government to go to Albany to lobby state legislators and officials against budget cuts and tuition hikes, as well as present said parties with the demands of Lehman College students.
4. WE ARE ACCESSIBLE & ACCOUNTABLE
a. Send all necessary information prior to meetings, including the student government budget; minutes; office hours committed and completed; and other general updates to the student body through the Lehman College email list serv. Post a ‘Campaign Promises’ progress report around campus, and online (via the Lehman College list serv and on the student government association website) to update students on the status of the initiatives that we are promising to pursue on this platform. Establish a Student Government blog, to update students on the general happenings in the student government office(s) and around campus. Work with students and faculty from the department of Journalism, Communication and Theatre to create a video blog/online news station to inform students about happenings on campus. Circulate monthly student satisfaction surveys on various topics to the Lehman College student body, to find out the areas, issues and problems that students would like us to work on, on their behalf.
5. WE ARE THE LEHMAN COLLEGE CAMPUS
a. Work with food-services vendor on campus to create a broader selection of food that would appeal to the varied dietary preferences of students. Mandate that the number of calories per serving of food and beverages served in the cafeteria be posted. Ensure that vending machines are in proper working condition, and are always well stocked. Work to ensure that campus facilities such as the doors leading to buildings and the bathrooms are kept clean and in working order. Work with the office of the Lehman College Assistant Vice-President for Campus Facilities and Planning to make the underground tunnels more presentable to the students
6. WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY
a. Lead by example by having members of Lehman College’s student government commit to at least 5 hours of external community service every semester. Work with the Office of Community Service/ Service Learning & New Student Orientation to promote civic engagement and responsibility amongst the Lehman College student body. Work with CUNY Corps to provide Civic Engagement training for Lehman College students.
7. WE ARE SMART & TALENTED
a. Create a Lehman College Model United Nations (U.N) Team / Debate Team that would represent Lehman College at competitions. Organize community forums, social seminars and round-table discussions on ‘hot-button’ topics affecting the campus and the community. Ensure that the WHLC (the Lehman College Radio Station) receives more funding in the next academic year.
8. WE ARE FUN
a. Host pep-rallies for athletic teams to promote school spirit on campus. Host a ‘Fall Club Fair’; a ‘Spring Spirit Fair’; Belly Dance, Salsa and Self Defense Classes; and scavenger hunts to help promote campus involvement. Organize a ‘Senior Ball’ for graduating seniors. Host Student Government Breakfasts for students to take a break and voice their concerns. Work with the department of Journalism, Communication and Theatre, to sponsor more student-led theatre productions on campus. Work with the Music department to encourage orchestration of modern songs (hip hop, pop, etc.) by students and have them played by a conventional orchestra at special events.
9. WE ARE LEHMAN, WE ARE PROUD
a. Push to designate Thursdays as ‘Campus Spirit Day’, where students will be encouraged to wear Lehman College attire in order to promote school pride. Give out free Lehman College t-shirts, sweatshirts and other branded ‘Lehman College’ merchandise on the first Thursday of every month to promote school pride and spirit. Host an awards ceremony at the end of the year to recognize the achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations in the Lehman College community. Work with the Office of Campus Life to provide training for student leaders to ensure they are aware of campus policies when planning events and initiatives. Host ‘Rock Your Lehman Gear’ social mixers to promote school pride and unity on campus.
