40 students will be chosen for group, which will advise student government

ASUA senators approved yesterday the creation of a new program aimed to increase freshman involvement in student government.

The Freshman Class Council, which will begin next year, is a freshman-based leadership program that will consist of 40 freshmen chosen through application and interview.

Designed by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona University Relations Director J.P. Benedict and ASUA's club advocates - Ryan Patterson and Melanie Rainer - and supported by the Arizona Alumni Association, the program's goal is to get incoming students involved and to give them a place to feel welcome.

"Freshmen don't have any sense of ownership or belonging in ASUA or their class council," Benedict said.

Benedict wants to call the council's participants "Cubbies" because they will be the youngest class to begin their work with ASUA.

Each member of this "honorary type" group will serve as a liaison to different areas of ASUA, such as the president's cabinet, student resources, student senate and programs and services.

They will participate in their own philanthropies and socials and will be required to serve three office hours in ASUA every week.

In addition, the group will come up with its own project that will bring unity to the campus. The members will collaborate on ideas and choose one based on feasibility, Benedict said.

He said he hopes the project will become an annual tradition.

"If you have something tangible, I think you will be getting the results you are looking for," said ASUA Sen. Allison Jones.

The council will serve as a feeder into ASUA, so that ASUA will not need to look to outside sources to fill positions, said current senator and administrative vice president elect Jered Mansell.

"When it comes time for the members to become directors, they will be a little more knowledgeable," Mansell said. "I didn't get involved until I was a senator, although I would have been involved earlier (had the Freshman Class Council existed).

"Since it will be a council as part of ASUA, we can sort of take it under a wing and nurture it, until it's strong enough to go on its own."

A director, who will be appointed by Mansell, will serve as the primary spokesperson and representative for the FCC. Two assistant directors will serve under the director and will work closely with the FCC, placing its members in their committees and overseeing committee meetings.