Doug Hartz ASUA President

As we begin another year at UA, we welcome another generation of students to our community. And as this yearās student body president Iād like to take this opportunity to both introduce our incoming students to student government at a university level and hopefully reintroduce continuing students to some of the services they have at their disposal.

As the student governing body for one of the largest public universities in the country, the Associated Students of the University of Arizona provides a venue for students to take an active role in their college experience.

A number of the programs ASUA oversees are of particular relevance to incoming students, and are often not fully taken advantage of simply because too many students donāt know they exist.

ASUA offers a wide variety of programs and services that students can both participate in and use. From planning carnivals to raising funds for scholarships to representing student concerns at the state legislature, ASUA is continually working to improve upon the campus from a student perspective.

The resources in ASUA are an excellent place for new students looking to find a niche on campus to begin their search. ASUA is responsible for the well being of the nearly 400 clubs and organizations that make up the campus environment. This responsibility makes the student government offices above the bookstore one of best places on campus to get answers to your questions about how to get involved.

In an effort to recognize the diverse population and needs of our campus, resource centers such as Pride Alliance, the Womenās Resource Center, the Minority Action Council, and the International Student Association facilitate programs and forums. These resources help to celebrate the richness of our campus community by giving students with very specific needs a campus location to meet and discuss relevant issues.

Legal services are provided by daily appointment, and free of charge for all registered university students at the student government offices. This service has been established to assist our student population with and legal questions they might have. If you have questions about a lease you are signing, a charge on your credit, a ticket, or any other issue that you might be able to use a perspective from an attorney bring them here.

Another concern for students new to campus is the safety issues that develop in such a densely populated area. In an effort to enable students to move safely about campus during the evening hours ASUA has developed the SafeRide program. By calling 621-SAFE from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, students can be shuttled between locations on campus. If any student needs to travel from class, to the library, to their residence halls or to any other location on campus during the evening this service is at their disposal.

Another free program dedicated to safety is being established for the first time at this university in the upcoming year. The Student Lifeline program provides each student a card that can be used to call a taxi to escort him or her to the nearest hospital or place of residence in case of an emergency. Our hope is that this service will compliment the SafeRide program and ensure student safety during the hours SafeRide does not run.

For the past seven years, the CATFEST concert has been held on the Friday of the first week of school to celebrate the beginning of a new year at UA. This free event takes place in the evening and is hosted by some of the largest student organizations on campus including ASUA, the University Activities Board, Residence Hall Association and Greek life.

This annual student tradition is an excellent opportunity for students to socialize, acclimate to the campus, and learn about some of the many possible activities they can pursue at UA. Students hoping to get involved in student government will have an opportunity to meet elected officials, receive more information about how they can get involved, and be exposed to many volunteer opportunities.

Obtain more information at http://www.asua.arizona.edu.