ÎCubbies' work closely with ASUA representatives

After a semester of mostly "settling in" and adapting to college life, UA's first Freshman Class Council is busy fund raising, performing philanthropic activities and painting fire hydrants.

In addition to spearheading a fire hydrant-painting contest to raise money for UA clubs, the "cubbies'," as FCC director J.P. Benedict calls them, purpose is to help coordinate various parts of Spring Fling and the Arizona Students Association's lobbying efforts.

(The council) has worked out better than I could have imagined. Jennifer Reece ASUA Executive Vice President

Council members continue to acquire important knowledge of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and the Arizona Students' Association that most senators don't learn until their first month on the job, Benedict said.

"It's great for ASUA," he said. "They retain these freshmen who already have all this ASUA experience unlike in the past. It just puts ASUA ahead."

Two members of the freshman council, Jacob Reuben and Blake Buchanan, plan to run for ASUA senate, Benedict said. He also knew of certain cubbies who wanted to be ASA directors so they could work with the FCC again.

"This experience has definitely made me want to stay involved in the UA's student government," said FCC co-chair Kim Bui.

"One of the main goals when J.P. and I started the council was for them to come into ASA and work with the different areas," said ASA Student Lobbyist Melanie Rainer.

Since the council began meeting in the fall, the cubbies have helped organize Cat Fest, attended meetings with the Arizona Board of Regents and familiarized themselves with the different areas of UA's student government.

These experiences have helped to acquaint FCC members with the university as a whole, as well, ASUA Executive Vice President Jennifer Reece said.

"Getting involved makes a campus of 35,000 seem a lot smaller," Bui said. "The hardest part about getting involved is finding out about what kind of opportunities are available. The FCC and ASUA in general has introduced me to many of these opportunities."

The FCC participated in various philanthropies such as the AIDS Walk and Habitat for Humanity.

"The philanthropy that we're most proud of is a holiday party we threw for a local Tucson elementary school," Bui said. "Their thank-you letters are still hanging in the office."

They also work closely with ASUA senators to make changes around campus.

FCC member Amber Harryman is working with ASUA Senator Scott Cheney to create "UA late nights:" designed to create nonalcoholic activities for students on Friday and Saturday nights and to get organizations and clubs involved by providing speakers and activities.

The 40 members of the FCC also spent much of last semester socializing and getting a feel for what they wanted to accomplish, Benedict said.

"First semester we did a lot of things within the group," Harryman stated in an E-mail. "We were just trying to figure out where we wanted to take FCC this year. This semester we're a lot more focused on big projects around campus."

Harryman said that socially, the group takes many road trips, often eats lunch together and now hangs out together on weekends.

ASUA approved the creation of the council last year with the goal to get incoming students involved in with the university and give them a place to feel welcome.

Applications for the Freshman Class Council were sent out to freshmen in the orientation packets last year. The cubbies were selected during the first week of school.

"I'm really happy with the way things have been going," Benedict said. "I had to do a lot of mentoring, but now I just oversee them and they take on a lot of projects themselves."

"(The council) has worked out better than I could have imagined," Reece said.