IN A LARGE institution with many young people living apart from family and hometown friends, organizations fill the void - providing social activities, learning experiences and a sense of group identity. The popularity of the Greek system is a testament to the fact that a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose are important. Clubs, sports teams and service groups are other organizations that bring people together to share common interests, to compete athletically to benefit the community. By providing class activities, class councils also provide a sense of community within the University.
However, class councils serve two purposes not served by teams, clubs, sororities and fraternities and volunteer groups. First, class councils provide a unifying structure in which members of a variety of organizations can interact in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competition. Second, class councils offer every student - including "non-joiners" - an opportunity to participate in social, philanthropic and educational class activities, as well as in the planning of those activities. As an umbrella organization, with the common denominator being class membership, everyone is qualified and welcome - regardless of academic major, Greek affiliation, team status or club interest.
Why is class identity important in and of itself? Tradition is one answer, and tradition always is big here. Class reunions and class philanthropy are part of this tradition. But, more importantly, there is a significance to sharing a certain time and place and experience with each other. Having a sense of responsibility and a sense of caring toward classmates - regardless of how well we know them - is worthwhile. Class councils work hard to ensure that every student in each class has the opportunity to grow into this feeling of class-ship during our short time together at U.Va.
By acting as a programming body in cooperation with other University organizations, class councils organize class dinners, the Third Year Ring Ceremony, the Fourth Year Graduation Party -- big events that are memorable and enjoyable for all. Additionally, class councils work with Career Services and various other University departments to provide programs and events, such as resume workshops, internship fairs, faculty interaction events, alumni networking and the class gift campaign for fourth years, the O-Hill takeover for second years, surprise exam breaks and other class-centered amenities throughout the school year. The University money given to class councils directly benefits the students of each class by paying for these events.
Class councils play an entirely different role from that of Student Council, but since both work to benefit students, their functions often are complementary. Student Council serves the entire student body and acts as a legislative entity, representing student body interests and taking an activist role in student concerns. It is an imperfect analogy, but in serving students, Student Council might be compared to Congress, while class councils might be compared, loosely, to the United Way - an umbrella organization addressing the various needs of each class community. There should be no friction between student government and class councils, no turf wars, no conflicts. In a university the size of U.Va., there is more than enough work to go around serving needs, organizing events and bringing people together.
Acting as student-governed special status organizations, class councils are charged with duties by the University and the Alumni Association that the U.Va. administrative staff otherwise would be required to perform. By focusing on each class, the particular needs of each class can be addressed specifically by the individual class councils. Class councils benefit the University through their work to foster feelings of class identity and to ensure positive experiences for students in each class. Fond feelings and good memories of the University translate into alumni support and the maintenance of the U.Va. tradition.
In the here and now, class councils welcome participation by all class members in planning, programming and celebrating our time together as classmates. So, if you haven't yet taken advantage of the activities and events planned for your class, come out and see for yourself how class councils benefit you.
(Moira Fogarty is the president of Second Year Council.)
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