The 2011-12 Student Council executive board and representative body were sworn in last night in the Dome Room of the Rotunda. Both incoming and outgoing members as well as University President Teresa A. Sullivan attended the event.
Outgoing President Colin Hood spoke about Council's accomplishments during his term, citing the involvement of more than 350 students in the group as well as the completion of more than 170 projects. He spoke about the accomplishments of each committee, highlighting the Legislative Affairs Committee's House of Representative debate between candidates Tom Perriello and Jeffrey Clark, and the Safety and Wellness Committee's creation of a Speak Up UVA, a website for students to post concerns and suggestions about the University.
"We increased the efficiency of our programs and our outreach, making Council feel more approachable [to students]," Hood said. He cited a rise from about 5 percent to 87 percent in the attendance rate of representatives at Tuesday night meetings and mentioned the passage of 49 pieces of legislation as notable accomplishments from his term.
"Overall, our theme has been to unify the student body," Hood said about the 2010-11 Council's legacy. "We've grown both personally and as an organization. We are more comfortable leaving our organization in [incoming President Dan Morrison's] hands."
Morrison maintained a theme of unity and communication when addressing his new representative body. He emphasized that his prior experience working in publicity taught him that an efficient and effective Council is one that remains connected to its constituents.
"I've learned that Council works best when it's connected at a personal level to its stakeholders," Morrison said. "When we can keep one another accountable to addressing student concerns, we can put out initiatives that will make tangible outcomes in students' lives."
Morrison also told a personal anecdote about his former childhood speech impediment and how overcoming it made him realize how crucial communication is.
"What I learned [from during those years] is ... how much it means to be able to reach out to another person," Morrison said. "I do not want Student Council to take our connections to this university for granted."
Sworn in alongside Morrison were incoming Vice President for Administration Whit Hunter and Vice President for Organizations Aneesha Rao. Members rounding out the new executive board include Chief of Cabinet Johnny Vroom, Chief Financial Officer Katie Gaver, Chief Technology Officer Kate McDowell, Director of University Relations Kaity Houk and Siddhartha Pailla, chair of the representative body.
Also announced at the transition ceremony were the recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award and the Leonard W. Sandridge Student Partnership Award, given to an outstanding teacher and an outstanding administrator, respectively. The Distinguished Teaching Award was given to Religious Studies Prof. Vigen Guroian, known as "PVG" to his students.
"PVG captured the interest of all the students," Hood said, reading from the nomination letter he received for Guroian. "PVG is the warmest and most engaging member of the U.Va. faculty I have ever met."
The Sandridge Student Partnership Award was awarded to Andrew Broaddus, the assistant director of public service for the Law School.
"No matter how busy Andrew is, he always has time for a student with a question or a problem," Hood said, again reading from Broaddus's nominating letter. "Andrew makes doing public interest work easier, and he makes you want to do public interest work."
Additionally, outgoing Council executive members recognized outstanding outgoing members. Medical Student Erik Criman was awarded the Outstanding Representative Award. The Academic Affairs Committee, chaired by Vroom and third-year College student Tatiana Matthews, received the award for Outstanding Presidential Cabinet Committee. Third-year College Student Anna Funtelar and first-year College student Eric McDaniel received the Member Excellence Awards.
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