NEC seeks students for various committees

A school as large as the University can sometimes make students feel like they have no impact on their own lives. But students who would like the opportunity to involve themselves in such diverse areas as academic planning, fraternity and sorority affairs or undergraduate admissions, can now submit an application to the Nominations and Elections Committee. The NEC is independent of the other four branches of student government and oversees both elections to the Undergraduate Assembly and nominations of undergraduates to various committees. The NEC holds biannual nominations to the numerous University-wide committees, during which candidates apply for committee positions, are interviewed by NEC members, and sit on most committees for up to a year. "It is a way to get involved and have a voice," Nominations Commitee chairperson Sharon Dunn said yesterday. "You're an actual member [of a committee] and you're sitting with faculty." NEC member Michael Monson said this week that "people should stop complaining and start acting." "It's an opportunity to get involved," Monson said, adding that committee members will have the opportunity to work with faculty, administrators and, occasionally, University Trustees. Monson said in past years the committee has had trouble fighting apathy from students toward their government. This year the committee has begun an aggressive advertising campaign which Monson said he hopes will get "the whole student body involved." "One of the things we want to do this year is to get word out [about NEC]," Monson added. "Students can make a difference." The committee, which just completed student nominations to University Trustee committees, will spend approximately $600 on the present campaign for University-wide committee nominations. "I felt that publicity hadn't been done very well in the past," Dunn said "[This year] we have put in a little extra effort." The NEC announced Wednesday night its appointments to six Trustees Committees including the Facility and Campus Planning, External Affairs, Student Affairs, Responsibility, Budget and Finance, and Academic Policy committees. Monson said that 44 students applied for positions on the six Trustee committees, adding that the turnout was large compared to previous years. The NEC, while monitoring elections and conducting nominations, collects feedback from committee members and students. Applications for the committees must be filled out in triplicate, but students who apply for a position on the NEC must submit five copies of their application. Students must submit applications between 12 and 5 p.m. on Thursday February 27 at the NEC office. Students can sit on more than one University-wide committee, although they must apply separately for each committee. After interviews, the NEC will select their nominations.

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