Hello, everyone:<br><br>This year, the UA is taking a number of steps to <b>directly engage students</b>, and that effort begins with <b>dorm-based UA Information Sessions</b>
that we will be hosting with four dorm governments across campus this
week. At these events, you can learn about opportunities for involvement
with the UA Senate, our Committees, and the 2014 Class Council. <br>
<br>As Speaker of the Senate, I am particularly interested in meeting
with <b>potential Senators</b>, talented members of of the community who work
to accurately represent their fellow students and set the campus agenda.
<b>Are you willing to go to bat for students?</b> If so, please continue reading for our list of events and what you stand to gain from becoming a Senator.<br>
<br><i>Monday, September 6th</i><br> - <b>East Campus</b> (8:00pm in Talbot Lounge)<br><br><i>Wednesday, September 8th</i><br> - <b>Simmons Hall</b> (5:30pm in the Mail Room Lounge)<br><br><i>Thursday, September 9th</i><br>
- <b>Burton-Conner</b> (5:00pm in the Conference Room)<br> - <b>Next House</b> (6:00pm in the TFL)<br><br><i>Saturday, September 11th</i><br> - <b>UA Office Hours</b> (11:00am-1:00pm in W20-401)<br><br>As a Senator, you will have an opportunity to <font size="2">directly<b> influence student life</b></font> and develop valuable, <b>marketable leadership skills</b> in an <b>action-oriented setting</b>.
At the conclusion of the term, you will have gained a useful
perspective on the inner-workings of MIT while developing a number of
strong relationships with classmates and administrators. If you are
interested, you must fill out an Elections Packet that you can pick up
at one of these events or download from our website at <a href="http://ua.mit.edu/join" target="_blank">http://ua.mit.edu/join</a>. These packets are due one week from tomorrow on <b>Monday, September 13th</b>.<br>
<br>If being a Senator is not particularly attractive to you, we
encourage you to consider joining one of our <b>Committees</b>. In this role,
you will work independently, or on a small team, to tackle a project
that sustains or advances the state of student life in areas ranging
from Dining to Educational Policy to Sustainability. You can find more
information about this opportunity at <a href="http://ua.mit.edu/join" target="_blank">http://ua.mit.edu/join</a>.<br>
<br>Alternatively, if you are a member of the Class of 2014 and are interested in promoting class unity and planning social events for your class, please see the Class Council section of the <a href="http://ua.mit.edu/join">http://ua.mit.edu/join</a> page for your election packet. Be advised that running for one of the class council positions requires the collection of signatures from your classmates prior to <b>Monday, September 13th</b>.<br>
<br>As a final note, you should <b>expect to see a highly visible, vital, and energetic UA this year.</b>
By our very definition as a student government, any attempt at student
engagement begins with assistance from the student body we represent and
advocate for on a daily basis. I hope that you will take advantage of
this week's events, and those to come, to learn more about the UA,
contribute your opinions, and make MIT a better place for
undergraduates.<br>
<br>I wish you all good luck with the first
week of classes and with the entire semester to come. If you ever need
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at <a href="mailto:ua@mit.edu" target="_blank">ua@mit.edu</a>.<br>
<br>Thank you for your time,<br>Jonté Craighead<br><br>Speaker of the Senate<br>MIT Undergraduate Association<br>Course 1C: Class of 2013<br>