I won't say that I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted on this blog, since I said that last month. I can't believe it has been over six weeks since I last posted on this blog. Oh well. It's almost Christmas, the season of love and forgiveness, so please cut me some slack.
A lot has transpired over the past six weeks, including a plethora of Samford events and football games. We've seen homecoming come and go in flying colors and have completely ushered in a thriving class of Samford students. We've seen Harry's coffee house both rock out and chill out, and we have christened an entirely redesigned Student Activities Council. We've even seen a group of freshmen SGAers do a synchronized dance in the cafeteria. But this post isn't about the past, it's about the future.
And the future holds Christmas! Yes, that most wonderful time of the year is upon us. No better place to be than to be around Samford at Christmas time. This coming Thursday will hold the first major events of the Samford Christmas season: Hanging of the Green and Lighting of the Way. Meet us in Reid Chapel at 6 p.m. Thursday for the always special Hanging of the Green service, at which we will both worship Christ and decorate for the celebration of His birth. Then at 7 we will meet at Centennial Walk for another special tradition: Lighting of the Way. This year promises to be even more spectacular than in years past. The entire quad will be lit by luminaries, the Christmas story will be read, carols will be sung, and joy will be to the world of Samford. Immediately following the end of the festivities at Centennial Walk everyone is invited to meet in Ben Brown plaza to hear Christmas music provided by Mockingbird Sun. The entire night is going to be one that you don't want to miss.
Then, next Tuesday (the 7th) in Harry's coffeehouse we will celebrate the work of all those involved in SGA this year with our annual joint session. All the branches of SGA will meet there together for food, fellowship, and frivolity. Door prizes and tacky sweaters promise to be present in abundance. More details to follow.
To all of you strolling the walkways of Samford over these last few weeks of the semester, I challenge you to take advantage of the time that you have remaining. Of course we all procrastinated on our papers and projects; you're not the only one facing some daunting tasks. But I challenge you to not just get through these next few weeks, but to truly appreciate them. Finals (and projects and papers) will come and go, but you may never forget this Christmas season that you are given here. This time is made special because of the people we share it with. Don't take it for granted. I wish you nothing but love and happiness over the coming weeks.
All the best,
Sam
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Fall
I can't believe it's been an entire month since we've posted on this blog. Oh well, better late than never.
In the past month, a flurry of activity has occurred on Samford's campus. With regards to SGA, we now have our entire leadership spectrum in place. The Freshman Forum, Senate, Student Activities Council, Presidential Advisory Council, Student Judiciary Council, and Class Officers are now filled with bright, motivated leaders. With such a broad support base and the leadership of the executive officers, the only thing containing us is our own imaginations.
From a programming standpoint, we've already had a very successful year with many more events to come. Next in line is the upcoming Miss Samford pageant (Oct. 16), Halloween week activities (Oct. 25-31), and Homecoming Week (Nov. 1-6). We hope to only keep raising the bar with these events, and always welcome student feedback and suggestions.
This is a very short post to encapsulate a very eventful month of activity, but it's all I have at the moment. The key word in SGA is student, and duty calls. I'll leave you with just a few words of encouragement.
Make the most of your time at Samford and leave no regrets. Do something kind for someone who could never repay you. Make friends with people who have few. Laugh at things that are uplifting. Feed your soul before you try to feed others'. I hope that you will find the blessings in life, even when they are hard to find. Be a blessing.
All the best,
Sam
In the past month, a flurry of activity has occurred on Samford's campus. With regards to SGA, we now have our entire leadership spectrum in place. The Freshman Forum, Senate, Student Activities Council, Presidential Advisory Council, Student Judiciary Council, and Class Officers are now filled with bright, motivated leaders. With such a broad support base and the leadership of the executive officers, the only thing containing us is our own imaginations.
From a programming standpoint, we've already had a very successful year with many more events to come. Next in line is the upcoming Miss Samford pageant (Oct. 16), Halloween week activities (Oct. 25-31), and Homecoming Week (Nov. 1-6). We hope to only keep raising the bar with these events, and always welcome student feedback and suggestions.
This is a very short post to encapsulate a very eventful month of activity, but it's all I have at the moment. The key word in SGA is student, and duty calls. I'll leave you with just a few words of encouragement.
Make the most of your time at Samford and leave no regrets. Do something kind for someone who could never repay you. Make friends with people who have few. Laugh at things that are uplifting. Feed your soul before you try to feed others'. I hope that you will find the blessings in life, even when they are hard to find. Be a blessing.
All the best,
Sam
Monday, September 13, 2010
A New Era
A new era of Samford student life has begun. As Dr. Westmoreland said to the freshmen on the first day of Connections, college is a rare time in students' lives when they can hit the reset button and rethink who they are as a person. It is even rarer when a university gets to do the same thing. That is exactly what Samford is doing right now: hitting the reset button and rethinking how to provide a rewarding student life experience. This includes, but is not limited to, Samford's Student Government Association.
If you haven't already noticed, there is new leadership in place around campus. Renie Moss has taken the new Assistant Dean of Students position, Lacey Simpson has taken charge of events, and Janna Pennington is now fostering Student Leadership and Development. These ladies are already doing a phenomenal job.
Beyond administration, though, outstanding student leaders across campus are taking ownership of their organizations. Separate, all these leaders will do a tremendous job within their own organizations. But once they find a way to all work together, then they have the power to bring about change unlike that which has yet been seen at Samford.
Beyond vague optimism, there are tangible changes that are being made this year. Some of these changes are internal to SGA. For example, SGA is rethinking the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC). Instead of allowing it to remain as a faux-Senate with many crippling inefficiencies, they plan on making it a forum to bring student leaders together across campus. With regards to overall communication, SGA is going to keep pushing to find ways to reach students until we find something that works. Both an SGA blog (http://samfordsga.blogspot.com) and a twitter account (www.twitter.com/samfordsga) are in place.
Other SGA changes are much more external. This year's Welcome Back week was the best Samford has had in quite some time. Everything from the concert Sunday night to the plethora of events around campus, to the road trip to FSU just goes to show what SGA is capable of, and indicates great things to come.
All of this is possible due to students' financial generosity. Out of the around $900,000 that students have given to Samford in the form of a student activity fee, over $210,000 is going directly into the SGA budget. The rest will be used to improve and build student facilities around campus (think sand volleyball courts and BBQ pits), and to make larger events become realities.
Regardless of what student leadership gets accomplished this year, it will be for nothing if students do not get on board. Student Government and Student Affairs both have one key word in them: student. This isn't about us, it's about you. So what can students do to help?
Perhaps the most important way one can take part in student life is simply to participate. Come to events, come to concerts, come to meetings, and SGA will do everything in its power to ensure that they will be worthwhile.
Students should also run in the upcoming fall SGA elections, whether it be for a Senator or a class officer. Freshmen have the opportunity to govern their own class by running for class officer or taking part in Freshman Forum.
There is no better way to take ownership of one's school than to take part in SGA. Fall election and Freshman Forum sign-ups are in the SGA office and will officially end this coming Friday, Sept. 10.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, students can help by simply being honest. Be honest with SGA and be honest with yourself about how you feel about Samford and Samford life. SGA wants to hear your opinion and promises to do everything to make sure all voices are not only heard, but understood, by Samford's administration.
It's time that we took ownership of our university. Let's start a new era of Samford life together.
If you haven't already noticed, there is new leadership in place around campus. Renie Moss has taken the new Assistant Dean of Students position, Lacey Simpson has taken charge of events, and Janna Pennington is now fostering Student Leadership and Development. These ladies are already doing a phenomenal job.
Beyond administration, though, outstanding student leaders across campus are taking ownership of their organizations. Separate, all these leaders will do a tremendous job within their own organizations. But once they find a way to all work together, then they have the power to bring about change unlike that which has yet been seen at Samford.
Beyond vague optimism, there are tangible changes that are being made this year. Some of these changes are internal to SGA. For example, SGA is rethinking the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC). Instead of allowing it to remain as a faux-Senate with many crippling inefficiencies, they plan on making it a forum to bring student leaders together across campus. With regards to overall communication, SGA is going to keep pushing to find ways to reach students until we find something that works. Both an SGA blog (http://samfordsga.blogspot.com) and a twitter account (www.twitter.com/samfordsga) are in place.
Other SGA changes are much more external. This year's Welcome Back week was the best Samford has had in quite some time. Everything from the concert Sunday night to the plethora of events around campus, to the road trip to FSU just goes to show what SGA is capable of, and indicates great things to come.
All of this is possible due to students' financial generosity. Out of the around $900,000 that students have given to Samford in the form of a student activity fee, over $210,000 is going directly into the SGA budget. The rest will be used to improve and build student facilities around campus (think sand volleyball courts and BBQ pits), and to make larger events become realities.
Regardless of what student leadership gets accomplished this year, it will be for nothing if students do not get on board. Student Government and Student Affairs both have one key word in them: student. This isn't about us, it's about you. So what can students do to help?
Perhaps the most important way one can take part in student life is simply to participate. Come to events, come to concerts, come to meetings, and SGA will do everything in its power to ensure that they will be worthwhile.
Students should also run in the upcoming fall SGA elections, whether it be for a Senator or a class officer. Freshmen have the opportunity to govern their own class by running for class officer or taking part in Freshman Forum.
There is no better way to take ownership of one's school than to take part in SGA. Fall election and Freshman Forum sign-ups are in the SGA office and will officially end this coming Friday, Sept. 10.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, students can help by simply being honest. Be honest with SGA and be honest with yourself about how you feel about Samford and Samford life. SGA wants to hear your opinion and promises to do everything to make sure all voices are not only heard, but understood, by Samford's administration.
It's time that we took ownership of our university. Let's start a new era of Samford life together.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Welcome Back
Welcome back everybody! It's good to see you all again. Thanks to everyone who helped make Connections and the concert last night such an overwhelming success. But that's only the start of the Welcome Back activities. SGA has an entire week of food and fun lined up, including:
Tuesday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. McWane Science Center & Inflatables in Ben Brown
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Salsa Dancing Lessons & La Cocina Taco Bar in Hanna Center Lobby
Wednesday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mellow Mushroom & Caricatures in Ben Brown
Thursday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Nothing But Noodles in Ben Brown & Inflatables on the Quad
Friday
Road trip to FSU
Saturday
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Post game party in Talbird Circle with free pizza and live music
Tuesday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. McWane Science Center & Inflatables in Ben Brown
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Salsa Dancing Lessons & La Cocina Taco Bar in Hanna Center Lobby
Wednesday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mellow Mushroom & Caricatures in Ben Brown
Thursday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Nothing But Noodles in Ben Brown & Inflatables on the Quad
Friday
Road trip to FSU
Saturday
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Post game party in Talbird Circle with free pizza and live music
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Samford vs FSU Trip
As I am sure all of you are sitting at home anxiously waiting to hear, we have finalized the details for the trip to watch Samford play Florida State on the first weekend after school starts. Before I get into the details, if you wish to go on this trip then you must be one of the first 100 students to register once the sign-up link is sent to you via your Samford e-mail account on Monday, August 23rd at noon. So, on to the details...
We will have two charter buses leaving Samford at around 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 3rd. These buses will hold about 100 students total plus a few administrators and athletic staff. After stopping somewhere along the way for dinner, we should arrive in Tallahassee arround 10:30 or so Eastern time.
We’ll stay overnight at a nearby hotel and then head over to a pre-game pep rally brunch courtesy of the Office of University Advancement before the kick off at noon. This game will be televised so wear your Samford colors! We’ll caravan back with the team on Saturday afternoon and arrive in Talbird Circle for a post-game tailgate sponsored by SGA to welcome the team back from their first away game.
Thanks to the generosity of the Samford Athletic Department securing us half price tickets, this entire trip (including game ticket) will cost only $100. It's a great opportunity to show your support to the Samford Bulldogs and have a great time your first weekend of school. So remember, the first 100 students to respond to the e-mail on Monday at noon will secure a spot on the buses.
We will have two charter buses leaving Samford at around 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 3rd. These buses will hold about 100 students total plus a few administrators and athletic staff. After stopping somewhere along the way for dinner, we should arrive in Tallahassee arround 10:30 or so Eastern time.
We’ll stay overnight at a nearby hotel and then head over to a pre-game pep rally brunch courtesy of the Office of University Advancement before the kick off at noon. This game will be televised so wear your Samford colors! We’ll caravan back with the team on Saturday afternoon and arrive in Talbird Circle for a post-game tailgate sponsored by SGA to welcome the team back from their first away game.
Thanks to the generosity of the Samford Athletic Department securing us half price tickets, this entire trip (including game ticket) will cost only $100. It's a great opportunity to show your support to the Samford Bulldogs and have a great time your first weekend of school. So remember, the first 100 students to respond to the e-mail on Monday at noon will secure a spot on the buses.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Summer Update 3
Good evening!
Sorry it has taken us so long to post another summer update, but considering our tireless work ethic and constant drive for the betterment of the student body we just haven't had much free time. We've actually gone mobile since our last update, as myself, John, Trevor, and Riley spent last weekend in Washington, D.C. at the NACA Student Government Institute. While most of the schools that attended are pretty different from Samford (and their grass isn't nearly as green), we still got some good, tangible ideas out of the weekend. Some of those would be: writing a SGA strategic plan, free coffee to all students in the SGA office, putting a feedback/suggestion box in the food court, and purchasing a car for the SGA President. We really had an enjoyable experience there and think it will translate into some improvements for SGA and for all students in the fall. Also, we are in the process of planning the most epic road trip of all time to go see the SU football team dominate Florida State on the first weekend of school. Any student who is interested in going will get a charter bus ride to Tallahassee, hotel room, breakfast, game tickets, and tailgate after the game at an extremely low price. It should be a very good time to be had by all, and you don't want to miss being on the cover of Sports Illustrated after we pull off the upset and storm the field. But before we even get to have this magical journey we've got Welcome Back Week! SGA is raising the ante once again on Welcome Back Week, and hopes to provide the best first week back at Samford you'll have all fall. I don't want to give away all the details quite yet but get prepared for lots of free food, killer concerts, a rock climbing wall, and even more. Yes, those student activity fee dollars are already at work. With a lot of hard work and some cooperation this is definitely going to be the best year we've seen at Samford in quite some time. As always, if you ever need anything or have any questions don't hesitate to let me know.
All the best,
Sam
Sorry it has taken us so long to post another summer update, but considering our tireless work ethic and constant drive for the betterment of the student body we just haven't had much free time. We've actually gone mobile since our last update, as myself, John, Trevor, and Riley spent last weekend in Washington, D.C. at the NACA Student Government Institute. While most of the schools that attended are pretty different from Samford (and their grass isn't nearly as green), we still got some good, tangible ideas out of the weekend. Some of those would be: writing a SGA strategic plan, free coffee to all students in the SGA office, putting a feedback/suggestion box in the food court, and purchasing a car for the SGA President. We really had an enjoyable experience there and think it will translate into some improvements for SGA and for all students in the fall. Also, we are in the process of planning the most epic road trip of all time to go see the SU football team dominate Florida State on the first weekend of school. Any student who is interested in going will get a charter bus ride to Tallahassee, hotel room, breakfast, game tickets, and tailgate after the game at an extremely low price. It should be a very good time to be had by all, and you don't want to miss being on the cover of Sports Illustrated after we pull off the upset and storm the field. But before we even get to have this magical journey we've got Welcome Back Week! SGA is raising the ante once again on Welcome Back Week, and hopes to provide the best first week back at Samford you'll have all fall. I don't want to give away all the details quite yet but get prepared for lots of free food, killer concerts, a rock climbing wall, and even more. Yes, those student activity fee dollars are already at work. With a lot of hard work and some cooperation this is definitely going to be the best year we've seen at Samford in quite some time. As always, if you ever need anything or have any questions don't hesitate to let me know.
All the best,
Sam
Monday, July 5, 2010
Summer Update 2
Greetings!
If you can't tell every time you walk out the door, summer is officially underway. We are excited in Birmingham to have completed all the summer orientations and welcomed a new freshmen class to Samford. The orientation staff has done a truly outstanding job thus far, and are now directing their focus towards Connections. Here at the SGA office we have been busy getting some administrative issues out of the way and doing some minor things with Orientation, and now hope to get down to some serious brainstorming and planning in July.
The office of Student Affairs has been busy as well, and has already hired one new staff member for the upcoming year. Congratulations to our new Assistant Dean of Students, Renie Moss. I personally am excited about having her working with us next year, and I am sure you all will feel the same way when you meet Mrs. Moss in the fall. In the very near future we hope to fill the other vacant positions.
As always, if you ever have any ideas or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Sam
If you can't tell every time you walk out the door, summer is officially underway. We are excited in Birmingham to have completed all the summer orientations and welcomed a new freshmen class to Samford. The orientation staff has done a truly outstanding job thus far, and are now directing their focus towards Connections. Here at the SGA office we have been busy getting some administrative issues out of the way and doing some minor things with Orientation, and now hope to get down to some serious brainstorming and planning in July.
The office of Student Affairs has been busy as well, and has already hired one new staff member for the upcoming year. Congratulations to our new Assistant Dean of Students, Renie Moss. I personally am excited about having her working with us next year, and I am sure you all will feel the same way when you meet Mrs. Moss in the fall. In the very near future we hope to fill the other vacant positions.
As always, if you ever have any ideas or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Sam
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