Brenda Tavakoli
Senior Staff Writer
Students looking to get involved on campus have a myriad of options with the committees offered through the Students' Association.
Several campus committees need student members in order to become functional and active again, according to SA Vice President Kathryn Alvarado.
Many of the committees are active year-round, while others are active only periodically. All have the potential to thrive if they can find a way to keep active members.
A typical committee is comprised of representatives from the student body and the faculty. While some committees have several student members, others just have one.
Alvarado said she believes students' committee involvement benefits both the university and the individual students.
"First and foremost, it helps the university understand the feelings of students," she said. "It gives the students a chance to be heard. Without us, they don't know that there's a problem or that something needs to be addressed."
Though Alvarado said there are "quite a few" students involved in committees, she explained that the SA would like to see even more student participation.
"Maybe students don't know that there are committees out there to serve on," she said. To help publicize the openings, Alvarado said SA has used ads, flyers, Daily Cougar announcements and word-of-mouth.
Once a student's interest in a particular committee is piqued, the student should visit the SA office in the University Center Underground and fill out an application for committee membership, which can be obtained from the SA secretary.
"Once I receive their application, I call them for an interview and explain what the committee does, when it meets and the responsibilities," Alvarado said.
If the student is accepted into the committee, he is then appointed by the SA Senate at one of its regular meetings.
Committees can take anywhere from a little to a fair amount of a student's time.
"Some of them (meet) every week, some meet only when there's an issue," Alvarado explained. She said she hopes all students will take the time to get involved on a committee they care about.
"I just hope (students) would realize that it's important to serve on university committees so that students can have a voice. It's another way for them to get involved," she said.
For more information on campus committees, call Alvarado at (713) 743-5228 or stop by the SA offices in the UC Underground.