Past accomplishments and future plans were discussed at the Student Government’s State of the Campus Address on Tuesday night.
UF Student Body President Cory Yeffet started his address with one of the biggest issues SG has worked on throughout the year: sexual assault.
“Sexual assault is a growing issue, especially among college campuses,” he said.
SG launched a weeklong sexual assault awareness campaign to promote education about sexual assault and help prevent it.
Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol vans were doubled from four to eight and an escort service called Walk Safe was created to ensure student safety, Yeffet said.
About 2,000 teal ribbons were also tied around trees during the week.
Afterward, Yeffet praised the success of advocacy efforts between UF Student Senate and Gainesville city commissioners.
During a Senate meeting held at UF Hillel on Nov. 18, city commissioners discussed issues students face living in Gainesville, including towing, lighting and apartment leases.
Yeffet said the commissioners were made aware of these issues and are working to provide more lighting off campus, hold towing companies accountable to prevent predatory towing and work with apartment complexes about summer leasing start and end dates.
He then went on to address SG plans to get students Summer funding.
“We’ll be lobbying the state Legislature this year to fund Bright Futures in the Summer,” Yeffet said.
UF students are required to take Summer classes at least once, but Bright Futures does not cover Summer costs.
Yeffet also introduced more future SG plans, which included transportation and an education accessibility ad hoc committee created by UF Student Senate President Joseph Michaels.
“We want to make sure students on campus and off campus have the opportunity to travel at the lowest cost possible,” Yeffet said.
The committee will address issues such as access codes, rising textbook prices and tutoring for students in higher-level classes.
The State of the Campus Address benefited a nonprofit organization run by UF students called Gainesville Reads, which partners with local schools in the city to promote the value of reading and education. One thousand books were donated by the end of the night.
The address ended with a presentation from SGTV about student services provided by SG.
UF Senate information and communications chairwoman Katie Burns said the address had a lot of information for senators and student organizations.
“It’s a great way to make sure everyone’s on the same page and to see what’s to come,” Burns said.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 12/3/2014]
UF Student Body President Cory Yeffet delivers the State of Campus Address on Tuesday night in the University Auditorium.
