Weaver believes everyone should be held accountable

Speaking before a small crowd of approximately 100 students, Student Government Association President Bryan Weaver addressed the current "state of health" of the SGA in his State of the Association Address on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Leila Barlow Theatre.

During the address, Weaver addressed several issues such as student quality of life, the SGA budget and the new programs that he plans to implement.

"For too long, and in too many ways our heritage has been abandoned, and as a result, our student government has somewhat drifted by the way side," Weaver said. "University administrators barely believe in our student government and the students that it should be serving have a very difficult time believing in the government."

Weaver said that student government has become a vehicle for recreation, instead of handling the business of the students.

"Instead of strengthening our government each year with new legislation, resolutions, proclamations, and revisions to our constitution for future students to come, SGA has centered on becoming an activities association, and as an activities association, we have lost sight of our mission - to create a better quality of life for the students who say that Alabama State University is their university," Weaver said. "I plan to implement new initiatives and new programs to restore the credibility of this student government."

Weaver believes that in order for students to progress, both administrators and students must be held to a certain standard.

"I feel that students as well as faculty have to be accountable," he said. "As long as you entrust this government, we will stay in line with the SGA Constitution."

As the SGA's chief executive officer, Weaver hopes to make the organization competitive with other Student Government Associations all across the country. In order to do that, he feels they must have a budget comparable with the Student Government Associations at other universities.

"In a few weeks, SGA Treasurer Tony Cobb will be presenting a budget to the Senate in a few weeks that represents a $100,000 increase," Weaver said. "We hope to receive this increase because students have gone too long without a competitive government.

Weaver believes that his administration will not solely depend on the university for funds.

"And while we will lobby hard to receive this $100,000 increase from the university, we also want to demonstrate to university administrators that we are not welfare cases and that we will no longer just depend upon the university for our support," Weaver said. "This year, we plan to follow the course of other student governments throughout the country and partner with local industries and corporations within the Metro-Montgomery area to receive another $100,000 in partnership projects.

He elaborated on his plan to improve the quality of life for students.

"This year we have created the First-Year Leaders Empowerment Program. This is a program designed for our first-year students. The program will center on developing leadership skills for public service through volunteerism, mentoring, lectures, workshops, training, and field trips. We have also added a new program entitled MARB which stands for Men Advocating Responsible Behavior."

"We also plan to start Hornet Elevation soon, a tutoring program for ASU students and the Black and Gold gala, which will award scholarships."

Weaver continued to discuss some of the new programs that he plans to implement.

"There will be an expansion of the student government to be more inclusive of its student body," Weaver said. "There will also be a program a high school

leadership conference, introducing high school students to life at ASU. We are also trying to get speakers to come to ASU once a month.

This year's administration won't just be about parties and mixers, we will deal with the issues."

He continued to elaborate on his goals.

"My goal is to have Alabama State University's degree held to a high decree," Weaver said. "My goals also includes letting students be more aware of the new SGA's plans, by using a comprehensive SGA website that will be launched in two weeks.  It will be the most high tech, and well equipped in recent history at ASU. The website will have photo galleries, pod casts, chat rooms and calendars."

Weaver closed his address leaving students with a quote from the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Life is inter- related," he quoted. "I cannot be what I am supposed to be until each one of you become what you are supposed to be. To create a better ASU, we all have to work together."