By SGA FRESHMAN COUNCIL
November 19, 2006

As the future of Belmont Abbey College, it is essential that our voices be heard in order for the college to better accommodate us. Each new class has its own identity and purpose. The Freshmen Council on SGA feels that we should do everything in our power to show who we are and what we stand for.

Now that we’ve told you all that the staff wants us to say, let us get down to the nitty gritty . . . .

Though we are all different in our styles, opinions, and preferences, this class is extremely focused on having activities at the Abbey that promote students’ individual talents. The faculty here have been very accepting of our ideas and have been more than willing to assist us to make sure that our plans are put into motion.

From forming a group interested in becoming a popular sorority to establishing a time of praise and worship at the Basilica, SGA is working together to make dreams happen. To us, such work demonstrates a profound sense of community among the students and assists us in better understanding the monastic traditions of the Benedictines.

Through SGA, we the students of the Freshmen Council have a great opportunity for our plans to survive and flourish during the next four years at the Abbey. For instance, creating a set time for praise and worship was not our only idea, it was our little baby project to show the students here we mean business.

At our first meeting as representatives of the Freshman class, we jumped on to the Food Committee. We feel the problem of the quality and service in the cafeteria and Holy Grounds must be taken care of. Working together with Tyler McKenzie, we hosted an open forum with the director of food services. We had a great turnout for this event and a lot of new suggestions have been put into action.

Moving forward to a totally random yet appropriate topic -- the music scene at the Abbey. For centuries music brought people together. Why can’t the Abbey be brought together through good quality music? Not only have a good concert, but have a goal to it also.

The Freshmen Council takes issue with abortion -- all of us are pro-life. We feel the issue has come to be overlooked somewhat by previous classes, and this will stop with us. We are right now planning a pro-life rally to be held in the spring. The rally will have a speaker from each class, as well as a guest speaker whom we are currently in the process of procuring. Between speeches there will be performances by various student bands. This and the many other projects we shall be working on are ambitious to be sure, but in the long run that hard work will make such projects that much more rewarding.

Many issues were brought up with some being easy to handle. Others will be very difficult, but together with the other members of SGA, the student body, the faculty, and the administrators, we can accomplish these goals.

So there it is, take or leave it -- we are the Freshmen Council! As Betsy Cunneen said in her column for the October issue, we are here for you feel free to contact us, your SGA representatives, about anything mentioned in the column or any other issues or concerns you may have.

SGA Freshmen Council: President Art Silva (arturomsilva@abbey.bac.edu), Vice-President Mariana Smith (marianarsmith@abbey.bac.edu), Senator Ben Torres (benjaminetorres@abbey.bac.edu), Senator Tim Dugas (beilerod@gmail.com).