While the roles of class councils are not clearly defined by Student Union, this year’s Freshman Class Council is proving to be an active force in freshmen’s social lives, planning events such as the upcoming Fire and Ice Ball.
Members of the Freshman Class Council (FCC) and the freshmen class are excited about the semi-formal event, which is scheduled to take place in the Gargoyle on Saturday, Feb. 23.
“We’re expecting a big turnout,” said FCC President Nate Ferguson.
According to the Student Union Web site, the class councils aim to better the “campus community” by “advocating for the needs and interests of undergraduate students” and “developing and implementing” enriching programs.
Ferguson said he believes the purpose of the FCC’s events is to help the freshmen class become acquainted with their new St. Louis and Washington University community.
“[The purpose is to] allow freshmen class to get off campus, something they often don’t have the chance to do, and explore St. Louis,” said Ferguson.
The terms for the elected freshmen class representatives began at the end of Sept. 2007. The representatives are Ferguson, External Vice President Mae Wang, Internal Vice President Alex Kiles, Treasurer Nick Elders and Secretary Lauren Bindler.
These elected representatives meet every Wednesday with advisor Danielle Bristow, director of new student orientation, to generate ideas for events and discuss how to plan these events.
Despite the apparent success of these meetings, freshman Alex Jacobs said he wishes he could be more involved in the choosing of the events.
“I wish we would’ve had a chance, maybe in a more formal setting, to hear about how events are selected and have more of a say in which were selected,” said Jacobs.
Working with the initial $4,000 in funding from Student Union, the FCC plans events that will bring the freshman class together within their allocated budget. The FCC has raised additional spending money. The most effective fundraiser thus far was the FCC T-shirt sale in the fall semester.
“Although it is difficult to work with limited funds, we have been able to provide better events as a result of our money raising,” said Ferguson.
In spite of financial constraints, since September, numerous events have been planned and executed, beginning with nine meet-and-greets inside the freshman dorms. These events provided the freshmen with the opportunity to speak with the students who would be representing them for the rest of the academic year.
The council has also organized trips for the freshman class to a haunted house during the week of Halloween, Skyzone, an ice-skating rink and Busch Stadium.
One of the council’s key events of the year was Intermission 2011, which provided freshmen with the chance to reminisce on the fall semester and learn what was to come in the spring.
The success of this year’s FCC comes in stark contrast to the criticism that many past FCC’s have faced for not remaining active throughout the year.
Student Union President senior Neil Patel said he recognizes the achievements of the FCC and that the trend of its increased involvement has made them the best FCC in years.
“It’s amazing to see how many different events have been planned, especially because in previous years, the Freshman Class Council was much less active,” said Patel.
The final event of the spring semester is scheduled to take place on March 30. This event, Finale 2011, will conclude the year and give freshmen a chance to spend one of their last nights together while enjoying a movie selected by the Council.