Hello from your Chair of Student Senate!
I’m so glad to see that you’ve made it to Sadielou.net! This site will be a huge resource for you throughout all your four years here. I’m sure there isn’t much that I could say now that will make you less nervous about your first year of college, but there are a few thoughts I can share that might get you thinking about some of the things you’ll want to do once you get here.
On-campus activism has been one the most exciting and fulfilling experiences I have had at Sarah Lawrence. One of the best parts about being a Sarah Lawrence student is that you have the opportunity to be involved with everything that goes on in every part of our community. There are spaces on campus, like the Teahaus (located in the middle of the North Lawn), and the Black Squirrel (located in Bates), that students manage. These spaces are great places to grab a cup of coffee, study, or just hang out with friends. The Teahaus and the Black Squirrel also hire student workers during the year, and if you are on work-study or need an on-campus job, these are some of the best places to be.
Another way to get connected and meet new people is to get involved with clubs and other student-led organizations. We have a long list of clubs that meet weekly, all year round. Generally clubs meet to discuss different topics related to their theme, and to plan events for the community. These events range from dances, to fund aisers, to faculty lectures. Clubs are open to all students and during the Orientation Club Fair, you’ll find out more about where clubs meet and how to get involved. Programming Board and WSLC, the Sarah Lawrence radio station, are also other student-led organizations that put on fantastic events and are always looking for new members.
Along with student-run spaces and clubs, Student Senate is another way to get involved and be active in our community. Senate is the basic governing body of undergraduate students, and is a forum for student voice. Senators represent students by sitting on various college committees and making important decisions on issues such as student work, the curriculum, student scholarships, and even admissions. Senate is also the major funding body of the college and provides funds for publications, the student-run spaces, activities sponsored by clubs, and annual community-wide events. Even if you aren’t associated with any club, you can request funds from Student Senate to put on an event.
Senate is also entirely student-run, and new Senators are elected each fall. Anyone is welcome to run for any of the open positions. There will be tons of information available about Senate during Orientation. If you aren’t interested in serving on Senate, but would like to work with student clubs, on-campus publications, student spaces etc., then Senate will be a huge resource for you and your friends.
More information about Senate is right here on Sadielou.net. Just click on our Senate page and you can find all you need to know about elections, requests for funding, Senate by-laws and more. The office of Student Affairs is also a great resource, and all of the lovely people there will be glad to help you out with whatever you need.
Welcome to our community. There are so many things here to discover! If you want more info about anything, please feel free to contact me. I really look forward to meeting you all this coming fall. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and don’t stress too much. Everything will be wonderful once you get here.
Always,
Michelle Lewin
Student Senate Chair 2008-2009
mlewin@gm.slc.edu