UF Mobile Blue Light Application is Available!

One of the biggest priorities of this university - above research and education - is campus safety.  It is our responsibility and our duty to students and their families, as well as faculty and staff, to ensure that the University of Florida is a safe place to study, work, play and live.

Today marks a great achievement in our efforts to ensure that the University of Florida is a safe place.  After many committee meetings, interviews, sales pitches, and beta tests, the TapShield app was selected and is now ready for use on campus.  

This app pairs mobile GPS technology with existing campus safety infrastructure, and allows students to summon help anywhere on campus. TapShield is the only application that features one touch emergency alert, two-way messaging between users and dispatch, a timer option designed to provide security while walking home or going for a run, and yank technology, which signals an emergency by yanking headphones from the device.  

Students can download the TapShield app by visiting TapShield.com on a mobile device or searching for "TapShield" in the iOS app store or the Android Marketplace.

Senate President Cory Yeffet wrote a Letter to the Editor about TapShield that ran in today's Alligator.  Check it out HERE!

Welcome Back to the University of Freezing

I've heard several people say that Gainesville has two seasons: Sumer and Not Summer.  So far, this week definitely falls into the "Not Summer" category with all the cold weather that the polar vortex is sending down to ruin our usually moderate winters.  The good news is that forecasters are expecting Saturday to warm up to 80º...only in Florida.  In the mean time, bundle up and stay warm.

Several days ago, we turned calendars over and celebrated the beginning of the new year.  Monday marked the beginning of a new semester.  The start of both the new year and the new semester present a time where students can make goals or resolutions about the coming semester or year.  Regardless of if your goals are to achieve a greater level of fitness or to earn a 4.0 for the semester, Student Government is here and ready to help.

I am looking forward to an active spring semester and finishing my term as Student Body President as strong as when I took office.  There are a number of things in the works for the spring semester.  First is the Mobile Blue Light Application that Student Government has been working on for some time.  We are expecting to launch the app later this month, so be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.

Another one of my primary focuses this semester will be to secure funding for Newell Hall.  Anyone who tried to use the library to study for final exams at the end of last semester is sure to realize that UF is lacking in study space.  Newell Hall will meet the needs of the student body by providing a 24-hour study facility that will provide students with the space and technologic infrastructure that we need to succeed in our classes.

Finally, Student Government is hosting an Open House on the 3rd floor of the Reitz Union this Thursday (tomorrow) from 12:00-3:00.  We will have light refreshments and information about everything we're doing this semester.  I hope to see you there!

UF Alumni Association

I hope everyone enjoyed the first of many Gator victories this football season.  The University of Florida's Alumni Association is one of the largest alumni networks in the country.  This weekend, I had the pleasure of briefing the Board of Directors on the projects I am working on.

I shared an update on the progress of the Blue Light mobile application that I have been working on.  This app will improve safety on campus by providing students with a Blue Light phone on the screen of their smart phone.  I also shared my legislative goals with the board - to keep higher education affordable and predictable for current and future students.  Finally, I discussed ways that the Alumni Association can expand student memberships and engage the student body with the work that the Alumni Association is doing.

Don't forget that the Alumni Association has student memberships as well as alumni memberships.  Student memberships are inexpensive and provide many benefits, including: a UF Alumni tailgate chair, a koozie, a wide variety of Gator Savers discounts at various locations all over Gainesville and a BEAT T-shirt for each home game.  For more information, go check out the UFAA website at www.ufalumni.ufl.edu.