Young Leaders Conference

Today is the first day of YLC, a weekend-long conference that brings high school students to UF's campus to learn about themselves and how they can become better leaders.  The students participating in YLC will be spending time on campus, at Lake Wauburg, and in the areas immediately surrounding campus.

I will be speaking to the YLC participants as part of the opening ceremonies tonight.  Here is a transcript of some of the things I will say:

Welcome to the University of Florida.  My name is Christina Bonarrigo and I currently serve as the Student Body President here at UF.  YLC is an exciting weekend where high school students meet other leaders from across the state and hone their leadership skills.  Over the course of this weekend, you will learn a lot about yourself, working in groups, and becoming leaders of groups and organizations.  

Most, if not all, of you have figured out the importance of being involved with organizations and activities in addition to the work you do in the classroom.  I firmly believe that the social experiences you have during school are just as important to your education as the academic work that traditionally defines high school.  Your involvement in sports, clubs, student government, and music groups connect you to the surrounding community and the leadership skills you learn this weekend will enable you to have a greater impact in those organizations.

In case you haven't noticed, the theme of this weekend is "Superheroes."  My favorite superhero is Superwoman.  Although I don't have super human speed and can't fly, the idea of working with others for the greater good has driven my desire to serve in student government.  I hope that over the course of this weekend, you will discover how you can improve the community around you.  I know Melina and her team have worked very hard to give you all the best experience possible and I hope you will find this weekend to be fun and informative.  Enjoy your time in the heart of the Gator Nation and Go Gators!

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!

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yesterday marked a day of observance in honor of one of the most notable figures in our nation's history.  What we appreciate most about Dr. King are the principles for which he stood and his unrelenting pursuit of justice and equality for all.

Students from UF and Santa Fe chose to honor Dr. King by participating in the Martin Luther King Day of Service, which took place on Monday, January 20th.  Student Government, the UF Gospel Choir, and IRHA are some of the organizations that made up the nearly 300 participants in yesterday's event.  

Students cataloged their service with tweets and photos using #UFGivesBack  In Dr. King's memory, let us continue to work so "little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Nearly 300 volunteers met at the Reitz Union at 7:30AM on Monday morning.

Happy Birthday UF!

Today marks the 161st birthday of our beloved University of Florida.  In the past century and a half, the Gator Nation has grown to include 50,000 current students and over 370,000 alumni living in 135 different countries.  Gator alumni include the inventor of Gatorade, Dr. Robert Cade, nine former Florida Governors, two Nobel Prize laureates, three Heisman Trophy winners, Olympic medalists, authors, actors, comedians, and musicians.

In its 161 years, UF has seen the invention of the television, alumni John Atanasoff invented the digital computer, the rise of indoor air conditioning, two World Wars, a large portion of the Women's Suffrage movement, the Civil Rights movement, transition from an all male institution to a co-educational institution in 1924, and racial integration in 1958.

The Gator Nation has a large number of achievements to be proud of in our 161 year history and much to look forward to in coming years.  Our university is growing and expanding, and will soon be among the top ten public universities in the nation.  We are also unveiling the first ever fully online, 4-year degree program which launched this spring.  There has never been a better time to be a Gator.  Happy Birthday, UF.  Here's to 161 more fantastic years!

Here are some cool "Then and Now" pictures from locations around campus

Photos from http://www.dmarlin.com/uf-then-now/

FLC Presents: Snow, Swamp, and Everything Chomp

Good afternoon Gators!

While everyone is studying for final exams as our semester draws to a close, I wanted to use today's post as an opportunity to spread awareness about an event being put on by the Florida Leadership Council that I am very excited about! Tonight at 6 p.m., join FLC for their Snow, Swamp, and Everything Chomp event that will definitely get you in the holiday spirit!

The event will take place at Weaver Beach, and the night will include hot chocolate, inflatables and even snow. The Florida Cicerones, another great organization at the University of Florida, will also be offering tasty treats by the grill and will be available to answer questions to any potential applicants. UF Hillel will also be providing latkes and wholesome view of the holidays! Tonight is a great opportunity to take a short break from studying to relax and enjoy the holiday festivities while also learning a little more about a few of the many prestigious on-campus organizations offered here. I hope to see everyone there.

Happy Holidays!

2013 State of the Campus Address

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19th, I will be giving the annual State of the Campus Address. The address covers the status of Student Government and highlights new initiatives and projects undergone by all three branches of government. The event will be in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom from 7 to 9 p.m. I strongly encourage all students who are available to attend this address, as it will be very informative and interesting. There will also be free food and giveaways along with the important updates about the exciting things that are happening here at UF. 

There are a plethora of people inside student government that have been doing extraordinary things during my administration that have helped us progress as a university. Many of the amazing on-campus organizations will be tabling during the event and giving out information about what they accomplish and why they are continuously looking for new members. As for me, I will be speaking about my administration and how I am striving to improve the amount of transparency that Student Government provides the student body, as we are a liaison between the students and the administration. 

Those of us who have chosen to be involved in SG spend our time trying to make the experience of everyone here as enjoyable as possible, and for that reason I recommend everyone comes out to listen and learn about how we are doing that. If you can't attend in person, the event will stream on Google plus under the SG Google plus account. For more information, please don't hesitate to visit our event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/231762563655546/. Thank you to all of you who make what I do possible, and I hope to see you all there tomorrow night! Here is an online invitation cordially inviting you to the event: http://www.evite.com/event/0312GNQ4SNVQRAYUGEPDIT4PEYLHR4. Have a great day and go Gators! 

Go Gators! Beat the Gamecocks

Saturday, the Gators head up to South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia in front of an expected sellout crowd. For South Carolina, this game means everything: they have an SEC East title on the line. If the Cocks can beat the Gators, Auburns beats Georgia and Missouri loses one of their next two games, then they will have clinched their second SEC East title in their 21 years in the league. This will send them to Atlanta to most likely play Nick Saban and Alabama for the Southeastern Conference Championship.

For us Gators, we are playing for pride. Florida has suffered 10 season-ending injuries this year, including seven to starters. Injuries along both the offensive and defensive lines have caused the Gators to temporarily lose their physical dominance on both sides of the ball. The offense continues to struggle, and a loss at South Carolina Saturday night will not help Coach Muschamp's case if he wants to continue to be the head ball coach at the University of Florida. Brent Pease is most likely feeling a lot of pressure also, knowing that he is in charge of not only the worst offense in the SEC, but one of the worst offenses in college football. Fans and analysts around the country have been discussing Florida's offensive woes, and many believe that they need to change the entire offensive scheme to bring back the exciting spread offense of years past, when Tebow was the man running the huddle. Regardless of what is to come for the Gators in the near future, they are focused on playing the spoiler role on Saturday night at seven p.m.

With Tyler Murphy suffering an injury and playing sub-par football as of late, Muschamp announced Thursday night that redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg will most likely take his first snaps of college football as the starting quarterback for the Gators Saturday night when he faces off against the 10th-ranked team in all the land. Make sure to tune in the to ESPN2 to watch our Gators try to use their powerful defense to slow down the Gamecocks and grind out a victory. Go Gators!

Celebrating Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day is a holiday that occurs only once a year, but we honor and remember our courageous veterans every day. This holiday is much more meaningful than just a day away from school. It is a day to reflect about our great nation that we take for granted each and every day and to honor the brave men and women who put their lives at risk to ensure our freedom. Those who give up their own freedom to fight to preserve ours are incredibly selfless, and deserve the respect of each and every American. The amount of dedication and love that our soldiers possess for the United States of America is an astounding reminder of how lucky we all are to be able to call this country home.

Today, I encourage everyone to take some time to think about the soldiers in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard and reflect about what they have done throughout the years of America's existence to make this country the best on earth. Think about those who have given up the right to be with their own families to make sure the citizens at home can raise and be with theirs. Also think about the different attacks that have been performed against the USA with the intent of destroying our freedom and sense of safety and be reminded of how our servicemen heroically responded. Every time there has been a crisis, Americans have been reminded of the power of our military and their steadfastness and determination. Whether you watch a video about our veterans or just spend some time thinking about all they do for us, ensure that today you are reminded of how lucky we truly are to have fellow Americans that fight for our country. Thank you veterans for all that you do for us! Your bravery, fearlessness and dedication to others are traits that we all wish to emulate and are extremely grateful for.

Students, today is the perfect opportunity to learn a little more about how our university is dedicated to honoring our veterans with our Collegiate Veterans Society. Log onto the Collegiate Veterans Society website to learn more about how you can help honor our veterans, or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UF.CVS.

Celebrating Homecoming Week in Style

This week marks one of the most exciting weeks of the semester on campus here at the University of Florida. Homecoming week is always culminated with Gator Growl on Friday night before the big Homecoming football game on Saturday. This year we will take on Vanderbilt at noon in the Swamp.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Gator Growl, and the show should prove to be one of the greatest in recent years. The show starts at 7 p.m. on November 8th inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and the theme of this year's Growl is "Footprints of the Swamp." Gator Growl producers always strive to make the show as entertaining as possible, as they have added a second stage for this year.

Gator Growl is featuring some impressive talent this year: The Fray, Sister Hazel and the New Directions Veterans Choir will all be performing. The Swamp should be very full for the Growl this year, so get your tickets before it is too late! For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, visit www.gatorgrowl.org.

With only two days before the show, anticipation around campus is building as we celebrate Homecoming. Gator Growl is just another way that shows how Gators do things: BIG. This show is the largest student-run pep rally in the country, and has been that way for years and years. The hard-working students at this university are always striving to do amazing things, and the dedication that they put towards Gator Growl is truly impressive. Special thanks to all the students involved with Gator Growl that have been working for months to put this show on Friday night and all the supplementary events that go along with it. Make sure to buy a ticket and make it out to support your fellow students and to enjoy a night of talented performers under the stars! Happy Homecoming, Gators!

Guest Post from Student Body Treasurer, Jayce Victor

My good friend, running mate, and current Student Body Treasurer, Jayce Victor, has a ton of updates to share with the student body.  Here is his guest post for today:

Many wonder what the Student Body Treasurer has been up to, well here is a great opportunity to check out his current accomplishments and get a sneak peak of his upcoming goals as well:

April/May 2013

·         During the early summer, Student Body Treasurer Victor, along with the budget committee, heard requests from hundreds of student government funded organizations for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Following student organizational hearings, during the summer, Treasurer Victor had the opportunity to revise the 2012-2013 A&S fee budget and reallocate available funds to student organizations funded by SG. In addition, Treasurer Victor worked with the SG Finance team to increase the efficiency of Docutraq which is the official way of processing goods and services for student groups who are funded by SG. The 3.0 Docutraq system features many improvements and student groups find it easier to navigate. One of the benefits of the new Docutraq system is that it reflects the encumbered and unencumbered balances so student groups know where they stand financially.

June/July 2013

·         Later in the summer months, Treasurer Victor prepared the Student Government budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 and presented the budget before the budget committee. Although he faced challenges with the 5% budget cut, he was able to find a middle ground and reduce spending in unnecessary areas, while still representing the needs of the students. In addition to the Student Government budget, Treasurer Victor worked along with the budget committee held hearings for the rest of the big four organizations (Recreational Sports, Reitz Union, and Student Activity & Involvement). On July 23^rd the Senate passed the final budget of 17,798,535 million dollars for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. One of the challenges that the big four will face this year is a 5% reduction in the budget across the board. This change will affect students, but Treasurer Victor believes in a way this will empower us all to work together and become more inclusive in the things we do.

August/September

·         During the months of August and September, Treasurer Victor trained hundreds of student organizations in order to prepare new officers for the upcoming fiscal year. His goal for training was to find an innovative way to keep students engaged while simultaneously allowing them to retain the useful information that will play a vital role in keeping student organizations fiscally responsible. In addition to training, Treasurer Victor, along with the Reitz Union and Classic Fare, presented a town hall forum called “Know Your Reitz.” This was a great opportunity for students to come out and hear from Reitz Union Director Eddie Daniels and Classic Fare staff about the impact that the Reitz Union renovations will have on their finances.

Treasure Victor continues to manage a 18.9 million dollar budget, where he is responsible for signing off on all expenditures, overseeing student organizations' budgets by processing all SARs and TARs, and frequent training of new officers and new funded groups. In the future, Treasurer Victor also plans to conduct philanthropy through SG finance for groups to donate non-perishable food items and have the opportunity to win a stipend that goes towards their food budget for this fiscal year.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jayce Victor at treasurer@sg.ufl.edu or drop by his office on the third floor in the Reitz Union. 

Online Course Syllabi

Today I would like to share a resource with you that many students don't know about. The University of Florida provides one website that centralizes every course syllabus, so that it is easy for students to find all the information they need for their various classes.

This is just one of the many ways that UF is simplifying school for our students. Instead of having to navigate Sakai to each individual class's individual syllabus to find out important information such as due dates and assignments requirements, students can find all syllabi at one location.

syllabus.ufl.edu is the website that provides this luxury for all students. Each class is organized by the college that it is taught under, further simplifying students' ability to find their course. This is also a great way to help students plan their future schedules, by giving them an opportunity to see what a class entails before they enroll in it. Along with that, it can also be a back up for those who have misplaced a syllabus. I encourage all students to use this useful resource to their advantage!

GO GATORS: Beat Kentucky!

Good afternoon Gator fans! Tomorrow our beloved Gators travel to Kentucky to face the Wildcats at seven p.m. This will be the Gators' first night game of the season. Judging by the past, this is a game the Gators should definitely be able to win.

Saturday night the Gators will look to extend the longest winning streak in the SEC. The Gators have won the last 26 matchups against Kentucky. Even in years that the Gators weren't as dominant as they typically are, they have still found a way to cruise past Kentucky. Tomorrow night, they are favored by thirteen points.

However, there are a few question marks for a Gators team that has already been riddled with injuries early on in the season. With the loss of starting quarterback Jeff Driscoll for the remainder of the season, Tyler Murphy has been forced to step into the role as the leader of the offensive unit. He looked great in his first game under center, but going on the road will be a true test for the redshirt sophomore.

Florida also lost a leader on defense for the season this week in practice when Dominick Easley went down with a torn ACL. This unfortunately means we have probably witnessed Easley, a highly-rated NFL prospect, play his last game in orange and blue.

Make sure to tune in to ESPNU Saturday night to watch the Gators hopefully climb to 3-1 on the season. Have a great weekend and Go Gators!!

UF Counseling & Wellness Center: Therapist Assisted Online

College is an incredible experience; it will include some of the best times and memories of your life. However, college is also very challenging in a variety of ways, and can lead to levels of stress and anxiety that students have never experienced previously.

Therapist Assisted Online, or TAO, is a program offered by the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center that is designed to help students overcome these anxiety issues. It is just another one of the ways that UF is here to assist its students.

TAO is a 7 week online program that provides educational modules using researched and highly effective strategies to help overcome anxiety. Each weekly module lasts between thirty and forty minutes, and includes surveys of current symptoms, instructions, and interactive exercises to help relieve stress. The program also includes a ten to fifteen minute video consultation with an informed and caring counselor to track progress. Last but not least, there is a discussion forum where students can interact with each other to help cure anxiety.

If you are experiencing anxiety, do not be afraid to contact the UF Counseling and Wellness Center to find help. Being able to help relieve your problem behind close doors and in the comfort of your own home provides the program with a relaxed yet constructive feeling.

These amazing services are available to all currently enrolled students with anxiety that have access to a webcam. You must be 18 years or older to participate and live within fifty miles of Gainesville, and also cannot be experiencing severe depression or have a substance abuse problem. For more information, check out the TAO website.

Remembering 9/11

Today, I would like to use the post as an opportunity to reflect on an event that changed our nation forever. It is hard to believe that it has been 12 years since 9/11, but no matter how much time passes it is steadfastly important to continuously remember the brave men and women who lost their lives that day.

Remembering events such as this one really puts everything in perspective. Thousands of lives were changed forever that day. People packed suitcases that they never got to open. People left their homes for work and never returned home. Today reminds us of just how fragile life is, and that each day isn't promised.

Take some time to think about the ones who lost their lives in this tragedy, from the people who were working in the building to the firefighters who attempted to rescue innocent victims. The amazing thing about that day is the way our nation rallied around a hellish tragedy and came together as one. The way our nation reacted to the events reminds us of just how great it is to be an American.

Second Lunch on the Lawn with Bon

Today I will be hosting my second Lunch on the Lawn during my administration! Make sure to stop by today for some free food and information about the different Agencies inside Student Government to learn more about getting involved. Here is a brief overview of the diverse agencies inside the Executive Branch of SG, all of which aim to accomplish a different, important goal.

ACCENT Speaker's Bureau is the largest student-run speaker's bureau in the nation, and has provided the University of Florida with many big name speakers in its 30-year existence, including past Presidents, Prime Ministers and business and sports legends. Action SG serves students by providing transparency and accountability to our Student Government. Its main goal is to publicize all events and services that Student Government puts on. If you are interested in the election process, then the Elections agency is the spot for you. They are the people that run the largest one of the largest student-run elections in the country.

External Affairs is an agency that is responsible for representing student opinion and views on key legislative government priorities on the local, state, and federal level. They are a representative voice for the student body when it comes to different political views and standpoints on many important topics. Freshman Leadership Council is one of my personal favorite agencies on campus, as it provides an amazing opportunity for freshman to get involved in and learn about Student Government, while also getting a chance to get involved in the Gainesville community early on in their collegiate careers.

Gator Innovators is one of the newest agencies on campus, geared towards students who have interest in entrepreneurial startups in the Gainesville communities. It is one of the most innovative agencies we have, and proves that SG is always striving to push the limits and better the community around us. Gators Going Green is responsible for advocating sustainability issues and ensuring that the University of Florida stays ahead of the curve with the nationwide push to "go green".

STAAR is an agency that has been educating students for over 10 years about racism all over the Gainesville community and striving to ensure equality for all student and residents in the area. Last but not least, Student Government Productions (SGP) provides a wide and diverse array of popular entertainment to students for free or at a reduced cost.

As you can see, there are a plethora of different agencies to get involved in in Student Government, so stop by Lunch on the Lawn today to learn more details about each and how to apply!

Business Spotlight: MessageMe

Today I would like to share an app with you that represents the ever-changing and advancing world of social media and technology.

MessageMe is an app that launched in March of 2013 with an easy-to-use interface that further revolutionized messaging and group chatting.

Message me offers a way to personalize every message and picture you send with the doodle feature, where the user can draw directly on to a picture and then send out the finished product to their friends, all at the touch of a button.

The app also allows group chats that can easily keep an entire group of people connected. It has functions that allow for sending pictures, sending pinpoints on maps and sharing YouTube videos.

My personal favorite function of MessageMe is the Facebook and Twitter integration it has built in, which allows for anything through the app to be conveniently posted on these social media sites in merely seconds. The app also saves a great amount of hassle and effort by automatically integrating every contact in your phone with people who already have MessageMe.

In my opinion, this app is a must-download, simply based on how efficient and user-friendly it is. In today's busy world, the simpler and faster technology is, the easier our lives become. As college students, we often find ourselves simply running out of time in the day. Why not jump at the chance to simplify and expedite the way we connect with others? The app can be found at the Apple App Store. Give it a try, Gators!

Community Leaders Dinner at the Governor's

Last night I, along with other University of Florida student leaders, had the honor of attending Governor Rick Scott's Community Leaders Dinner that was held at the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee. I am incredibly proud to represent the Gator Nation and was truly honored to be able to attend such an exquisite event and be surrounded by other notables from all over the state. Seeing how dedicated and hardworking the leaders and members of our state government are keeps my staff and I motivated and striving to be the absolute best we can be while representing such an amazing university. Go Gators!

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Welcome Back Video

The fall semester is finally upon us. As we get back into the full swing of things, I wanted to share my welcome back video with the entire student body.

Speaking from personal experience, I understand that the beginning of the semester can be a very busy, stressful, yet also fun time. There is a plethora of opportunities available for students to get involved with during this time of year, so don't wait to get involved! I firmly believe that with 900 student organizations there is something out there for everyone, including freshman who are just starting class for the first time. The sooner you find your niche here at UF, the better your overall experience will be.

Some of the organizations and resources I outlined in my video include Greek organizations, the Alumni Association, the Career Resource Center, and Student Government. These are a few great examples of involvement opportunities that can truly enhance your college experience.

Again, I encourage everyone to work hard, get involved in something your passionate about, and have fun while doing it. I hope everyone is having a great start to their semester and is exicted about what the near future has in store! Oh...and don't forget to stay classy, Gators.



Get Involved This Fall

With the Summer session nearing an end, some of you might have already begun thinking about what things you want to do this Fall. While UF offers more than 900 student organizations, containing pre-professional societies, various student unions and several Greek chapters in different councils, I have found that there is no better way to get involved than with Student Government.

Being a part of Student Government has been one of the greatest things I've done with my time at UF. While I started as a member of the Student Senate, during my four years I have been able to work closely with my fellow SG officials and through this, I have learned all about our different agencies, directorships and cabinets and what they have to offer.

Moreover, our Student Government is always adapting to enhance the student experience. I think that is why I have enjoyed being a part of SG; I truly enjoy seeing the projects I have undertaken really help students on this campus that I love!

There are many things you can do to get involved with SG. First, I recommend liking our Facebook page and following our Twitter account. On here you can find postings about open positions as well as events which will allow you to learn more about SG. I also would encourage you to check the SG website regularly. The website is home to all of our applications as well as lists of immediate openings.

If you ever find yourself in the Reitz with some time to kill, feel free to come up and talk to an SG official in person, anyone would be happy to talk to you about what opportunities are available!