Reitz Construction App

Good Morning and Happy President's Day!  Today I want to let everyone know about an exciting app that can keep students informed with the Reitz Union Renovation and Expansion project.  Skanska, the construction company that is in charge of the Reitz Renovation, has made this app available for free to students and members of the community.

Project Corners is an iPhone app developed by Skanska to connect the community to our projects. It is currently offered on iTunes for free download. It allows students and the community to stay up-to-date with photos, the team, news and more. The team is updating it several times a week so there is always something to see and learn. Whether you are looking over the fence, observing from the 3^rd floor Reitz, or viewing the live feed camera, Project Corners will cover what is going on.

As construction continues some student services will be relocating temporarily.   I know these relocations can be inconvenient, but the benefits of our new union will be well worth it!  Here are a few services that have recently relocated:

• Student Legal Services: 215 Walker Hall
• SG Finance: Portable on the North Lawn, West of CRC

Design Your Reitz: Choose the Furniture for the New Reitz Union

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone has been enjoying this abbreviated week and is looking forward to the weekend.  I want to give a quick update on the Reitz Union construction project.  For those of you that don't come to the Reitz on a regular basis, construction is well underway, and the builders have made a lot of progress.

The new Reitz will be student space through and through.  The team that is overseeing this project wants to gather as much student input as possible.  The first floor of the Reitz has a seating area set up with 17 different seating options to chose from.  You can vote for the option you like most at www.makeitreitz.com/vote  I have my favorite seating options, now it's time for you to pick yours.  Act quickly, because today is the last day to vote.

Go Gators!

State of the Campus Address

At 7:00 on Tuesday, November 19th I will deliver the State of the Campus address in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.  This event will feature free food, giveaways, and important updates about all the great things that are happening at UF.

There are many people who have accomplished a lot since the beginning of my administration.  I am excited to celebrate all of our achievements and will continue to look for ways to make the Gator experience better.  

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on the 19th!  Be sure to check out our Facebook Event and Evite!

Reitz Union Update

Good afternoon Gators!  I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend.  By now, I'm sure everyone knows that our beloved Reitz Union is under construction that will renovate and expand our student union to be the best and most advanced union in the nation!  I've gotten a lot of questions about the renovation and what it means for students as well as student organizations.  My good friend Sarah Frick is the Executive Chair for Student Involvement in the Reitz Union Renovation and Expansion.  Here is what she has to say on the renovation and how students can be involved in the process: 

Hello, Gators! My name is Sarah Frick, and I am the executive director for student involvement for the Reitz Union expansion and renovation project. I would like to update you on the current construction, as well as inform you of the ways students are remaining engaged with the project.

Currently, there are three main entrances into the Reitz Union building. From the North, you can enter the ground floor at the Subway entrance or the first floor using the new stair which connects to the student lounge, right outside of the Career Resource Center. From the West, you can enter through the circle drive breezeway by the hotel desk or via the Concourse that runs along the east side of the building from the Welcome Center to the first floor lobby. From the South, you can enter via the Bookstore/Welcome Center entrance.

Coming in mid-November, construction barricade walls will be placed around the center stairs on the ground, first and second floors of the Reitz Union.  These areas are being closed off, so that the stairs can be removed and new restrooms can be built.  The elevators will still be in commission to get around the building.

There are many ways to get involved with the project as a student. The student advisory committee meets monthly to gather feedback from many student groups on campus about the project. Our goal is to represent a wide array of student groups that utilize the union regularly. We send our thoughts and opinions to the architect team to ensure the project is completed with students in mind. In addition to this committee, the Reitz Union ambassadors are working hard for this project. The ambassadors are willing to visit student organizations to provide a presentation on the project to keep students informed. If you would like a few ambassadors to attend one of your organization’s meetings to give this presentation, please contact me at reitz@sg.ufl.edu. Also, if you have any ideas or suggestions for the project, feel free to email me.

If you’re interested in learning more about the project, please visit the project website at: http://makeitreitz.com/. You can also see live video of the construction site at: http://oxblue.com/open/skanska/reitzunion.

Thank you for helping us Make It Reitz! Go Gators!

Reitz Union Groundbreaking

On Saturday I participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Reitz Union renovation and expansion.  The new Reitz Union will open in 2015 and will have 100,000 sq. ft. of new space and 50,000 sq. ft. of renovated space from the current union.  Here is the transcript of the speech I gave at the ceremony:

Today's ground breaking ceremony is the culmination of nearly a decade of work and effort to update and expand our beloved Reitz Union to better accommodate the growth and success of our students. When the Reitz was built in the 1960's, it was designed to accommodate a student body of approximately 19,000. Today the student population at the University of Florida has more than doubled, and the Reitz sees thousands of people every day. The new Reitz building will be large enough to accommodate even more student organizations on campus, will be a central hub for student services and will have the entire technological infrastructure to ensure when our students leave this campus they will be better trained than their counterparts.

There are many people who have been responsible for bringing this plan to fruition.  First, I would like to recognize Chairman McKeel, his colleagues in the Florida House of Representatives, members of the Florida Senate, and Governor Scott.  Thanks to Chairman McKeel’s leadership and support, the Reitz will continue to be the vital core of our campus.  I would also like to thank President Machen and Vice President Kratzer.  Their tireless dedication to the students of our university shows why we have the most student friendly campus in this nation. Throughout the planning and design of the new facilities, both President Machen and General Kratzer kept the students as their main priority. Even when we were faced with obstacles, their leadership ensured that this project would go on and would be successful. We would not be standing here today if it was not for their leadership and dedication to see this building’s completion. Finally, I want to thank my predecessors and the work they did to help this university reach this milestone today.  Nearly a dozen Student Body Presidents have played a pivotal role in making this project a reality. While I am thrilled to be a part of this ceremony, I would be remiss if I did not recognize all of their contributions.

Today is an amazing day for all Gators. It was a long ride to get to where we are today and countless days spent in our State’s Capitol, but it makes today that much more significant. The new Reitz will embody what it truly means to be a Gator. From housing departments such as Center for Leadership and Service, Student Activities and Involvement, Multicultural and Diversity Affairs and Gator well, we will be able to accommodate all of our student’s needs to make them better leaders. Our Student Government Senate will have an official home on the first floor of the new Reitz named “Student Senate Chambers” and Student Government will have a design and print studio to empower our 1,000 student organizations to showcase their many talents. This new space will provide the foundation to develop future leaders for our great state and nation, and I know the impact this building will have for our students will be far greater than we could have ever imagined.

I am excited for the endless possibilities this building will provide our students and know it will be one of the reasons we become a Top 10 Public University Thank you again for coming here this morning and being part of history.

Go Gators and Beat the Vols!

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!

Good Luck This Fall

I can't believe that today is the first day of the Fall semester! Whether this is your first semester here or last, Fall semester in the Swamp is a time like no other. Between the various events, student organization opportunities, intramurals and Gator Football, something is always going on here!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a great first day and encourage you to do the things you love to do on this campus and find your niche here. There is nothing more rewarding than finding your place within a student body of more than 50,000 students. 

Have a great day and if you ever have any questions about anything, always feel free to reach me at my office on the 3rd floor of the Reitz Union

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!

Celebrating 100 Days!

This Thursday, August 1st, officially marks the 100th day that I have served as University of Florida's Student Body President! While this hasn't been an easy job, it has certainly been the most significant thing I have been able to do during my time at UF.

While 100 days is just the start of my term, I do think that it is a reason to celebrate. In such a short time me along with my Vice President, Treasurer, Senate Executive board and agency chairs
have been working tirelessly to accomplish all the goals we embarked on just 100 days ago.

On Friday, August 2nd, we will be celebrating just this. We will have a table located in the Reitz Union Breezeway and we are asking that all students join us. We will have promotional items and flyers detailing some of the initiatives we have already accomplished for the year.

Importantly, we will also have a whiteboard for students to write ideas down of things they want to see this administration accomplish in its next 100 days. Hope to see everyone out there!

Me being sworn in as Student Body President