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UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Finding Aid for the
STUDENT ASSOCIATION
RECORDS, 1921-1989
(UA-804)

VOLUME: 5.3 cubic ft.

ACQUISITION: All items in this record group were transferred to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by the Student Association.

ACCESS: Access to this record group is unrestricted.

COPYRIGHT: The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Administrative History

• Series 1: Student Association and Central Council Minutes, 1921-29, 1932-41, 1943-49, 1966-68, 1970-74, 1975-77, 1978-86,1987-1989
• Series 2: Central Council Bills, 1965/66-1988/89
• Series 3: Subject Files, 1940-44, 1958-88
• Series 4: Committee Files, 1949-75
• Series 5: Assessment of Courses and Teachers (ACT and SCATE Booklets), 1974-76, 1987, 1991

Student Association
Administrative History

The current Student Association was formed in 1921.  Interest in forming a student government dates from 1914.  At that time, President Milne rejected a student petition to form a student government commenting, "There is no place in this institution for the association and activities contemplated in this petition".**1  President A.R. Brubacher(1915-1939) took a more favorable attitude toward student government.  In response to a 1915 student petition, he instructed Professor Risley to form a committee to study the possibility of creating a student government**2.  There appears to have been an attempt at forming a rudimentary student organization in January, 1916**3.  As a result of Risley's study, Myskania was formed in 1917.  Myskania, referred to in their 1917 constitution as the student council, was an honorary body consisting entirely of seniors who were to represent "the opinion and to improve the department of the student body."**4  Myskania, in turn, created the Student Association in 1921.  The general business of running student funded activities such as the yearbook and the student newspaper appears to have been the concern of the Student Assembly.**5  The new Student Association appears to have carried on the responsibilities of the Student Assembly.  (For a history of Myskania, see the Myskania finding aid.)

The Student Association s' original purpose as stated in its 1921 constitution, was "the management of all matters of student interest not academic in nature."**6  The Student Association controlled the legislative, financial and executive powers of the government, while Myskania acted as a single judicial branch and as guardian of school traditions.  According to the 1921 constitution, the executive duties of the S.A. fell on the executive board made up of the president, the vice president, the secretary and the treasurer.  The Executive Board's duty was to carry out the provisions of the Assembly and act as a court of appeals.**7  By 1928, a new constitution for the Student Association changed the executive branch.  Instead of the Executive Board, the executive branch was run by Student Council, different from the original student council (Myskania), which was made up of the president, the vice president, the secretary, and the presidents of the four classes.  The new Student Council had broader duties than the Executive Board including: arranging the program for Student Association meetings, providing for the publication of the student directory, charter all boards, committees and associations by securing support from the Student Association through the budget and executing all legislation passed by the Student Association .**8

A new constitution ratified in 1965 made yet another change in the Student Association.  The Central Council was created and consisted of Student Association members, student commission members, faculty members and members of the pan-hellenic council.  The duties of the new Central Council included: enforcing laws of the Student Association , a responsibility for student conduct in and around the university, student relations with the university community and the broader community, control of student finances, determining the student tax, and a responsibility for Student Association election and tabulating the results of the elections.  Myskania was replaced as the judicial branch by the Supreme Court, but continued as guardian of school traditions and recommended candidates for the Supreme Court.**9  Myskania gradually lost its governmental power and was dissolved in 1979.

Currently the Student Association consists of a three branch system of government: executive, legislative and judicial.  The Executive Branch is headed by the President who acts as a spokesperson for the organization to inform the public of Student Government activities.  The Vice President is in charge of the inner workings of the organization.  Within the Executive Branch, there are office directors who oversee committees of different concerns such as: Affirmative Action, Controller (of finance), Educational Affairs, Media, Multi-cultural Affairs, Student Voice, Programing and Wymyn's Issues.  These committees reflect the contemporary concerns of the students.  The Central Council acts as the Legislative Branch of the Student Association .  The Council is unicameral, with six committees that deal with all aspects of student life.  Representatives are taken from each Quad and off campus to insure that all sectors of the University's population have a voice in student government.  Any student can be a member of a committee by simply attending meetings.  A Supreme Court rules on the legality of legislation and student council actions.  It is composed of seven members including a Chief Justice, nominated by the President and confirmed by two thirds approval of the Central Council.**11

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Notes
1. French and French College of the Empire State, p.185
2. Student Petition, circa 1915; letter Brubacher to Risley, Feb 15, 1915, class of 1915 memorabilia, Alumni    Memorabilia Collection
3. The Echo Jan, 1916, p.246
4. State College For Teachers Pedagogue, 1917
5. State College News, June 4, 1920, p.2
6. State College News, October 17, 1921, p. 2.
7. Ibid.
8. State College Hand Book 1930-1931
9. Campus Viewpoint 1966, pp 35-39
10. Viewpoints 1991-92, p. 14.

Student Association Presidents

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Student Association
Scope and Content Note

The Student Association records, consisting of meeting minutes, subject files, student publications, booklets, bills and committee files.  In the 1920's and 30's the Student Association was concerned with establishing and maintaining school traditions, and such academic issues as the establishment of the honor system.  In the 1930's and 40's the Student Association held assemblies on contemporary issues such as the presidential campaigns, the New Deal and World War II.  In 1949 the Student Association was involved in a project called CARE, an organization to help the children of the war.  By the end of the 1960's, emphasis was put on student rights and equal opportunity.  Minorities began to organize them selves and form groups including the Women's Liberation Front, Black Students Alliance and Lesbians for Freedom and the Student Association gave formal recognition to these new organizations.  At the same time the Student Association supported new programs such as the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP), developed in 1973.  While continuing to sponsor equal opportunity programs for all races and creeds, the Student Association has also, in more recent years, turned its attention to the environment (NYPIRG was recognized on campus in 1982), as well as supported such academic initiatives as the Frosh Reading Program.  Long term issues include opposition to ROTC, during the 1960's and 70's for its support for the United States Government's Vietnam War policy, in the 1980's because ROTC discriminated against gay and lesbian candidates; reproductive rights and the establishment of a Birth Control Center on campus.  The prominent development of the 1970's through 1990's was the Student Association s new power in academic affairs--one prominent example of that was their accessing the competence of teaching faculty.  The results of their surveys were distributed in the ACT and SCATE Booklets.

Student Association
Series Descriptions

Series 1: Student Association and Central Council Minutes, 1921-29, 1932-41, 1943-49, 1966-68, 1970-74, 1975-77, 1978-86, 1987-1989, 2.0 cubic ft.  Arranged chronologically.

The earliest minutes date from the formation of the Student Association in 1921.  They document the Student Association 's interest in establishing and maintaining school traditions (1920's and 30's), the Student Association 's concern with academic issues such as the establishment of the honor system.  In the 1930's and 40's Student Association assemblies dealt with contemporary issues such as the presidential campaigns, the New Deal, and World War II.  In 1949 the Student Association was involved in a project called CARE, an organization to help the children of the war.  From the end of the 1960's the Student Association has placed increasing emphasis on student rights and equal opportunity.  Minorities began to organize themselves and form groups including the Women's Liberation Front, Black Students Alliance and Lesbians for Freedom and the Student Association gave formal recognition to these new organizations.  The trend continues to this day.  At the same time the Student Association supported new programs such as the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP), developed in 1973.  While continuing to sponsor equal opportunity programs for all races and creeds, the Student Association has also, in more recent years, turned its attention to the environment (NYPIRG was recognized on campus in 1982.  These documents give an overview of the management of the organization, and document the Student Association structural change.

Series 2: Central Council Bills, 1965/66-1988/89, 1.7 cubic ft.  Arranged chronologically.

The Central Council Bills are complete for the period 1965/66-1988/89.  This series contains bills passed by the Central Council which is the legislative body of the student government.  The bill relate to appropriations, budgets, recognition of student organizations, resolutions relating to local, state, national and international issues, student government reorganizations.  The bills dating from 1978-79 to 1988-89 are bound and indexed from 1978/79 through 1985/86.

Series 3: Subject Files, 1940-44, 1958-88, 1 cubic ft.  Arranged alphabetically.

This series contains constitutions, budgets, ACT (teaching assessment) proposals, announcements and newsletters, Moving-up Day programs, and government reorganization papers.  In some cases there is extensive information on proposals such as the ACT's and the Ebenezer Howard Project, 1970-71, an attempt to involve students in the problems of urban poverty.  The subjects range from local to state wide concerns including other SUNY schools.

Series 4: Committee Files, 1949-75, .3 cubic ft.  Arranged alphabetically.

The Committee Files 1949-75 contain bills and minutes, constitutions, government reorganization files, and ballots relating to the proposals and projects made by different committees to the Central Council.  The committees include the Academic Affairs Commission, 1967-71, Athletic Advisory Board, 1970-71, Big 4 Committee, 1949-53, Constitutional Revisions Committee, 1965, 1969, Election Commission, 1973-75, and the Government Reorganization Committee, 1962-64.    Examples of some projects are: the Frosh Reading Program, Assembly Bill #4162 (1971-72) regarding the use of non-virgin paper on campus and the establishment of a Birth Control Center for students.

Series 5: Assessment of Courses and Teachers (ACT and SCATE booklets), 1974-76, 1987, 1991, .3 cubic ft.

The ACT and SCATE Booklets are an example of the growing influence of the Student Association on the Administration.  The Student Association gained the permission of the Administration to publish surveys of courses and teachers which are available to the students so that they could make more informed decisions in choosing their courses.  The collection is incomplete, and while the faculty evaluations from the 1970's appear to be comprehensive, those from the 1980's and 1990's only publish ratings of a few courses where the faculty has given permission to publish.

Student Association
Box and Folder List

Series 1: Student Association and Central Council Minutes

Box 1

Minutes (1 folder), 1921-1929
Minutes (3 folders), 1932-1941
Minutes (4 folders), 1943-1949
Minutes (2 bound volumes), 1966-1968
Minutes (6 folders), 1970-1973

Box 2

Minutes (8 folders), 1973-1977
Minutes (9 bound volumes), 1977-1986

Box 3

Minutes (3 bound volumes), 1987-1989 Student Association

Student Association
Box and Folder List

Series 2: Central Council Bills, 1965-1989

Box 1

Bills (17 folders), 1965/66-1977/78
Bills (bound volume), 1966/67
Bills (bound volume), 1978/79
Bills (folder), 1979/80
Bills (3 bound volumes), 1980-1983

Box 2

Bills (3 bound volumes), 1984/85-1986/87

Box 3

Bills (2 bound volumes), 1987/88-1988/89

Student Association
Box and Folder List

Series 3: Subject Files, 1940-1944, 1958-1988

Box 1

1. Academic Affairs Commission - Report to Central Council, 1971
2. Accountants' Report: Financial statements and Supplementary, 6/30/1967
3. Airforce ROTC "Cross Town" agreement, 1968
4. Announcements, 1970-80
5. Assessment of Courses and Teachers (ACT)- blank questionnaires, 1974-75, 1983
6. Athletic Advisory Board (budget, rules), 1967
7. Ballots, 1974-76
8. Bits and Pieces, 1970, 1974
9. Budgets, 1948-49
10. Budgets- requests, 1958-59
11. Budgets, 1959-60
12. Budgets, 1961-62
13. Budgets, 1965-69
14. Budgets- summary, 1969-70
15. Budgets, 1970-
16. Budget Committee Minutes, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/3 1979
17. Central Council (Parking Strike), undated
18. Central Council (Student Tax Policy, Nomination Form, Correspondence and Flyers), circa 1970-75
19. Central Council (Supreme Court application), circa 1965
20. Committee on Univ. Governance (SUNY Binghamton, Buffalo, Albany), 1967-69
21. Committee Reports and Recommendations, 1950-1952
22. Committee to Draft Campus Alcohol Policy - Recommendation, 1969
23. Composition Services (styles and sizes), undated
24. Consolidated Laws and Regulations of S.A., 1973
25. Consolidated Laws and Regulations of S.A., 5/11/1976
26. Constitution (Tentative) of the State College Student Association , 5/15/1945
27. Constitution, 1965
28. Constitution, 1987-88
29. Constitution, undated
30. Constitution S.A. "Board", circa 1962
31. Correspondence, 1951, 59, 70-71
32. Directories, 1970-77
33. Ebenezer Howard Project, 1970-71
34. Elections (flyers), 1972-78, 1984-87
35. Financial Policies, undated
36. Financial Resolutions, 1943-49
37. Financial Statements, 6/30/1974
38. Flyers and Brochures, circa 1970-86
39. Forms, circa 1965-77
40. Form Letters to Faculty Members, 1952, 70, 72, 76, 85, 86
41. Form Letters to Students and Their Parents, circa 1975-77
41. Government Reorganization Committee (Correspondence), 1962
42. Government Revision Workshop, Nov. 1964
43. Groups (Directory of student and other S.A. recognized groups), 1974-75
44. Informer (Issues #1, #2), 1978
45. Living Area Affairs Commission (Rationale for women's hours), 3/15/67
46. Memorandum, 1968-75
47. Moving-up Day Programs and Recommendations, circa 1940-60
48. NYSCT Leadership Conference, 5/23/1954
49. Off-Campus Student Co-op, 1975
50. Operating Expenses: Central Council, 1969-70
51. Press Release ("Restoration of Carver Community Health Center Funding."), 10/5/1973
52. Procedures for Organizational Recognition, 1972
53. Schedule for Letter Writing Campaign, undated
54. Student Affairs Council (Minutes), 2/5 & 3/6 1974
55. Student Association Handbook (SUNY Plattsburgh), 1979-80
56. Student Evaluation of Courses and Teachers (Blank questionnaires and Instructions), circa 1968-74
57. Student Government Conference (Information, Correspondence, Memoranda), 1964
58. Student Government (Reorganization Workshop), 11/21/1964
59. Student Senate (Government Reorganization Committee), 1962-63
60. Student Senate (Minutes), 1963-64
61. Student Senate (Reports), 1963-64
62. Transportation Committee (Rules and Regulations), undated
63. University Athletics Council (Final Report), 1968

Student Association
Box and Folder List

Series 4: Committee Files, 1949-1975

Box 1

1. Academic Affairs Commission, 1967-71
2. Athletic Advisory Board (S.A. Bills and Minutes), 1970-71
3. Big 4 Committee (Recommendations), 1949-53
4. Constitutional Revisions Committee, 1965, 1969
5. Election Commission (Ballots), 1973-75
6. Government Reorganization Committee, 1962-64