By Rebecca Wyatt, OU Web Writer

Student Body President Jonathan Parks delivered his second and final State of the Student Body address during the OU Student Congress meeting Feb. 28. After providing an overview of the functions of the OUSC executive board, Parks outline the accomplishments of Student Congress over the last year and talked about the future direction of the campus.

Some of the accomplishments by Student Congress over the past year that Parks pointed out include:

• providing students with free scantrons and blue books;
• enhancing a student computer lab with fax services in the OUSC office;
• educating students on topics like Proposal 2, financial aid, race relations, voter registration and affirmative action;
• turning the former Copy Stop reserved parking spot in the Oakland Center lot into a premium parking spot awarded randomly to a student each month;
• creating the Technology Advancement Program to award a laptop, desktop and other technology equipment to students who enter the contest.

“Every effort has been made to cut operational costs within the Student Congress and yield the most benefits for the students of Oakland University; $51,000 of our operating budget was given off the top as various appropriations to enhance student life on campus through various opportunities as scholarships, the Keeper of the Dream banquet, keeping the Upper Fields available for student use, and WOCOU just to name a few,” Parks said.

Plans already are in place to increase student services over the next year. Pending approval from the Board of Trustees, Credit Union ONE is poised to become the exclusive on-campus financial institution. In cooperation with the ID Card Office, Credit Union ONE plans to offer students a MasterCard debit option for their SpiritCards and will offer internship opportunities to students.

Chartwells also will be investing more into OU as it hopes to use the university as its showcase school, Parks said. Among the enhancements from Chartwells will be a facelift to Vandenberg Dining Center.

OU administration also is trying to help students by working hard to ease the impending tuition increases, Parks said. While Park’s said no specific numbers have been given out by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, he would keep students informed as the state begins work on the budget.  

Parks recognized the Van Wagoner House Council, Indian Student Association, Arab-American Student Organization and Golden Key International Honour Society for their roles in raising money for the tsunami relief efforts that devastated areas in Asia and Africa.

As Parks’ term comes to an end, campaigning for the 2005-2006 student body president and vice president has begun. The election is March 28-30.

Parks said he hopes whoever comes after him will serve the students from their hearts the way he has.

“This is really a submissive position,” he said. “In it, you work for the students. I work for you.”

For more information about Student Congress, visit the OUSC Web site.