My Fellow Students,

In many ways, it is surreal to think that this is our last week of classes. The weeks go by so quickly, and just like that another year has flown by. I’m sure this year was a monumental one for each and every one of you. For some, you have successfully completed your first year of college. For others, your time here is wrapping up, and in a week and a half you will be walking across the stage as a college graduate. You may even fall in between these two classifications going through the middle of your college experience. One thing is for sure, it has been an eventful year.

The USGA has seen many changes this year and we successfully added a new Vice President position and debated many hot topics as they arose. Every accomplishment proved to be a learning experience for all.

As always, Spring Weekend was a fun and exciting time with all events providing entertainment at its best.

I truly am going to miss corresponding with you all through the Charger Bulletin as my term as president is waning. It has been a pleasure serving you, but I know you are in good hands for next year. Keep working hard and make it through finals. Seniors, make every last minute count, and in a few days our college experience will culminate with a huge life milestone.

See you all very soon, and make the most of your summer.

Patrick Kelland

USGA President

My fellow students,

April has nearly passed. Finals will soon be upon us, and sounds of summer are in the air. Keep working hard so you can enjoy the nice weather we continue to have.

Last week was USGA’s annual Last Man Standing competition. Thanks to all that took part in the event and congratulations to Paul Taylor, Lou Maiocco and Joseph Duthie on placing in the top three.

This weekend, UNH also hosted its 30th Annual Alumni Scholarship Ball. The USGA was represented by a small delegation of students. Those of us who went had the unique opportunity of seeing how our alumni directly give back to the university through monetary contributions. Their example is one we all should strive for as we look back on our years at the University of New Haven.

Enjoy the next few weeks!

Patrick Kelland

My Fellow Students,

The spring weather has continued to treat us well. Hopefully you have been able to enjoy it over the past few days. Last week many of you observed our Greek Life Organizations taking part in their Greek Week, a week filled with fun and entertaining competitions.

This past Thursday was the annual Roast of the USGA President. If you attended, you were likely enlightened with some of the hilarity that had occurred in my life over the past four years.

Our campus also hosted our annual international festival over the weekend. Our diverse and unique population of international students was able to educate attendees on the nuances of their cultures.

Keep an eye out this week at night for the competitors in USGA’s annual spring competition Last Man Standing.

Enjoy your week!

Patrick Kelland

USGA President

My fellow students,

Spring is here. As April has finally come upon us, the weather has come with it. With that said, the end of the semester is approaching fast and for all, it will be bittersweet.

For all of the graduating seniors this month, this marks your last full month at UNH. For others, whether you are finishing your first year or are somewhere in between, the year is coming to a close. However, you still have much more time to make memories.

Try not to let the warmer weather distract you as it is crucial to stay focused for the remainder of the semester and through finals. With all of your work and other priorities, make sure you are enjoying yourself as well.

Spring athletic events are always exciting and sometimes needed distractions from the hard work we all do. Be sure to support our varsity and club teams as they showcase their talent as they compete against worthy adversaries.

Keep up the good work,

Patrick Kelland

Whether you are a member of Sigma Chi, Phi Sigma Sigma, or have no affiliation with Greek life, it is clear that though our school’s Greek life may not be as outspoken as other schools’, the Greeks are still a core group of dedicated individuals. With Greeks being highly dedicated individuals, it may not come as a surprise that so many of the USGA Senators are also Greek (more than 50 percent). With only 6.8 percent of the student population being members of Greek-lettered organizations, this dichotomy may appear surprising.

There are many faces to this difference in the percentage of student body Greeks and USGA Senator Greeks. Sophomore Mitchell Davis, member of Kappa Gamma Rho, said this is because “many members of Greek life are very ambitious and aim to better the school and themselves by joining the governing student body.”

Junior Arnold Lane said that the Greeks’ involvement “isn’t really anything new,” and that it is something that has always been around.

With so many Greeks being involved in USGA when it makes up such a small percentage of the student body, some may worry that this small group of students have such a huge presence in student government.

Sophomore Ashley Winward said that she “could definitely see that being a conflict of interest. Greek life may not have Greek housing but they still have a huge presence on campus. I would hope that UNH wouldn’t turn into a scene of Revenge of the Nerds or anything.”

On the other side of the coin, freshman Marcos Jimenez, USGA Senator, said, “Of course it affects the workings, but I believe in a positive way. These students want to do something that’s bigger than themselves, that’s why they’re part of Greek life. They are all part of something that is bigger than them, that if they put the effort in they will all get a great reward. In the case of USGA, the reward is giving back to the University that gave them the opportunity of higher education.”

At the end of the day, it is not necessarily a fair decision to make, whether the surplus of Greeks in USGA is a problem. They ran, students voted, and now they have the power. Is there a chance that their decisions may be biased? It is perfectly reasonable to make that statement. But Marcos Jimenez puts it best, saying that the Greeks are “leaders, they love being involved, they enjoy giving back, and they all want to be a functioning cog in some great machinery.”

My fellow students,

Welcome back from spring break! Whether you enjoyed the beaches of the south, the lands of another country, the snow of the north, or serving others, it must feel great to be back for the last leg of the semester. The snow has almost fully receded, another sign that spring and the exciting things that come with it are almost here!

USGA Elections are wrapping up this week and ballots will close Thursday at 12 p.m. Get your vote in and be sure to read about the candidates in this issue of the Charger Bulletin.

Last Man Standing is coming up, and if you’re interested in learning what it takes to be the Last Man (or Woman) Standing keep your eyes peeled on the USGA Facebook Page!

As always work hard and have fun.

Stay classy New Haven,

Patrick Kelland

USGA President

My fellow students,

After another winter storm, UNH experienced a very successful weekend. Many of our organizations hosted a wide variety of events from formals and banquets, to comedian showcases and philanthropic activities.

As I stated a few weeks back, the spring semester is always exciting. As we finish up our midterms, it is nice to know that Spring Break will begin next week. Whether you are going someplace warm or cold, traveling, or going home to relax, the break will be much needed and is equally much deserved. If you are struggling with your courses, use this time as an emotional reset. Get ready to come back and tackle what’s left of the semester.

I would like to give a special shout out to Up Til Dawn for hosting an overnight event in the Rec Center where students were able to write letters asking for donations to be sent to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The funds raised truly make a difference, and I wish the organization the best of luck in reaching their goal of breaking the $100,000 mark combining this year with the past four years. It was great to see how dedicated you all are in making a difference in the lives of complete strangers.

As many of you may notice from past articles, posters, and advertisements on the social medias, USGA elections are coming up quick and campaigning is in full swing. Be sure to learn as much as you can about the candidates as those elected will be representing you in the coming year.

As always, work hard and enjoy yourself, especially on Spring Break.

Your President,

Patrick Kelland

Isaak Kifle

Dear Campus Community,

My name is Isaak Kifle and I am running for Treasurer of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA). I am a junior at the University of New Haven studying psychology and I believe that I would bring the right combination of skills, experience and passion to this critical position within the student body. My involvement with the USGA financial system began when I was elected Treasurer of the Class of 2014 in September 2010. In addition, I served as the secondary representative of the Class of 2014 in USGA meetings that same year.

Beginning in my sophomore year, I served as a member of the USGA Budget Committee and, in February 2012, became a USGA Senator. Throughout my years at UNH, I have served the USGA is a large number of roles. All of these experiences culminated in February 2013, when I had the honor of being appointed by the USGA legislature as the first Chair of the USGA Budget Committee, a position that was recently separated from the USGA Treasurer.

As the Budget Committee Chair, I work directly under the current USGA Treasurer and assist with the organization of the yearly budget process. Through this position as well as the others that I have held, I have gained an understanding of the primary issues present in the financial system as well as ideas on how to address those issues. For example, mistakes that result in loss of budgets or money requested often arise from communication issues or a lack of understanding of the process. This year, a great deal has been done to simplify many aspects of the yearly budget process and make it more user-friendly to everyone involved. I plan to continue this by making the system more approachable; not only to treasurers, but to everyone that plays a part in the utilization of USGA funds.

Mentorship is critical to the success of future student leaders and so I plan to foster connections between newer and more experienced RSO treasurers. This could take the form of socials or roundtables as well as a distribution list I hope to create to improve communication among treasurers.

The university is transitioning into the Banner System and soon, finances will be handled through that system as well. Treasurers and other executives as well as the advisors of RSOs will need to have an understanding of this system in order to manage budgets and I hope to create more comprehensive guides to improve this process and ensure that everyone is able to obtain the maximum benefit possible from Banner.

Lastly, I am very open to any suggestions and encourage you to come find me or contact me with comments or ideas on what you would like to see done. Thank you for your time and remember to vote Isaak Kifle for USGA Treasurer!

Enrique Cruz

Greetings,

My name is Enrique Cruz and I am running for the Undergraduate Student Government Association Treasurer position. I am currently a junior, majoring in Criminal Justice with a concentration in International Justice and Security. The position of Treasurer is nothing new to me. I have held the Treasurer position of Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity Inc. for the past two years. Having the Treasurer position is not a simple task as they take the responsibility of managing all finances as well as addressing any budget problems.

I want to be USGA Treasurer because the Recognized Student Organizations deserve someone who is caring, constantly there, and reliable. My experience as Treasurer has made me realize the only time I would go to USGA Treasurer office was when I needed help. One problem RSO’s face is going to the treasurer’s office and not being able to have budgetary issues addressed because he or she is not there. There are a few things I would like to change if I am elected USGA Treasurer. The campus has noticeably been changing over to more sustainable efficiency. The University’s Business Office sends out electronic paystubs. I would like to see all USGA financial forms submitted electronically. This initiative would help limit the waste of paper and save money on printer ink and toner. This would also help students who have poor penmanship.

I would also like to see RSO’s have access to view their account balances on Banner, instead of having to wait until the USGA Treasurer is at their office hour or the weekly USGA Meeting. This will help the RSO’s with managing their budgets. This year Purchase Orders have changed over to online forms. This made it very simple and efficient to pay vendors. The one thing I would like to change is notification that an RSO has completed a Purchase Order. It is up to the USGA Treasurer to constantly check banner to see if any RSO submitted a purchase order. This hinders the payment of vendors and shipment of goods for the RSO.

Not being available during scheduled office hours is something I would not like to happen if I am elected USGA Treasurer. There are things one cannot control, but when there is no notification, it looks bad. The office hours are offered for the students and when one is not present he or she is taking away from the students. I want to be elected as the next USGA Treasurer for the students because student leaders are what make the campus for what it is.

My fellow students,

March is finally here, midterms are almost upon us, and Spring Break is nearing. These are all good indicators that some of your best memories of the spring 2013 semester are soon to come.

As warmer weather draws closer, be sure to stay on top of your work. It will be easy to get distracted, but the more work you put in now, the more time you’ll be able to have as the semester nears its close.

Congratulations to all of our sports teams this weekend. You all played very well and I’m glad to say that I greatly enjoyed all of the games I attended. You all are key ingredients to the Charger pride on this campus.

To my fellow seniors, be sure to fill out your Commencement Participation Form by March 8 so you can walk at graduation.

Be on the lookout for more USGA Elections information, and for those of you vying to be a Media Head, get your applications in by Wednesday, March 6.

See you around campus, especially in the library,

Patrick Kelland

Fellow UNH students,

I hope you all enjoyed another great weekend here at the University. Spring is getting closer and closer. Traditionally in the middle of each spring, the elections of next year’s USGA President, Treasurer, and Senators takes place.

Applications are currently open online for each of those positions. The applications can be found in the forms section of the USGA page on Charger Connection. If you are interested in being a Media Head for SCOPE, the Chariot Yearbook or the Charger Bulletin, applications for Media Heads are also open at this time.

Keep an eye out for any other announcements that will be distributed via e-mail and through Charger Connection for upcoming events. Keep working hard and brace yourselves for midterms as they are approaching fast!

As always my door is always open,

Patrick Kelland