Best Student Government
Best College Newspaper
Other Best of Categories

     The votes are cast and the results are in. You deserve a break today from your mind-numbing midterms, so check out Florida Leader’s ninth annual "Best of Florida Schools" special issue. Our seriously fatigued editors, interns, and yes, spies, have scoured the spongy state (thanks to all the lovely rain) to find the truth and nothing but the truth. We’ve climbed over piles of PR releases, gone deaf from dozens of calls, and conducted about a billion interviews with students and staff to get the scoop on schools across the Sunshine State.
     The 9th annual edition includes more than 100 amazing, weird, inspiring, and unbelievably cool categories—about 10 more than last year. And because we, as always, are impartial to a fault, almost all of the state’s 76 major colleges and universities are featured in at least one "Best of" category.
     However, if your school wasn’t included this year, you’re welcome to contribute ideas for 1999. A bit of advice: maybe if you slip us enough $20-handshakes (if you know what we mean), your organization, student government, or service project just might be included next year.

Best Student Government
Best Student Government (Private College)
     Since last year’s Student Government Association led by Shye Gilad ushered in an era of professionalism and positive change for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, SGA President Hayes Nash and crew have outmaneuvered every other student government in the state. The airborne visionaries have taken a grounded approach to problem-solving by revitalizing the campus newspaper, preparing for an influx of residential students, and building a firm, trusting relationship with administrators.
     In fall 1997, Embry-Riddle transformed literally overnight from a commuter campus to a residential one, with the number of on-campus students soaring from 934 to 1809. The construction of new academic facilities, a new field house, and new student housing made the lack of space for students to interact even more noticeable. SGA formed a focus group to tackle this problem, and by the spring ’98 term, a former cafeteria called "The Landing Strip" had received a $14,000 facelift. With the installation of billiard tables, bar-style tables and seats, new signage, and fresh paint, the popular new facility now enjoys nonstop maximum capacity.
     Nash and company also instituted a Safe Ride program to meet the campus’ changing needs. By working with ERAU’s risk-management team, SGA extended the liability coverage for students riding in city taxi cabs, while keeping students’ confidentiality intact. Safe Ride replaced the CARAL/Sober Ride program which used student drivers and university vans to deliver fewer than 20 students each month during its limited weekend hours. The new 24-hour service provides 625 rides each month at a cost of $2.54 per student—Sober Ride cost more than $50 per user. An added benefit is the release of college vans for student groups.
     Unlike many student governments that have an adversarial relationship with their campus newspaper, Embry-Riddle’s SGA worked closely with editors of The Avion through a critical transitional phase. "Student government requested we shut down last semester," says Tony Hebert, editor in chief. "The newspaper was understaffed. SGA could have said, ‘OK, we’re not printing you anymore,’ but they worked with us to bring the newspaper back to a quality product," Hebert says.
     The Student Government Association hosted ERAU’s first ever Student Leader Consortium last November, which brought officers from more than 100 campus groups to hear a presidential address, followed by an open forum discussion. To further improve communications, a Public Relations Committee was formed. A cork board with the heading "What’s Happening?" serves as a convenient announcement center for events, and the second annual SGA Calendar is targeted to parents as well, so they know what students are doing on campus. The Nash administration also revamped the SGA web site, which features news releases, a discussion forum, and a complete list of SGA activities and meeting times.
     To curb wasteful spending of the $350,000 budget, SGA uses strict guidelines to determine whether clubs are eligible for funds, including a cost vs. benefit analysis. Also overhauled is an incentive fund for SGA members which had been used for formal dinners and entertainment for officers but now is used for leadership training.
     Embry-Riddle’s SGA also started a project evaluation file based on student reaction to events. Future SGA leaders will use the file to refine projects and ensure they meet student needs. SGA also plans to host the first Advisor Colloquium to orient club sponsors to the funding process and other procedures.
     In yet another testament to SGA’s commitment to students, officers achieved a compromise on an issue that had caused gridlock between students and administrators for years. Because Embry-Riddle’s changing graduation ceremonies resulted in students feeling no sense of tradition, SGA met with university officials to negotiate commencement guidelines. SGA’s Nash and past-president Gilad submitted a detailed and well-researched proposal to administrators to outline students’ wishes and the pros and cons of various plans.
     Of Hayes Nash’s leadership style, Dean of Students Bob Rockett says although Nash is appropriately decisive, he takes a team approach. "He speaks in terms of ‘we,’ and I find that very refreshing. He treats his SGA co-workers with dignity and respect and puts in more time than they do." Rockett says Hayes also works to achieve a balance in diversity and is very in tune with student needs. "Whenever we talk about what needs to change, he has the ability to focus on what really helps to serve the student."
     Rockett also says administrators have been receptive to Nash. "You never know who you’re going to get as SGA president," Rockett says. "My pet peeves are watching acceptance speeches when they say, ‘I’m going to hold off tuition increases.’ And I say to myself, ‘How are you going to do that?’ It’s refreshing to sit down with somebody you don’t have to give a real-world education to."
     SGA Advisor Dustin Derby, who worked at Illinois State University before joining ERAU six months ago, was struck by the autonomy Embry-Riddle’s SGA has and the way its leaders are so focused. He concedes that unlike at state schools where students can change their major until they find what they want, ERAU students naturally have to know where they’re headed when they first arrive on campus. "At times, I’m still taken aback by how much leadership is put on students here," Derby says. "It was odd for me at first that the president of the university would call the SGA President. Working with him is almost like working with a paraprofessional."
     President Nash says his team’s biggest accomplishment so far has been the Safe Ride program because of its campuswide impact. "We’ve been able to affect a wide majority of the campus with that program, so we’re very proud of it," Nash says. "The diversity of our board members allows us to each bring valuable information to the table — our perspectives really balance out each other. I tend to take things by the horns and deal with them directly, and we’ve all adopted that policy and it allows us to keep each other on the same page."

Best Student Government—Runner-Up (Private College)
     A solid and service-oriented group, Barry University’s Student Government Association, led by A.J. Pinto, aligns its goals with the mission of the college. Barry’s SGA members not only react to student needs, they also interact with the community. This ideal is perhaps most evident in the requirements for student-group funding, which are based partially on the organization’s documented volunteer service hours. For clubs to be eligible for SGA monies, members must meet a higher standard for service than even the university mandates.
     But Pinto and company don’t just make the rules, they play by them. The group spent months organizing a campuswide effort with 200 volunteers to provide a safe and fun Halloween experience for local children. Since a malaria scare threatened the community’s annual haunted house for kids nine years ago, Barry students have successfully spooked youngsters in an elaborate $1,000 production that has become the biggest in the area. Residence Life staffers lead children through tours, and volunteers pass out hundreds of pounds of treats. Each student group plans and decorates a room that may later win an SGA award for the scariest, freakiest, or most creative.
     Pinto also led the restructuring of SGA this year to include all undergraduate departments and extend its communication network for promoting campus programs. Members also conducted several surveys, including one to get student feedback on property development at Barry. To further fight the lack of participation in events on the small commuter campus, SGA sent club officers to conferences to bring back fresh programming ideas.
     Kathy Bunting, Barry’s director of student activities, says Pinto’s team is trying to resolve issues such as parking, food service, student fees, and a plus-minus grade system. So far, they’ve talked to campus reps, held forums, invited speakers, and promoted dialogue between administrators and students. "This group has done a good job at opening those channels back up," Bunting says."

Best Student Government—Honorable Mention (Private College)
     Led by President Johnathan Brill, the University of Miami’s Student Government has been such a whirlwind of activity this year, the group was even picked up on the radar of the National Association for Campus Activities to earn an award for excellence. Successfully building on platform planks such as the creation of a fall break for students, the Brill administration also added a student speaker to commencement exercises and increased lighting on the intramural field. The first floor of the library is now accessible 24 hours a day, thanks to SG, and spirit-boosters such as ‘Cane Fest which featured Suddenly Susan’s Kathy Griffin, were enhanced by an opening pep rally to support campus athletics. Works in progress include a residential cable TV system, a jogging trail, and food-service improvements. With a storm front of new leaders moving in next year, University of Miami will be on Florida Leader’s tracking chart. (See pg. 33 for other top SGs)

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