West Virginia University students and community leaders are joining forces to make Morgantown an even better place to live, work and study under an initiative launched today (Sept. 17) by the WVU Student Government Association.
During the next several months, a recurring theme will be transformingstudents to citizens, SGA President Jason Parsons told reporters at a press conference in Sunnyside.
My administration is committed to giving back to the community in a big way,he said,and one way were doing that is by urging students to get more engaged and contribute $100,000 worth of volunteer service to Sunnyside.
To achieve this goal, SGA leaders will work closely with the city of Morgantown, Sunnyside Up and WVU s Center for Civic Engagement.
Parsons said although Sunnyside is key to the initiative, SGA s goal is to improve all neighborhoods in Morgantown.
In a memorandum of understanding signed by Parsons and Jim Hunt, executive director of Sunnyside Up-Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp., it states that the groups will work togetherto promote safe, off-campus student housing and the revitalization of the Sunnyside neighborhood
Further, Sunnyside Up will attend SGA meetings, as requested, provide information and support for joint activities and document the monetary value of services provided by WVU students and campus groups.
SGA , in turn, will promote joint activities, attend Sunnyside Up board of directors meetings, as requested, and serve as a liaison between WVU students and Sunnyside Up for class projects, internships and other student activities.
It wasnt long ago that I was standing on Grant Avenue with Jim Hunt from Sunnyside Up and Morgantown Mayor Ron Justiceand others who are here todayto announce the Universitys plans to build a new residence hall in Sunnyside,Parsons said.We vowed to provide clean, safe and attractive housing for students. And while it was a good start, theres more work to be done. I am convinced that with this new initiative, we are poised to make a major difference.
Parsons said the initiative includes new and ongoing projects aimed at strengthening town-and-gown ties and revitalizing the city through projects such as Makeover Morgantown Day, clean-up projects andTogether We Willcommunity service days, as well as improving off-campus student housing conditions.
Kimberly Colebank and her staff at WVU s Center for Civic Engagement will assist with providing service opportunities and organizing teams of volunteers.
The relationship between the SGA and the CCE continues to strengthen,she said.This is due in large part to SGA s commitment to our community and shared goals of being more instrumental in the improvement of our community.
Colebank added that SGA is also playing an important part in the 2008 United Way campaign, leading the new student component.
Hunt commended student government leaders for already taking an active role in the community, hosting Sunnyside tours, housing forums, discussion groups and other activities designed to bring the issue of off-campus housing to the forefront. He said he looked forward to collaborating with the group on future projects.
Sunnyside Up is excited to continue its great relationship with the WVU Student Government Association,he said.This partnership is an example of the tremendous value that students bring to the University community.
Partnerships have been the key to SGA s success, Parsons noted.
Were not just students; were citizens,he said,and that means being responsible neighbors and building better relationships.
SGA on the Net: http://sga.wvu.edu/