Tuesday, April 24 – Guest Speaker from the National Human Genome Research Institute: Dr. Kyungjae Myung, senior investigator for the Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch of the National Institute of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute, is coming to UCF and will be speaking about groundbreaking research in the health and genetics fields. Dr. Myung will provide insights on topics, such as evolutionary conserved DNA repair pathways, molecular mechanism and clinical implication. The event will be held in Health and Public Affairs Building II, Room 345 at 9:30 a.m. For more details, contact Dr. Yonghon Sohn at yonghon.sohn@ucf.edu.

Wednesday, April 25 – UCF Softball vs. Stetson: Come watch the Knights take on the Stetson Hatters. Admission is free for UCF students, and tickets are just $2 for UCF faculty and staff, as well as all children and seniors. Tickets are $5 for the general public. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the softball stadium. For more information, visit UCF’s events calendar.

Thursday, April 26 – Pegasus AA Group: The Pegasus Group of Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group designed to help anyone within the UCF community quit drinking. The meeting will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Recreation and Wellness Center, Room 111. For more details, contact Don Uhrig at donuhrig@knights.ucf.edu.

Friday, April 27 – UCF Baseball: Military Appreciation Night: Come watch the tenth-ranked Knights take on Memphis and celebrate Military Appreciation Night! Those with a military ID — active duty, retired or dependents — will receive free admission plus one complimentary ticket. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. at Jay Bergman Field. For more information, visit UCF’s events calendar.

Want to know what else is going on around campus this week? Visit the OSI website or UCF’s events calendar for additional events and information.

For questions or comments regarding “This Week @ UCF,” contact Ashley Tinstman at sga_pr@ucf.edu or Cynthia Florentino at sgacommaffairs@ucf.edu. We’d love to hear your feedback!

During the special session, debate focused on two specific issues: the funding of the College of Medicine Student Council through Student Outreach Services and the funding of the registered student organization known as the Graduate Student Association. For the College of Medicine Student Council, the debate centered on the fact that the organizations at the College of Medicine were not registered with the Office of Student Involvement, which is a stipulation of receiving funding under the Finance Code. In the end, a compromise was made that allowed these organizations to work with the Office of Student Involvement to become registered and, thus, receive funding.

The second issue that was brought up dealt with adding the Graduate Student Association into the A&SF budget. This was a controversial topic because the Graduate Student Association did not request any funding this year in the budget because the new Graduate Student Assembly had planned to take on those costs. However, the Graduate Student Assembly was repealed from the Student Government Association Constitution and, thus, funding for this agency did not occur. In the end, the Graduate Student Association was not placed in the budget. This decision was reached after concluding that the agency was not fiscally responsible, as it was one of the highest reverting organizations of SGA funds during the 2010 – 2011 fiscal year. It was recommended that the Graduate Student Association go through the Student Government Senate to request funding, so that there will be more Senate oversight. The additional oversight will ultimately ensure that the organization spends any allocated money responsibly and efficiently.

All in all, the A&SF budget passed overwhelmingly during the special session and now awaits the signing of Student Body President Matthew McCann and Dr. Maribeth Ehasz, vice president of Student Development and Enrollment Services. Once signed by these two signatories, the budget will be officially accepted for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2012.

Tuesday, April 17 – How to Get a Good Knight’s Sleep: Join UCF Health Services in Technology Commons, Room 102 for free pizza and a chance to win a Sleep Aide Basket. Learn tips on how to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up the next day well-rested! The workshop will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more details, contact Mary Schmidt-Owens at mary.schmidt-owens@ucf.edu.

Wednesday, April 18 – Free STD Screenings: UCF Health Services, in partnership with Orange County Health Department, is providing free sexually transmitted disease screenings on campus. Tests will screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis. STD screening and treatment are two of the most effective tools available to protect one’s health and prevent the spread of STDs to others. Testing will take place in the Student Union, Room 218C from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. No appointment is needed. For more information, visit UCF’s events calendar.

Thursday, April 19 – Public Service Career Showcase: All students are invited to come explore career paths and learn about internship and job opportunities at this annual event hosted by Career Services. The benefits of a career in public service include the satisfaction of knowing your job can positively impact the lives of people and change or improve some aspect of our society for future generations. The showcase will take place in the Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom beginning at 10 a.m. To receive more information or begin your partnership with Career Services, visit www.career.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2361 for career planning and employment services.

Friday, April 20 – “Shove! Push!”: Student and faculty dancers and choreographers are proud to present UCF Theatre’s Sixth Annual Dance Concert, entitled “Shove! Push!” The concert will be held at the Orlando Repertory Theatre starting at 8 p.m. For more details, contact Donna Rahman at theatre@ucf.edu.

Want to know what else is going on around campus this week? Visit the OSI website or UCF’s events calendar for additional events and information.

For questions or comments regarding “This Week @ UCF,” contact Ashley Tinstman at sga_pr@ucf.edu or Cynthia Florentino at sgacommaffairs@ucf.edu. We’d love to hear your feedback!

Tuesday, April 10 – Smart Answers to Tough Questions: Come to this informative workshop to learn how to distinguish between what your employer is asking and what your employer really wants to know! Develop strategies that will help you answer the really tough questions! The event will begin at 11 a.m. in the Career Services Experiential Learning Building, Room 11. For more details, email career@ucf.edu.

Wednesday, April 11 – Free STD Screenings: UCF Health Services, in partnership with Orange County Health Department, is providing free sexually transmitted disease screenings on campus. A mobile unit will be parked outside of the Student Union patio from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is needed. Tests will screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis. For more information, contact Mary Schmidt-Owens at mary.schmidt-owens@ucf.edu.

Thursday, April 12 – Allies Advance: Allies Advance is a workshop for UCF faculty, staff and students who have an interest in becoming a member of the Allies Program. The purpose of the advance is to raise awareness about the LGBTQ community, discuss the negative effects of homophobia and provide support for the LGBTQ community, as well as fellow Allies. The workshop will also provide an opportunity for participants to become an Ally. The workshop will be held at 9 a.m. in the Student Union, Room 316. For more information on this workshop, visit the Allies website.

Friday, April 13 – A Cappella Spring Concert: Please join UCF’s contemporary a cappella club for its annual spring concert. It will be a great night filled with fun and good music. The event is open to the public. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and appreciated.  The concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the Mathematics and Physics Building, Room 260. For more information, contact Lauren Amberson at lamberson@knights.ucf.edu.

Want to know what else is going on around campus this week? Visit the OSI website or UCF’s events calendar for additional events and information.

For questions or comments regarding “This Week @ UCF,” contact Ashley Tinstman at sga_pr@ucf.edu or Cynthia Florentino at sgacommaffairs@ucf.edu. We’d love to hear your feedback!

To learn more about the organization and its events, we met with Trip Davis, vice president of Young Americans for Liberty at UCF.

Q: What is the mission of Young Americans for Liberty?

A: The mission of Young Americans for Liberty is to identify, educate, train and mobilize youth activists committed to “winning on principle.” Our goal is to cast the leaders of tomorrow and reclaim the policies, candidates and direction of our government.

Q: What was the most recent event that Young Americans for Liberty put on?

A: Last week, Young Americans for Liberty received funding from the UCF Student Government Association to bring Robert Shibley, vice president of the Freedom for Individual Rights in Education, to our campus. Shibley spoke to the group about student conduct and the rights of students who are going through the student conduct process.

Q: What is an average week like for Young Americans for Liberty?

A: We are a much closer group than the average student organization. On the weekends, we usually have a social gathering for members. Also, every Tuesday, we meet in Business Administration, Room 205. Weather permitting, we table in front of the Student Union on Wednesdays. Our tabling events are sometimes themed, but usually, we’re just talking to students and passing out information about our organization.

Q: What does the future hold for Young Americans for Liberty?

A: Young Americans for Liberty, on the national and chapter levels, is expanding at an exponential rate. As we continue to grow on campus, we want to become a mainstay of the political culture at UCF by providing a home for the politically homeless and promoting constitutional rights.

Q: How can students get more involved with Young Americans for Liberty?

A: The easiest way to get involved is by staying up-to-date with our Facebook page. Also, all students are invited to join us at our weekly meetings, which are held on Tuesdays in Business Administration, Room 205. At the next meeting, we’ll be discussing our last activism project of the year. To get more information about the national organization, check out www.YALiberty.org.

Tuesday, April 3 – Understanding Faculty and Building Relationships: Attend this informative workshop to learn the best ways to formulate positive relationships with the faculty at UCF. Learn what questions to ask, how to structure an appointment during a professor’s office hours and how to approach an issue or conflict with professionalism. Freshmen receive 500 LINK Loot points for attending. The event is facilitated by Dispute Resolution Services and will be held in the Student Union, Room 223. For more information, contact Jennifer Wright at jennifer.wright@ucf.edu.

Wednesday, April 4 – Tell Me About Yourself: How to Prepare for a Successful Interview: Career Services and Experiential Learning is offering an opportunity geared toward teaching students about interviews. The workshop will cover different types of interviews, how to prepare for an interview, employers’ expectations and what information to share during the interview. The event will be held in the Career Services and Experiential Learning Building, Room 115. For more details, email career@ucf.edu.

Thursday, April 5 – Dream Share Project: The Dream Share Project is an inspirational documentary film that follows Chip Hiden and Alexis Irvin, two recent college graduates, on a road trip across America, as they explore how successful people have chased their dreams. The filmmakers, Chip and Alexis, will be available after the movie to answer any questions, and there will also be free pizza. The screening will take place in the Student Union, Room 221. For more information, email career@ucf.edu.

Friday, April 6 – CAB Cinema Presents: Lion King and Toy Story: Join the Campus Activities Board at the Reflection Pond for two showings: Lion King and Toy Story! The event will begin at 9 p.m. For more information, email cabmovie@ucf.edu.

Want to know what else is going on around campus this week? Visit the OSI website or UCF’s events calendar for additional events and information.

For questions or comments regarding “This Week @ UCF,” contact Ashley Tinstman at sga_pr@ucf.edu or Cynthia Florentino at sgacommaffairs@ucf.edu. We’d love to hear your feedback!

This year, in an effort to diversify the charitable giving associated with the events, each day is dedicated to a different philanthropic cause. For each event, the Greek Week Executive Board has set participation and monetary goals. On Sunday, March 25, Greek Week kicked off with a community service event at Give Kids the World in Kissimmee. Ten participants from each of the 11 teams were asked to participate. On Monday, March 26, the Greek Sing and Stroll for a Cause benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The goal was $250 per team.

At the start of Greek Week, each team was challenged to have 75 members donate blood through the Oviedo Blood Center or the Florida’s Blood Centers buses on campus. The teams had until Wednesday, March 28 to reach their goal. On Thursday, March 29, the charity focus was UCF’s very own Knights Helping Knights Pantry. Each team strived to reach a goal of donating at least 100 items to the pantry. On Friday, March 30, teams will focus on donating to Pet Rescue by Judy through two events: Penny Wars and the Greek Games. Each team’s goal is $50. The final philanthropic event incorporated into Greek Week is Knight-Thon, which will be held on Saturday, March 31. Each team aims to have at least 75 percent of its members participate, and all proceeds will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The week will wrap up on Sunday, April 1 with the Greek Gala, which recognizes the teams that had high service participation and event attendance.

In order to learn more about this year’s Greek Week, we met with Brittani DiPaolo, the event’s executive director.

Q: What is your favorite part about Greek Week?

A: As a member of the Greek community, my favorite part is getting to meet students from different Greek councils. Also, as the director, I have enjoyed bringing new ideas to life that will ultimately better the Greek community and advance council relations.

Q: How was the Disney-inspired theme, The Happiest Greek Week on Earth, chosen?

A: Students were able to vote on this year’s theme through the UCF Greek Week fan page on Facebook. With 70 percent of the vote, The Happiest Greek Week on Earth theme won.

Q: What was a major goal you wanted to accomplish this year through Greek Week?

A: As the Greek Week rules packet states, this year we decided to donate to multiple charities through our efforts at each event. We also stated specific goals that each of the 11 teams were expected to meet and even exceed.

Q: Where can students go to find out more about Greek Week?

A: Students can “like” UCF Greek Week on Facebook or visit www.greekweek.com.

Also, at last week’s Senate meeting, Activity and Service Fee Committee Chairman E. Joshua Miller informed the Senate that this year’s A&SF budget should be coming to the Senate floor for review and passage after two more committee meetings. We are so excited to vote on all of the activities and services that will be provided to the students in the upcoming year!

Continuing on the topic of campus life, the Senate discussed and voted favorably upon a resolution that states that the Greek Council, which is a registered student organization, could better represent Greek students by becoming an agency. This resolution passed through its first reading and should be discussed more thoroughly by the Senate in the coming weeks. Students who have an opinion about the status of Greek Council are encouraged to come speak at the open forum offered at the beginning of Student Senate meetings. The open forum is offered to provide the opportunity for all students to express their opinions to the Senate.

Last but not least, the Student Senate is happy to welcome Matthew Betz as our new Senate advisor. We are excited to see the great things he is going to bring to our Student Senate and the Student Government Association, as a whole.

The Student Senate’s next meeting will take place on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m.