Contact: Ashley Lintelman, Office of Press Secretary for Student Government, (214) 458-5310

As the 2007 spring semester came to an end, Baylor University's Student Government leaders reflected on their accomplishments of the past year, focusing on what the achievements meant to them personally and how they were able to impact others through their daily lives.

Student Government has continued to both grow within itself, as well as impact the lives of many Baylor students, said Student Body President Mark Laymon, a senior economics major from Richardson. Members of Student Government listened to the student body and created inspiring ideas and made innovative developments both within the Baylor and the Waco community, he added.

"We have worked hard, but really it has been the Lord who has enabled us to accomplish anything. To Him be the glory," Laymon said.

A list of Baylor Student Government accomplishments for the year follows:

• Provided valuable input into parking and shuttle services on and around campus
• Participated in a task force to examine the possibility of expanding the time between classes
• Created partnership with the Baylor Information Network (BIN) resulting in it becoming a new online representation to students
• Implemented online voting on bills for the Student Body
• Saw the addition of a Student Government section in the Student Life newsletter "On the Baylor Horizon"
• Planned and held two prayer sessions for the Baylor campus with other student leaders
• Selected, planned, raised funds and constructed the 2007 Senior Class Gift, landscaping the Draper/Old Main Complex courtyards
• Facilitated campus dialogue through the Annual President's Round Table
• Helped in the creation of the Partnership of Student Groups
• Helped organized first Thanksgiving Dinner on Fountain Mall
• Hosted Baylor Regent Minette Pratt at Student Senate
• Revamped the office hour policy
• Initiated the Activity Planning Committee
• Assisted with Tax Free Textbook legislation that passed through the Texas Senate
• Hosted the first Student Government Diversity Tea
• Submitted a comprehensive plan for a 24-hour Science Building for the 2007-2008 budget
• Persuaded Student Activities to commit to reviewing their policies over the summer
• Persuaded the provost office to agree to encourage faculty to publish syllabi
• Dramatically improved the relationship with Faculty Senate
• Set up a plan for ensuring bill integrity for next year
• Developing a leadership conference for our executive leadership
• Baylor Earth Week
• Helped fund the Katie Moseley Memorial Tree
• First-ever city proclamation, honoring the External Vice President and cabinet with an "EVP day" in Waco
• Created the Community Involvement Council (CIC) to link Baylor students with Waco community leaders
• Connected students to local alumni through an Alumni Mentor Program (AMP)
• Continued the Learning English Among Friends Program (LEAF)
• Hosted the Beyond Leadership Community Summit
• Hosted Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy during a session of Student Senate
• Created COALition to increase student awareness of coal plant sites near Waco
• Hosted the Conference of Private Universities (CPU) to link Baylor student leaders with other private university student leaders
• Connected students with city issues through several Waco boards and commissions
• Built relationships with countless numbers of city officials and other Waco community leaders
• Initiated Ethics debate in student government, leading to Student Senate legislation

The semester is marked by numerous accomplishments and proposed new ideas, said Student Body External Vice President Allan Marshall, that will be the fundamental building blocks for exciting endeavors in the upcoming school year.

"Not only should members of student government be proud of their accomplishments and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead next fall, but the Baylor student body should feel honored to be represented by such a group of students who are truly dedicated to serving the student body," said Marshall, a native of Cuney, Texas, who earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Baylor in May.

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