Heather Dawood, a 32 year old senior majoring in English and Communication Studies, has been elected to represent UMass Boston as a Student Trustee on the UMass Board of Trustees for the 2002-2003 academic year.

Dawood, who served as president of the UMB Student Senate during the 2001-2002 academic year, replaces Sandra Karahalis on July 1, 2002 as Student Trustee.

“My main responsibility is to keep UMass Boston issues on the agenda at the board meetings,” Dawood said. “A lot of these issues need to be more clearly defined here on campus and it will be part of my job to help define these issues.”

She listed budget cuts, fee increases, student housing, parking, and the esthetic value of the university as some of the concerns she anticipates addressing in the upcoming year.

“I hope to get a lot of input from students. I’ll be available during my office hours and by email and telephone. I’ll also be using The Mass Media and the Student Senate – particularly the Campus and Community Affairs (CCA) Committee – as sources of input. There needs to more student involvement and greater communication,” explained Dawood. She added that she was looking forward to working with H.Todd Babbitt, the new chairperson of the CCA committee. “That committee, which didn’t exist last year, needs to be strengthened,” she noted.

Dawood shared her thoughts on some of the issues that would be impacting students in the coming year.

On budget cuts: ” These will be tough on the university as a whole and students individually. I hope legislative decisions are made with us in mind. Until the university gets back on its feet, we need to use all the resources available to keep us strong.”

On proposed on-campus housing: “This is going to be a fun, controversial issue. Many students will welcome it. It should bring increased revenue to the university and will attract more international students. One concern I have with on-campus housing is that we keep in mind the mission of the university as it is today. Do we want to become another UMass Amherst? No. While we want to continue to attract students from all over the world, we should keep our focus on Massachusetts residents. Housing should also be available to the traditional UMB students.”

On the controversy surrounding the Early Learning Center: ” The university’s main focus has to be on core education for the students. I’m glad they can support it until next year. The student government and the trustee have helped to keep them on their feet. My last act as senate president was to sponsor a graduate student to do research on grants so they can be self-sufficient.”

On the new campus center: “It will be nice to move into a place with clean floors, and walls, and windows you can see through. I’m proud that it’s ahead of schedule and on budget.”

Asked to assess Chancellor Jo Ann Gora’s first year at the helm of UMB, Dawood stated, ” I think Chancellor Gora has done a great job in making herself available to students and has tried hard to address issues and concerns that students have brought to her. She’s has opened the lines of communication and hears the voices of students. She’s also a great role model in understanding what people should enjoy about the university and in how to express reasons to celebrate being at UMass Boston.”

Dawood concluded by stating, “We have top-notch faculty here. The location is wonderful. UMass Boston offers a great opportunity for non-traditional students. The fact that you work among students who are doing it just like you are, that’s what makes us unique and puts us in the forefront of public universities.”

(The Student Trustee’s office is located on the 4th floor of Wheatley Hall. The phone number is 287-7971. The current email address is [email protected].)