It is hard to believe summer is already over and another academic school year is before us. Whether you are a new student or a returning one, OUSC is excited to serve you, represent you, and enhance your campus experience this year.

A lot has been accomplished in the last four months, and we would like to update you about what we have been focusing on throughout the summer.

As you may remember from the Gustafson/Ring platform during elections, one of our main goals was to enhance outdoor life at OU. With support from much of the administration, OU will in fact have a campus quad outside of Kresge Library by April 2011.

The newly installed sidewalk in this location is one of the beginning stages of completing this project, as well as the outdoor posting location, hammocks, and additional benches around campus.

We are excited for student life to enhance outdoors and that our dream of having hammocks on campus has become a reality.

Another one of our main goals was to build better relationships with the surrounding businesses and restaurants.

Throughout the summer we have worked very closely with the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the City Manager of Auburn Hills, and through this interaction we have created Oakland University Spirit Packs that have been delivered to numerous businesses in the area. The packs consist of OU flags, pennants, and posters, and are intended to increase OU spirit in the community.

Let us know if you see a business not participating in this program that you think should be. We would be happy to drop off a pack — or give the business a hard time for not putting up our free goods.

It was in the summer that the topic of tuition was also before us. We worked closely with vice president for finance and administration, John Beaghan, in order to understand how the increase was calculated and how it compared with other universities. We would of course be more than happy to expand on our knowledge of the topic and explain to you how this decision was determined. Feel free to contact us with the information given below or stop by our office at 62 Oakland Center.

Other OUSC initiatives to watch for this fall include: The Bear Bus Shuttle Service now running during the day to alleviate parking congestion; the expansion of the Newspaper Readership Program into the residence halls, now offering a local newspaper, The Detroit Free Press; and the creation of the student organization OUnited bringing together student representatives from Housing, OUSC, Athletics, and Greek Life.

Our list of fall goals consist of: Increasing the hours in the recreational center; reaching students in as many ways as possible — through the Oakland Post, WXOU, our new monthly newsletter, meeting you at Fireside Chats, and increasing awareness about our general body meetings; filling the OUSC legislature (it’s not too late to get involved; we are always looking for driven students who want to make a difference); start a movie rental program in the residence halls; register students to vote and educate them about elections; and, of course, increase attendance at both OUSC and OU events.

Here is a list of important dates to remember with regards to OUSC:

– Wednesday, Sept. 1 at noon — premiere of OUSC radio show, “The A and B Conversation”

– Friday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. at lower fields bonfire pit: OUSC Bonfire — free pizza and T-shirts, plus meet the soccer teams

– Sunday, Sept. 5, 12:30 p.m. at soccer field: Soccer Sunday at OU —free vuvuzela horns

– Tuesday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m. in Pioneer Food Court: Rock4Rights talent show — free food and OUSC sunglasses

– Monday, Sept. 13, 4 p.m. in the Oakland Room: First OUSC general body meeting of the 2010-2011 academic school year

We couldn’t be more excited to serve you this year. Contact Brandon at [email protected] or Amy at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.