By the end of the semester and his term, Student Association President Larry Seivert hopes to announce a solid groundwork for the re-creation of MayFest at Syracuse University.

‘We have a very narrow pocket of time before the semester ends and we’re making sure we capitalize on every moment,’ he said.

Seivert and SA President-elect Jon Barnhart met with Chancellor Nancy Cantor to discuss progress regarding a day for students, said Seivert at Monday night’s SA meeting.

The meeting with Cantor points in the direction of securing a day for students, though nothing is official yet, Seivert said.

In terms of planning for the day, SA will distribute surveys to other colleges and universities that hold similar student days in the spring to gather information and feedback. The results will help plan activities and help successfully develop SU’s day, Seivert said.

The assembly is working with the American Student Government Association, a professional organization that supports collegiate student governments, to distribute the surveys. Seivert and Barnhart are working with Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of Student Affairs, to develop questions for the survey.

Residents of Euclid Avenue, where the annual MayFest block party has been held, will also have a chance to weigh in on preliminary planning for the day.

Seivert also plans to talk to different student groups about their ideas for the day. The student body and young alumni are very supportive of keeping a day like MayFest and making it a university tradition, Seivert said.

‘I think we’re on a really great stride right now in working with the university,’ Seivert said.

Seivert’s term as SA president officially closes at the end of this semester. Laying groundwork for MayFest is one way he said he plans to make the transition from the 53rd to the 54th session a success.

‘I want to make sure that I help you guys all achieve the most that you can before this session ends,’ Seivert told assembly members at Monday’s meeting.

Barnhart is currently holding open interviews for all of his cabinet positions. After interviewing everyone interested, Barnhart will nominate people for cabinet positions and the assembly will vote to approve or deny the appointments at the beginning of spring semester. All students are eligible to apply.

Barnhart said he’s received e-mails from people inside, and outside, of SA asking about how to get involved. The response, he said, far surpassed what he anticipated.

‘Everybody is so high on their game and so excited to get involved in this,’ he said.

kronayne@syr.edu

Published on November 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm