CGS has own student government, activities

‘ ‘ ‘ The ad for the Homecoming Masquerade Ball had it. And so did one for Fall Fest, and… ‘ ‘ ‘ The ad for the Homecoming Masquerade Ball had it. And so did one for Fall Fest, and another for Fitness Fridays. ‘ ‘ ‘ It’s a simple phrase: ‘Free for Pitt undergrad, non-CGS students.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ And there’s an explanation for it. Students in the College of General Studies, which specializes in nontraditional education, like for older adults and students who pursue specially designed majors, pay a separate activities fee and therefore have their own student government. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Many of us balance full-time jobs and families as well as attend class,’ said Wendy Vernier-Lovicks, a CGS Student Government council member. ‘Our experiences are different. Some of us have raised a family and have decided to finally take the time and get a degree ourselves. Some of us, myself included, are changing careers.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ CGS’s Student Government, which meets twice a month, consists of a president and four voting council members as well as four division members, who deal with business issues. The group meets in either the William Pitt Union or the McCarl Center for Nontraditional Student Success, which sits on the fourth floor of the Cathedral of Learning and plays host to many CGS-sponsored events. ‘ ‘ ‘ CGS council members organize events specifically for CGS students, since they can’t attend those for other undergraduates. ‘ ‘ ‘ Among their activities, said government president Rosemary Natale, are several alumni cocktails and a two-minute pitch, in which CGS students teach students how to present themselves well at the career fair. ‘ ‘ ‘ Vernier-Lovicks said in an e-mail that the group has also sponsored trips to Phipps Conservatory and an alumni social during homecoming weekend. ‘ ‘ ‘ She added these events are important because they appeal more to the typical CGS student. ‘ ‘ ‘ Vernier-Lovicks also said she thinks many CGS students feel disconnected from the rest of the student body, because they spend less time on campus. ‘ ‘ ‘ Natale agreed. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘There’s a lot of students in the College of General Studies who don’t feel connected to the University,’ said Natale. ‘The reason I got involved [with CGS student government] was to make sure that the CGS student has a voice and is recognized as being a part of the University.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ To solve this, CGS student government members are reaching out to other Pitt organizations. Natale said she’s working with the executive director of the Pitt Program Council, JJ Abbott, to organize events for both CGS students and traditional Pitt undergraduates. ‘ ‘ ‘ Abbott said that the two groups work together ‘to see if we can incorporate their [CGS’s] students in our activities.’ But he said that the groups haven’t determined the details of these events.