Extraordinary Contributions to Campus Life

The first recipient of this award is the progressive student alliance, for working toward positive change in the lives of UT students, faculty and staff, including a goal of fair compensation for all UT workers. Most recently, the group supported overtime pay for UT Dairy Farm workers, who were required to work 45 hours a week. In addition to labor rights work, the organization has provided an outlet for speaking out against war, and was critical in forming the third SGA party, Students for a Just University, and the student organization Gender Defiant.

The student government association has left a remarkable impression on the university through its hard work and leadership. While the group’s accomplishments are too lengthy to list here, some of the past year’s highlights include the reintroduction and organization of the Aloha Oe ceremony and Kickoff to Commencement, the planting of 90 willow oak trees along Volunteer Boulevard, a candlelight vigil and remembrance for the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy, and the securing of student tickets for men’s basketball with the Thompson-Boling Arena capacity change. Additionally, SGA approved legislation to create a Student Safety Commission and approved a bill requesting the university to develop the Cherokee Farms property to satisfy the campus need for more recreational fields.