History of the Rutgers University Student Assembly
“We, the undergraduate students of Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway, in order to represent and defend our interests and rights to the community; to promote academic freedom; to provide a forum for the open expression of student ideas and opinions; to establish an equitable environment and deliver justice; to effectively disburse student fees; and to ensure the virtue of a more perfect Rutgers for ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the Rutgers University Student Assembly”
Before 2008, and before the establishment of RUSA, Rutgers University was separated into several distinct colleges with their own policies, operations, and student governments. These student governments included: Rutgers College Governing Association, Livingston College Governing Association, Cook College Council (now SEBS Governing Council), Engineering Governing Council, Pharmacy Governing Council, Douglass College Government Association (now Douglass Governing Council), Rutgers Business Student Governing Association, and University College Governing Association.
Student Government Structure (1894-2008)
In March 2006, Richard L. McCormick, the University President at the time, presented a set of recommendations to the Rutgers University Board of Governors (which was later approved) for a new transformative model for a public research university. This plan, better known as Transforming Undergraduate Education (TUE), consolidates several colleges, unifying the university further and making the university system more equitable and efficient. As the university transitioned to this new model, with the first class of the School of Arts and Sciences starting at Rutgers during the Fall of 2008, a much larger discussion was held between all the student governments at the university (as some would be dissolved after the implementation of TUE) about the structure of student government at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
Transforming Undergraduate Education (2006)
In August of 2006, a Constitutional Convention was created. All governing associations and members of the public were invited to these committees, and all subcommittee meetings were open to the public. In total, over 70 elected Student Government members contributed to the drafting of a Constitution that would later become the Constitution of the Rutgers University Student Assembly. Throughout August and September 2006, the committees met and finished their recommendations. The Steering Committee convened on October 29th, 2006, and wrote the first draft of the Constitution of the Rutgers University Student Assembly. After discussing this draft with students and governing associations in November, more drafts followed. Finally, in December 2006, a final draft was produced. This was submitted to all governing associations for ratification.
Constitutional Convention of 2006
In February of 2006, a student-wide referendum was held to officially change the student government structure at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and approve the RUSA Constitution. On February 18, 2007, after the 12-day voting period and over 60% voting in the affirmative, the student body made its decision, and the Rutgers University Student Assembly was to be established and serve as the primary governing body for undergraduate students. In addition, campus councils were created to represent the interests of on and off-campus students, with the remaining professional governing councils remaining as an independently governing body now subject to RUSA law.
University-Wide Referendum of 2007
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1st Assembly
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2nd Assembly
Student Body President:
Student Body Vice-President:
Student Body Treasurer:
3rd Assembly
Student Body President:
Student Body Vice-President:
Student Body Treasurer:
4th Assembly
Student Body President:
Student Body Vice-President:
Student Body Treasurer:
5th Assembly
Student Body President: Matthew Cordeiro
Student Body Vice-President: Thomas Nicholas
Student Body Treasurer: Scott Siegel
6th Assembly
Student Body President: Johan Connelly
Student Body Vice-President: Sherif Ibrahim
Student Body Treasurer: Pavel Sokolov
7th Assembly
Student Body President: Pavel Sokolov
Student Body Vice-President: Stefany Farino
Student Body Treasurer: Krupa Patel
8th Assembly
Student Body President: Kristine Baffo
Student Body Vice-President: Jacob Nieman
Student Body Treasurer: Justin Lucero
Student Body President: Matt Panconi
Student Body Vice-President: Brianna Battle
Student Body Treasurer: Nivedh Rajesh
10th Assembly
Student Body President: Justin Schulberg
Student Body Vice-President: Evan Covello
Student Body Treasurer: Shannon Chang
11th Assembly
Student Body President: Evan Covello
Student Body Vice-President: Christie Schweighardt
Student Body Treasurer: Shannon Chang
12th Assembly
Student Body President: Suzanne Link
Student Body Vice-President: Jaidev Phadke
Student Body Treasurer: Priti Kantesaria
Student Body President: Jhanvi Virani
Student Body Vice-President: Aneesh Desphande
Student Body Treasurer: Nicholas LaBelle
14th Assembly
Student Body President: Nicholas LaBelle
Student Body Vice-President: Arielle Dublin
Student Body Treasurer: Hira Hussain
15th Assembly
Student Body President: Nikhil Sadaranganey
Student Body Vice-President: Nina Gohel
Student Body Treasurer: Adnan Akbar
16th Assembly
Student Body President: Allison Smith
Student Body Vice-President: Laura
Student Body Treasurer: Anna Chen
17th Assembly
Student Body President: Jack Ramirez
Student Body Vice-President: Aarushi Fernandez
Student Body Treasurer: Kaia Dykman
18th Assembly
Student Body President: Jack Ramirez
Student Body Vice-President: Kaia Dykman
Student Body Treasurer: Sam Meiyzs
19th Assembly
Student Body President: Christopher Godoy
Student Body Vice-President: Lilly Sousa
Student Body Treasurer: Sam Meiyzs
RUSA over the Years
“We are always making History, for a better Rutgers....Stay Tuned for More”