Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the George Mason University Student Government records must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

George Mason University Student Government records, R0155, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

The materials which comprise this collection came into SCRC custody through multiple accessions by individual members of Student Government over a roughly 40-year period.

Processing Information

Collection was initially processed by SCRC Archivist and Records Manager, Barbara Haase and other SCRC staff, beginning in the mid-1980s. Reorganized, arranged, re-boxed, and inventoried by Robert Vay during October 2023 through January 2024.

Historical Note

George Mason University began operation under the name "University College of the University of Virginia" in the fall of 1957 in an 8-room former elementary school in Bailey's Crossroads. The original student body consisted of 17 young men and women from local high schools. The college was renamed "George Mason College" in late 1959 and moved to its first permanent campus at Fairfax during the fall of 1964. During this early period (1957-1964) enrollment never exceeded about 250 students. Once at Fairfax, George Mason College, while small, began to exhibit all the signs of campus life. The student body formed clubs, took part in intramural sports, published newspapers and yearbooks, and participated in many of the rites of college life. This included continuing the tradition of electing a slate of Student Government officers to represent the student body.

While there are no records pertaining to Student Government activities at George Mason University prior to 1966 in our holdings, Mason student newsletters and newspapers describe SG activities as early as 1960. That year there were a total of 10 members of the Student Assembly, 4 representatives for the Freshman Class, 2 for the Sophomore Class (George Mason College only offered 2 years of instruction at that time with the Associate degree as the terminal degree) and 4 officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer). Details regarding Student Government activities that were reported in student publications during this period and later can be found by exploring the following two electronic resources:

• Gunston Ledger and Broadside student newspaper collection https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMU~40~40 • George Mason University and student publications https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMU~44~44

Today Student Government is part of the university's leadership group, which includes The Executive Council, President's Council, Board of Visitors and the Faculty and Staff Senates. In 2023 there were about 55 members of student government serving an enrollment of about 40,000. About 25 served in the Executive division under the President and Vice President, while 30 made up the Student Senate representing the student body on issues including:

• Academics • Diversity and Multicultural Affairs • Government and Community Relations • Services • University Life

Scope and Content

The George Mason University Student Government records consist of materials created by members of the Student Government in the fulfillment of their duties as elected and appointed officers of the organization. Also detailed in the records are student activities and important univeristy topics over the years. The records date, in creation, from 1968 to 2019 and document the operations and initiatives of the organization, particularly that of the Executive Board, Senate, Student Courts, and Student Election Commission (SEC). A few retrospective records created by members of Student Government which document the history of the organization back to 1966 can be found in Series 2 and 6.

Types of materials in the collection include:

• minutes of the Student Senate and Executive Board meetings

• memoranda and correspondence for several Student Government groups

• Student Senate resource binders - these 3 ring binders were kept by members of the Student Senate and contained materials pertaining to the academic year of their service and documenting the activities of the Student Senate. Often included in the materials were calendars, agendas, notes, bills and resolutions drafted during the Senate session, and committee working papers. The materials have been disbinded for ease of use.

• George Mason University Student constitutions and revisions of same

• governance documents

• bills and resolutions for select Student Senate sessions

• budget records

• subject files

• news clippings

• optical disks containing digital files

Arrangement

The collection contains 13 series, each series arranged as a records group based on creator and type and/or function of the document. The series are arranged per the office responsible for generating the records. Each distinct series is numbered beginning with Box 1. Within each series box, materials are arranged in ascending chronological order.

Series

• Series 1: Student Government Executive Board records • Series 2: Student Government Constitution and Code of Governance records • Series 3: Student Government budget records • Series 4: Student Government campaign and election records • Series 5: Student Government memoranda and correspondence • Series 6: Student Government subject files • Series 7: Student Government news clippings • Series 8: Student Senate bills and resolutions • Series 9: Student Senate minutes, agendas, journals, and speeches • Series 10: Student Senate resource binders • Series 11: Student Court records • Series 12: Reports pertaining to issues of interest to Student Government • Series 13: Digital files

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• College students
• George Mason University. Athletic Department
• George Mason University. Board of Visitors
• George Mason University. University Police
• Merten, Alan G.
• Universities and colleges -- Administration