Student Government records

Collection

Identifier: 04.SG

Staff Only

Scope and Contents Note

The Student Government records contain meeting minutes, administrative files, and newspaper clippings from the Student Government at Eastern Michigan University. Records span from 1923, when Eastern Michigan University was known as Michigan State Normal College, until 2011.

Content in the Administrative Files series series include budget information, constitutions and bylaws, elections, handbooks and manuals. The Governing Bodies series contains Board of Regents, Business and Finance Committee, First Year Council, House of Representatives and Presidential Search Advisory Committee. The Minutes and Resolutions series contains meeting minutes of student government from 1967-1993, and irregular documentation between 1997-2011. The Press and Communications series consists of newspaper clippings from 1923 until 2011. With a gap in the record between 2003-2005. This series also contains publications from 2005-2006, and fliers. The Rules and Regulations series contains Rules of the House of Representatives, Rules of the Senate, Rules of the Student Government Council, Student Body Constitution, Student Government Code of Ethics, and Student Government Handbook.

Dates

Creation: 1928 - 2011

Creator

Michigan State Normal College (Organization)
Eastern Michigan University (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.

Historical Note

In 1913, Michigan State Normal College President Charles McKenny brought together the Student Body President and presidents of the largest student organizations, along with students elected by the Student Body to create Student Council. The goal of the new council was to represent the student body to the College Administration.

In 1950, the a student run court system was added to the responsibilities of Student Council. This court system eventually became Student Judicial Services. Starting in the 1950s, with the addition of the Student Courts, Student Council was comprised of an executive board, a legislative representative body, and a judicial system. From 1950 to the 1970s, Student Government operated under the same Student Body Constitution, which established the structure of Student Government but also provided the student body of the University with guaranteed rights.

Between 1970 and 1990 Student Council was renamed Student Senate. Starting in 2001, Student Government was being governed with two legislative bodies (at large elected Student Senate and the House of Representatives comprised of student organization delegates), and an independent executive and judicial branches.

Extent

19.8 Linear Feet (6 record center cartons, 2 archive boxes, 1 oversize folder, 27 objects)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Student Government records document the activities of Student Government at Eastern Michigan University. The collection is arranged into seven series: Administrative Files, Governing Bodies, Minutes and Resolutions, Press and Communications, Rules and Regulations, Visual Materials and Memorabilia. Materials are arranged alphabetically and chronologically and include meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, administrative files, resolutions, constitutions and bylaws. The collection is almost a complete record of the activities of Student Government, however, there are no meeting minutes prior to 1967, and there are only two handbooks in the collection for the academic years of 2004-2005 and 2008-2009.