You may be surprised to know that Association of Student Representatives has not always been the Association of Student Representatives…then again, maybe not.  Anyhow, the Association of Student Representatives originally started as two separate groups, Student Association and the Association of Residential Hall Students, which combined forces in 1995 to form ASR.  The Student Association was founded in 1922, although there was probably another form of student government preceding that. 

Through the twenties and into the fifties, the Student Association was responsible for organizing campus events, as TAC does now. Not much else is documented.

 In the fifties, the Student Association took on a more governmental structure, and managed issues such as hazing, both inside and outside of the Greek system. 

During the 1960’s, Trinity University’s Student Association was influenced by the trend of politically active youth throughout the country, and an active year of student political movements resulted.  TUVAC and the Student Activities Board (now TAC) separated from the Student Association.  The compulsory ROTC program was abolished.  The biggest event of SA during the 60’s, however, was the creation of the Joint Statement of Rights and Freedoms of Students.  This policy is currently in the process of being updated by ASR.

The seventies were pretty slow due to the anti-government attitude of the country during that decade, as well as the interim of presidency in the University.  The Student Association consisted of only five senators and a president who resigned in the face of a senate no confidence vote.  This president was replaced by the chair.  As a response to the lack of organization and student leadership in SA, the Association of Residential Hall Students formed during this period, replacing the previously segregated Men’s and Women’s Dorm Councils.  During the late seventies, the position of the president returned, both in SA and at Trinity University.  This era consisted of better relationships with the administration and more activism on campus, despite SA’s 1% allocation of the student activities fund.  It was during this period that UTSA officially opened their doors, causing Trinity, under Calgaard, to focus on becoming small undergraduate liberal arts and science university, with a residential lifestyle.  The quality of the student body and faculty improved during this time, and TU gained national recognition.  It was also during the seventies that SA implemented course evaluations that we still see at the end of every semester at Trinity. 

During the eighties, the Trinity University Student Association moved to dealing with issues that more directly affected students.  They worked with ARHS, Greek Councils, student publications, TUVAC, music organizations, performance groups, and even intramural programs.  In 1984-1985, the Gay Support Group formed, but was denied recognition as a student organization, initiating student and faculty protests.  This group was eventually given official recognition under the Gay and Lesbian Interest Group, and is now present on campus as the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Straight Alliance (LGBSA).  Alcohol awareness became an issue during the eighties, and a shuttle, sponsored by the Student Association, ran students to and from parties during this decade, until the drinking age was changed to twenty one.  After this change, usage waned and drivers became more and more difficult to find.  A proposition for wet halls took effect in August of 1986.  However, neither the sale nor the advertisement of alcohol was permitted on campus until March of 1987 when a student bar was opened.  During the eighties there was a heated debate between students and administration concerning major papers and/or examinations and reading days, which led, ultimately, to the course evaluation forms that were instituted in the late nineties.  SA began looking into instituting Gender/Women’s Studies at the university.  In 84-85 the judicial system was reviewed and restructured, and ARHS and Student Association joined forces.  A newsletter was proposed in an effort to promote campus community.  1984 started the office hours that every ASR member was more than happy to get rid off in the past 2002 year.  SA began work with the bookstore in 1984 to allow students to use their Validines to purchase books.  This process was completed in 1999.  In The late 80’s, SA negotiated the three tier system of student organizations wherein TUVAC and TAC remained their own groups, but worked together with the Student Association and ARHS.  An attempt to combine SA and ARHS failed for the eighth or ninth time.  SA lobbied for renovations in Coates and on the south IM fields, which were completed by the administration.  In 1985-1986, the student body protested the lost squatter privileges to the “best dorms on campus” when the Calvert, Miller, Winn, and Witt were converted into the Freshman Quad.  In this same year, SA started a group called SPUD, Students Participating in University Decisions, in an effort to gain input from an apathetic (yes, even then) student body.  86 and 87 brought about a new structure, and the allocation of student activity fee was increased.  January 1989 saw the opening of Prassel parking garage, as well as the abolition of payment to the SA officers.  This year also started the project of gaining a phone system for residential halls.  The tradition of Sperm and Ova at the Tigerfest was abolished, as was the fundraising of student organizations.  It was also during this year that the Women’s Minor was adopted. 

The 90’s started off with students protesting the end of the Division I Tennis Program.  SA debated a resolution opposing the Gulf War because the student body felt that SA had overstepped boundaries with off campus issues.  The allocation of the Student Activities Fee dropped from 5% to 4% as a “punishment” for defiant disregard of the administration’s prohibition of the publishing of “The Register.”  90-91 started the requirement that all students live on campus for the first three years.  This requirement was passed onto 91-92 with only slight objection from the student body.  In 1992-1993, the coffeehouse was opened.  SA lobbied for halls to stay open in Spring Break, as well as the right of students to have a representative at the Committee of the Board of Trustees’ Meetings.  STD awareness was an important issue with the Student Association, who promoted distribution of condoms on campus.

The other half of the Student Association, the Association of Residence Hall Students, has no documentation before the 90’s, although it appears to have been very active during this time period.  In 1993-1996 a campus watch program was instituted, as was recycling.  ARHS headed up Primal Scream as well as the Chili Cook-off, Midnight Breakfast, a Holiday Decorating Contest, and storage.  Microwaves, vacuum cleaners, washers and dryers, and cable television were lobbied and brought about by ARHS.  ARHS was also in charge of security and, as a result, lobbied for increasing the lighting and installing safety phones across campus.  On August 31, 1995, it was proposed that bars be placed on Beze’s storage windows, proving that Beze’s reputation as “the ghetto” is long standing.  ARHS additionally worked on such things as campus spirit and parking, problems that continue to plague Trinity University.  Issues begun by ARHS are still seen today, such as the recognition of Martin Luther King Day as a school holiday, the ownership of a victory bell, improved hours at the Grill in Coates, bench swings on campus, lights on the volleyball courts and tennis courts, self defense classes, and more vegetarian options at Mabee and Coates. 

ASR, officially named so in 1996, is responsible for tradition of Thanksgiving dinner with students, faculty, and administration, which began in 1999.  The project of allowing students to make purchases in the bookstore using their Validines was also completed in 1999.  Swipe card access, ten cents per minute phone rates, online registration, student involvement with curriculum changes, increased programming and visibility for the Tigers Den, creation of campus ministry center, increased parking, and campus intranet are all projects in which ASR participated during the 99-00 school year. 

Many issues are being dealt with this year, such as parking, printing, honor policy, Aramark, residential life, and the rights of students. 

Check out the rest of our website for updates, and feel free to come to any of our meetings or email us with your opinion.  We are working for you.