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University of Arkansas Associated Student Government Records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MC 532

Scope and Content Note

Materials consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, financial materials, and general materials.

Dates

  • 1974-1983

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

Restrictions Apply: All materials in Box 13 are restricted and not available for research use.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Historical Note

The first pivotal steps toward student government were led by James E. Rutherford, who was a senior in the 1921-22 academic year. Along with fellow students Clyde F. Gay and Ray E. Williams, Rutherford gained support from President Futrall to establish the Associated Students. In October 1921, President Futrall announced that a plan for student government would be drawn up and appointed English professor J. C. Jordan to be the leading faculty member for the organization. On May 29, 1922, a meeting was held where approximately 250 students voted, and the Constitution of Associated Students was accepted, establishing the first student government on campus. The first president of the Associated Students was Edwin D. Parrish, who began his term of office in September of 1922. While establishing a student government was a big step at the time, the constitution and the powers of the Associated Students were very mild. Several old and rigorous disciplinary standards were changed (a main complaint of students calling for student government), but the majority of the power given to the Associated Students was over freshmen hazing. The constitution put down certain hazing traditions as “law,” such as forbidding freshman to walk on the Senior Walk and requiring freshmen to wear green caps either until Thanksgiving or Christmas. Any form of harsh or violent hazing was banned.

In April of 1948, the student government was revitalized. A new constitution was drawn up and approved by both student vote and the University Senate. This constitution fully established the student government at the University of Arkansas and declared that the student government would be comprised of three branches: judicial, executive, and legislative. In May of 1948, the first annual elections under the new constitution were held, ushering in a new era for the student government.

From its earliest days, Associated Student Government (ASG) has been led by students who went on to be influential and accomplish important things. Notable ASG presidents have included J. William Fulbright (1923-1924), U of A president and founder of the Fulbright Program; George Cole (1927-1928), head football coach at U of A and inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame; Sidney S. McMath (1935-1936), thirty-fourth Governor of Arkansas; Jimmie Lee Howell (1936-1937), star football player and head coach for New York Giants; Harold Lloyd (1942-1943), who died in battle in WWII and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; Ray Thornton (1955-1956), U of A president from 1984-1990; B. Alan Sugg (1959-1960), U of A president from 1990-2011; Ralph Brodie (1962-1963), Co-Author of “Central in Our Lives” which details what it was like to be a high school student at Central High during the Little Rock Nine event; David M. “Mac” Glover (1965-1966), who was appointed to be a judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals; and Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty III (1967-1968), who was the White House Chief of Staff for US President Bill Clinton.

This collection spans from 1974-1983. The ASG presidents during this time period were Rick Campbell (1973-74), Jerry Lawson (1974-75), Liz McAthany (1975-1976), Ed Lynch (1976-1977), David Smith (1977-1978), Mark Kinion (1978-1979), Rick Reeves (1979-1980), Steve Von Steen (1980-1981), Tom DeMont (1981-1982), and Dyke Morris (1982-1983).

Several important events occurred in ASG during this time period. In 1975, the student government worked toward several initiatives, including establishing a student book-loan fund to provide students with money for textbooks, ensuring the access to affordable healthcare for students, and beginning a program for faculty and course evaluations. Starting in 1978 and continuing on for several years, ASG dealt with sporting event ticketing. The University had proposed an additional fee that would be included in each student’s tuition that would provide free tickets for every sporting event. However, there was a large outcry of students that resented having to pay a fee for sporting events that they felt they would not attend. A compromise was drawn up involving students being given the ability to buy “season pass tickets” rather than the fee being mandatory. However, poor implementation of the idea led to a lot of negative emotions towards the student government. There were many complaints from students during this time period that the student government was ineffective and not representative of the student body. This lack of faith and desire for change in the student government was compounded in 1980 when the elected student president overspent on the summer budget, bringing ASG and himself into high scrutiny. Other issues ASG dealt with during these years included the need for athletic facilities for intermural and recreation sports, parking complaints, tuition raises, budget cuts, and how to distribute limited funds to the array of Registered Student Organizations.

Extent

6.25 Linear Feet (13 boxes)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are grouped as follows: ASG Official Materials (box 1); Committees, Boards and Councils (boxes 1-4); Reports (box 4); Financial Materials (boxes 4-8); Registered Student Organizations Funded by ASG (boxes 8-11); and General Materials (boxes 11-12). Files within each group are arranged alphabetically.

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated to the Special Collections Department, University of Arkansas Libraries in 1985 by the Associated Student Government through Sarah Hicks.

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Allen and Janelle Pacheco; completed in April 2013

Title
University of Arkansas Associated Student Government Records
Status
Completed
Author
Amy Allen and Janelle Pacheco
Date
2013
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444