The Virginian

During the Tuesday April 21st Senate meeting the Student Senate listened to a presentation regarding the Virginian. The presentation was made by former Vice President Stephen Lee who along with his committee worked on this issue during the past Senate session. The Student Finance Committee during the budget allocation process voted to include into the SGA budget a blank line item of 20,000. This was done in an effort to give the Senate a option as to whether they wanted to continue with the USA Today Readership Program or proceed into a contract to produce The Virginian (yearbook). The Senate voted to include into the budget for the 2009-2010 school year 20,000 to fund the Virginian yearbook. The funding of the Virginian signaled the end of the USA Today College Readership Program that began during year two of the Philip Burns administration. There was no way financially that the SGA could fund both the Virginian and Readership Program.


The Virginian making its way back to campus is very exciting for the University. The Virginian has been apart of University life for many years and it is wonderful to be able to bring back a wonderful LU tradition. For the first couple of publications the Virginian will be housed as an entity of the Student Government Association. The Virginian staff will be led by Chief Editor Kae Poe and will receive direct supervision from Vice President Van Daniker and myself.


There are some students that are against the funding of the Virginian and they raise perfectly valid points. I strongly encourage these students to lobby your SGA Senate during the next school year and voice your frustrations. We do listen and we will take your concerns into consideration as we proceed with the next budget allocation process for the 2010-2011 school year. I will say that the 67th session of the Student Senate spoke very clearly when they voted to bring the Virginian back. The 2009-2010 Executive Board will honor there wishes and proceed with the publication of the Virginian. As a Student Government we will throw our full support behind the Virginian and provide assistance to the staff as they go about putting the book together. It is our hope and goal along with the Virginian staff to make this yearbook something that Longwood and its students can be proud of.


Kind Regards,


Cam Patterson
President, Student Government Association