More outreach to students is at the top of the Student Union's agenda this year, members of the Executive Board said.One way to accomplish this is Student Union President Shreeya Sinha's '09 creation of the new position of Director of Union Affairs to better communicate with students.

"The Union hasn't been very connected with the students in the past," Sinha said.

Jason Gray '10, the appointee to the position, agreed.

"For too long, the Student Union has done its job on the third floor of the Shapiro Campus Center and not been responsive to what students want and not told students what they've done," he said. "My goal this year is to break that divide."

He explained that Union officials will attend club and hall meetings to present their projects and get feedback from students.

"No one ever came around to my hall and said, 'This is how you can get involved," Gray said. "I plan on, in the next three weeks, knocking on every freshman's door."

He added that Union officials intend to organize "issue-oriented town halls" this year focused on topics such as dining or the Health Center.

The Hiatt Career Center is another subject Student Union officials have identified as a large student concern.

"The Student Union is going to be working a lot to help the Hiatt Career Center fix itself," Gray said, citing frequent student complaints about the Center's effectiveness. "With the recent appointment of Joseph DuPont as the Center's new director," Gray added, "there's a lot of momentum."

Sinha explained that the Union would further outline its goals during its yearly retreat after the fall elections.

Gray said that although it often takes a long time to get things done, this summer was very promising for the rest of the year.