Signature Program #1: Homecoming events
During the fall semester, our SGA dedicates and entire week to homecoming. Our Special Events Programming Committee spends a lot of time planning events to last throughout the week. The week kicks off with an all campus service project which benefits several people and places throughout the Butler community. THe week continues wtih events such as battles of the bands, campus "cheerleading" competitions, midnight snack, all campus cookouts, a senior social and commences wtih a parade and football game. Homecoming week is one of, if not the most anticipated week on Butlers campus. Students join together for several reasons, and it gives all housing units and organizations a chance to get to know one another. Each homecoming king/ queen candidate is required to make an appearance at each event. Also, housing units receive points for participating in the events and one unit is declared winner at the end of the week. Another unique thing to Butler's homecoming includes "Lawn Decs". The Greek houses are paired with one another and residence halls, each pairing has a certain budget and theme, and they spend a night decorating their houses, and lawns. This is a great way to show Butler spirit, and driving down the street to see everything decorated is a very exciting experience!

Signature Program #2: Saferide program
About 2 or 3 miles off the Butler campus is an area known as Broadripple. Broadripple is probably the most popular 0ff- campus gathering place for students. There are several bars, and resteraunts which students like to attend. On Friday, and Saturday evenings, SGA pays for a limosine service to shuttle students from Butler to Broadripple. The limo picks students up from Butler every hour on the hour, and picks them up in Broadripple every hour on the half hour. This provides our students with a safer alternative than driving to Broadripple. This service starts running from the Butler campus at 11pm, and the last trip leaves Broadripple at 3:30am, giving students plenty of time to hang out at the bars, and return home safely. In addition to this shuttle service, we provide the shuttle at other events also. These events include during Senior week, when socials occur at bars, and have also provided a shuttle to the airport during Spring Break.

Signature Program #3: Campus traditions
The most well known and most anticipated Butler Events is Spring SPorts Spectacular. Spring Sports is an all campus philanthropy event in which proceeds benefit the Special Olympics. All students are invited to participate in events from euchre, to shuffleboard, to basketball. It provides a chance for friendly competition for both athletic and not so athletic students! Spring Sports begins raising money in the fall with Octoberfest. Students gather for an all campus cook out and typically a band to raise money, and increase campus unity. The actual event occurs during February, and events start with a picnic with children from the Special Olympics. The children then participate in a game with some students, and the competition begins at 8pm and runs until 8am.

Signature Program #1: Safe-ride program
Student Government's premier program, SafeRide, is a program that allows students to call a cab and get a free ride home if they are not able to drive due to various reasons or just find themselves in an unsafe situation. Students across campus know and understand the importance of this program. At the beginning of the year and throughout, SGA informs students of the services available to them by SafeRide. Students are encouraged to sign up for a card, which allows them to take advantage of the program. SafeRide is well known and respected by the faculty, administration, and even the Board of Trustees. Many schools have issues enacting such a program due to the liabilities involved, but our entire university supports SGA. At this time, SGA is absorbing all expenses for the program, with the help of an annual contribution from Budweiser. The program has grown significantly since its infancy; at about $35,000 per year, it has not yet severely impacted our budget, however, there will come a time when this will be a very expensive venture. The SGA President has been working closely with the Assistant Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at the university. The goal is to set up an endowment that will eventually sustain all costs of the program. We have been gathering data as to when and where the activities occur, and will seek out those establishments for support. Other prospects such as Budweiser and alumni have been identified. "The SafeRide program has most likely saved lives, but at the very least, it has saved countless careers. We need to do all we can to ensure the financial longevity of the program, securing a named-endowment can help to accomplish this," said Matt Collier, SGA President.

Signature Program #2: Homecoming events
As freshmen arrive on campus, they are greeted by an information overload. Classes, registration, orientation and the sheer frustration of taking a giant leap from the comfort of home all cause for a lot of stress. As part of the orientation weekend, Student Government plans a great deal of activities to relieve some of the burden. Blast-off is an event that brings together all areas of campus life, and showcases the opportunities to get involved at Embry-Riddle. Greeks, clubs and organizations, and various departments within student life all come out to the university field house for an evening of fun and games. On the day before class starts, SGA hosts Afterburn, which is complimentary to the Blast-Off event. This is an event that showcases the Student Government Association; we have a BBQ, blow up games and other fun toys like a flight simulator. Touch-N-Go, the campus programming division of SGA, plans and executes one of the most well-known events each year, the Tom DeLuca hypnotist show. Faculty, staff, administration and students flock to our field house for one of the most exciting shows of the year. By the time orientation weekend is over, Student Government has spent nearly $10,000 to greet the freshmen and welcome the returnees. Also, Student Government plays a major role in the annual execution of the University's homecoming events. We sponsor a major act such as Sugar Ray, SR-71 or the Beach Boys to be the anchor of the weekend activities. Annually, SGA budgets between $50,000 to $75,000 towards homecoming events in general.

Signature Program #3: Campus traditions
Task Force One was developed in an attempt to accommodate the first-year student's overwhelming interest in Student Government. This is an executive council that will report directly to the SGA President, and be responsible for advising the SGA President on a variety of issues, planning and helping out with events, coming up with new ideas, and offering support for the day-to-day issues that Student Government deals with. Soon after it's inception, the Chancellor sent a directive to the Dean of Students to create a program known as the "four-year experience." The idea is to create four individual class councils in which each class can participate in projects and activities, and be advised by a department within Student Life. Student Government took an active role by helping to further develop the program and volunteering to interface Task Force One into the concept to serve as the Freshman Class Council, wish SGA advisement. "Student Government seemed like a natural choice to advise the freshman group because we can expose them to the various leadership and involvement opportunities across campus, and also, this is an excellent way for freshman to understand SGA and inspire them to run next year as Representatives," said Kurt Ford, SGA Vice President. With the guidance of the SGA President, this initial group of freshman is serving as the steering committee, spearheading the effort to create the structure and bylaws of their council. They are also taking an active role in campus programming. Besides planning a luau, TFO hosted the first organized game of capture the flag, undoubtedly one of the most successful recreational programs with over 70 people taking part! This will be a great way for Student Government to recruit manpower, brainpower, creativity, ingenuity and a plethora of other characteristics that can never come in too much abundance.

1. Safe-ride program

Every FSC student knows about our safe ride program. Safe Ride provides transportation for students who find themselves in situations where it is unsafe to drive back to campus from anywhere in the city limits. It's safe, it's free to students (excluding tip) and it's anonymous.


2. SG newsletter/publication

Our USA Today Readership Program isn't an SG newsletter or publication, but it is our second most popular program. In September 2003, the Student Government started sponsoring the USA Today Readership Program at FSC. The program provides FSC students with free copies of the USA Today and the Lakeland Ledger Monday through Friday while school is in session.


3. Homecoming events

Beginning this year, SGA will sponsor a huge student event to help the students participate in our college's homecoming week. This year, we have planned a big carnival equiped with cotton candy, attractions, music, and food. There will be fireworks and games too! We are very excited to have been asked to take part in such an exciting week as it will also be the Inaugural week for our new President.

Signature Program #1:
Our Student Government owns and opperates a Shuttle Bus that runs on a regular basis to the mall, movie theater, local bars and resturants, etc. The bus opperates 40 plus hours a week and also takes students to the airport during holiday and break periods. It is all free of cost to the students, since it is incorporated in the Student Activity Fee.

Signature Program #2:
Student Government runs all the events associated with the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. The events vary from year to year, but past events have included a Homcoming dance, and concerts.

Signature Program #3:
Student Government monitors an online message board that includes a ride board, book swap, and areas for general discussion, polls, and feedback. It is open to any student, and has provided an increased method of communication with students.

1. Campus traditions
Annual Got Wood Festival The Annaul Got Wood Festival is a welcome night for incoming students as well as continuing students. Present as this event is a live band, free food, and music. In addition to entertainment, this event provides students a chance to preview all the clubs and organizations on campus. Each club and organization is given a booth for promoting their respective club or organization.

2. Homecoming events
Tricycle and Raft Race During Homecoming week, there is a tricycle race in which students form teams and compete. The race path is in front a central location on campus. In addition, there are obstacles along the path in which can impede racers. Faculty and administration attend the event. Winners receive prizes and awards. During Homecoming week, there is a raft race in one of the shcool's ponds. Students form teams and must create a raft from a $50 dollar budget. The rafts must be composed of materials that were not originally designed for flotation. Winners receive prizes and awards.

1. Homecoming events
For years we have had a well planned Homecoming week. The most recent one was the first century birthday. The event was mainly planned a little more towards returning alumni. There were however events planned for students as well. The quality of the events are somewhat irrelevant, the level of planning that was put into the event was exceptional.

2. Leadership courses
Every year there is an SGA leadership retreat. There are quality lectures given on effective leadership. There are also activities to show what kind of leader you are and to build teams. There are oriented towards SGA members, however, everyone else on campus is invited, and there are usually extra people who come.

Homecoming events
SGA works a lot on homecoming. We design the shirt that is given out, pass out the shirts, and also do all of the leg work with the court.

Source: SG Signature Programs Smart Form submitted by 16-17 SGA President, Vanessa Espinoza, on 1/17/17

Campus traditions
The activities fair is held anaully in the first week of the fall semester. The activites fair is an opportunity for students, especially first years, to get a taste for the types of clubs there are on campus. The event takes place on the main walk way of the school around lunch time so students see the event taking place as they walk by. Each club has a table and students walking by can sign up to be a apart of the club or just talk to current members of the club. This event does a good job of building a sense of community on campus and getting first year students involved in campus life.

Homecoming events
For homecoming we have a court comprised of seniors from different organizations. Sports teams, Greek organizations, and clubs can nominate someone by raising $200. The week before the homecoming football game the whole campus can vote for the king and queen. At half time of the football game the winners of the campus wide vote are crowned and so are the fundraising king and queen.

Campus block parties
Every May the student government holds a May Day concert. We book a band or dj and have a student group be the open act. this event is a lot of fun and brings the student body together for one last thing before finals start.

Source: SG Signature Programs Smart Form submitted by 16-17 Social Chair, Rachel Weil, on 6/26/16

1. Homecoming Events
SGA generally cosponsors events with organizations during homecoming, in an effort to subsidize the costs.

2. Campus Block Parties
We work with Student Activities Board to provide a block party for the students in the spring semester.