Funding student groups to attend off-campus events, urging students to attend an ‘Event of the Week,’ and informing the student body of Union achievements and projects are the goals of Real, one of three slates running for the Student Union Executive Board.

Slate members said last night one of their main focuses if elected will be to increase student involvement in the Union and in campus events. They also want to expand Fall Welcome — an event-filled program which occurs the first month of the academic year — to a year-long event.

Laurie Steinberg, Real’s candidate for vice president of public relations, said a weekly newsletter would be sent to all student groups. The newsletter would give a summary of the Union’s meeting, a preview of the upcoming meeting, details of campus events and name an “Event of the Week.” This, slate members said, would strengthen the relationship between students and the Union, a problem that plagued previous E-boards.

“In order to build relationships, you need to form a community; and in order to form a community, you need to be involved,” Steinberg said. “I don’t think student apathy is a problem. Students just don’t know.”

A’lynne Green, the vice president of safety services candidate, said the newsletter would also include a safety tip, ranging from safe-sex awareness to drugs to walking safety.

Vice President for Student Affairs candidate Greg Chrisholm said providing buses next year for students wishing to attend BU sports team’s away games would increase school spirit and involvement.

“How possible and amazing would it be to have a busload of students there?” Chrisholm asked.

Providing more funding for groups attending off-campus events is crucial to supporting the students, according to Caroline Preis, the Real candidate for Vice President of Financial Affairs. Groups such as Mock Trial, the Debate Society and other groups which must travel to compete would benefit.

Eric Weiskotten said as a member of the 1019 Residence Hall Association, he experienced the problems of disunity between the different governing bodies on campus. He, Real’s candidate for vice president of residence life, and the other slate members promised to attend other college government and RHA meetings at least once a month next year, if elected.

Marshalee Ducille, the current E-board vice president who is running with Real as a candidate for the same spot, said although governing bodies experience problems, she remains active because of its rewards. This year, three members of her E-board resigned within a month.

“I wanted to resign so many times, but when it comes down to it, I am not a politician,” Ducille said. “The possibility of helping someone is worthwhile.”

Although she couldn’t promise resignations wouldn’t occur next year, she said this slate’s ideas are more concrete and realistic, and the members are “on the same page.”

Ducille also cited a student group called STAR, Students Together Against Racism, as an example of how the Union can assist students with problems. She said students shouldn’t feel the need to start a group against something like racism if those students experienced problems with it. Instead, she suggested the Union should investigate those problems.

Zachary Coseglia, the slate’s candidate for vice president of Academic Affairs, said he wants to protect students from plagiarism charges by making it mandatory for the plagiarism policy be included on all paper assignments distributed by all classes.

“I want it to be required so we are protecting the students,” Coseglia said. “The students need to be protected.”