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SGA president welcomes students to MUSC by Lee Brown Taylor III, President MUSC Student Government Association On behalf of your Student Government Association, it is my pleasure to welcome you to MUSC, whether you are a returning student or beginning your first year. We come from a variety of backgrounds and seek varying degrees of education, but it is my hope that we stand together in our quest to make the most of our opportunities at the university. The faculty and deans are responsible for the tedious task of fully equipping you for your future profession, while SGA exists to complement that experience and make life more interesting. Unfortunately, most of the undergraduate rumors are true. The rigors of the classroom are indeed difficult, and your sanity may depend upon taking necessary breaks and spending valuable time away from your books. Part of SGA's mission is to provide means for students to come together in an environment that is less academic. From the St. Luke's concert series, RiverDogs' games, Lowcountry kayaking trips, happy hours, Oktoberfest, Halloween Horror Cruise, oyster roast, winetasting and a five-sport intramural program, to the 54th annual spring celebration of Alhambra, we are constantly striving to enhance your time here in Charleston. These events are also great ways to meet students from other colleges. I strongly encourage you to bookmark our Web site, http://www.musc.edu/sga, and plan in advance to take advantage of these opportunities. In addition to offering numerous social and cultural outlets, the Student Government Association serves to represent the interests of the students at MUSC. SGA is a 47-member body comprised of elected representatives from each of the colleges. SGA plays the part of official student advocate to those who make decisions affecting the direction of your education. Your SGA representative(s) should make a sincere effort to ensure that your voice is heard. As concerns about your MUSC experience arise, take action and contact your SGA representative or e-mail us at sga@musc.edu. Voicing our opinions is the only vehicle we have for implementing change, and I welcome you to take part in making MUSC a better place. I urge you to take an interest in your classmates and your education and run for representative of your class when elections are held. Whatever you do, get involved at some level. Volunteer through MUSC Gives Back. Play intramurals. Give blood. Organize a fundraiser. Please do not let your time and talents go to waste while you focus on perfecting your GPA. With the groundbreaking for the new hospital slated for spring of 2004, the state budget cuts, and the ongoing/impending renovations to various buildings all over campus, there is no disputing that we are in times of great and exciting changes here at MUSC. I look forward to serving you as we face these challenges together.         Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.