Representing You

The VBA has a history of undertaking major advocacy projects on behalf of students. Here are some of our most recent endeavors:

Established clearer rules governing the misappropriation of student organization funds.
Lobbied the administration to increase free printing from 400 to 800 pages a year.
Began a tradition of providing "Night Owl" breakfasts each semester at the beginning of finals.
Supplemented groups' Blackacre budgets as a response to student input on Blackacre.
Lobbied for, and achieved, a second fridge in the law school cafe.
In response to student responses to a survey, we lobbied for and achieved the following regarding the VULS Cafe:
- Availability of Commodore Card usage for purchases;
- Plugs for computers along the wall bordering the courtyard;
- and a new and improved menu with daily lunch specials and new menu items that students expressed an interest in.
Got the university and the city to agree to install bollards (posts) on the crosswalk leading from the law school to the parking lot to make more cars slow down and protect our students as they cross the street
Implemented a new, considered, and measured budgetary policy that combats dormant surpluses and waste of student funds. While we initially allocated fewer funds for student group events, we budgeted more funds than ever before and have allocated over $25,000 for events that enrich and improve our community and our intellectual environment.
Assured more transparency by passing a new minute-recording by-law that allows for more complete and detailed accounts of meetings and publicity of their availability.
Worked with the faculty deans to make Blackacre a meeting place not just for students, but for professors-- reviving the past tradition.
Implemented a greener policy for publicity of student events by encouraging the use of our email newsletter, emails to constituent member lists, and TV monitor advertising to publicize events and projects. The policy has cut down on the amount of paper in student mailboxes and in the law school.
Worked to have more food at Blackacre through creative budgeting and higher funding levels.
Expanded the membership of the budget committee to include more 1L representatives in an effort to extend the institutional memory and experience of the VBA for future budget committees.
Augmented and filled the Outline Bank with three times more outlines with class competitions and a solicitation campaign.
Provided a student-run Textbook Exchange on the VBA website.
Provided and publicized the opportunity of ABA membership to our students in this difficult economic time; as a result, we achieved the highest increase in ABA membership among ABA 5th Circuit law schools in the Fall of 2008.
During the Spring 2008 semester, the VBA launched its new website to allow it to more effectively and powerfully represent and serve the student body.
Worked with the administration to adjust the graduation ceremony and bring back the hooding ceremony to make it as meaningful as possible for graduating third-years.

The VBA is always looking for ways to improve areas of VULS that students care about. In that regard, please do not hesitate to send us your ideas or opinions by using the Suggestion Box (in the left-hand navigation menu) or the Contact Us form (also in the left-hand navigation menu).