Student Government Association records.

The Student Council was created in 1921 as a vehicle for student participation in University affairs. It originally comprised the officers of the senior and junior classes and the members of the Student Activities Committee, also created in 1921. According to the 1921-1922 Catalog of the School of Engineering, the Council “has jurisdiction over all student matters, as customs, privileges, or such other matters which can be appropriately decided on by such a body.”

Responding to the demands of the student body in the 1960s, the Council became more active as a mediating body in relations between the students and the University administration. The Council was involved in student movements to implement draft resistance counseling, disseminate abortion and birth control information, and establish gay and women's liberation programs on campus. In the late 1960s, the Council was involved in planning and executing “experimental college” programs held across campus. These were day-long seminars run by faculty, staff, and students on topics of general interest, including Marxist philosophy, civil rights, and the conflict in Southeast Asia. The Council also acted as a mediator between students and administrators during student protests over recruiting by the General Electric Corporation; controversial speakers, such as Samuel Ichnite (S. I.) Hayakawa and United States Attorney General John Mitchell; the Vietnam Conflict; and ROTC.

In 1973, the Council felt it had become mired in internal debate and was no longer functional. With the support of the Northeastern University administration, it dissolved and recreated itself as the Student Federation under a new constitution. The Federation continued the Council's work to bring the concerns of the student body to the attention of the administration and to improve the student experience at Northeastern. The Federation existed until 1981 when, after a prolonged period of discussion within the Federation and with Northeastern administrators, it became the Student Government Association.

During the 1980s, the Association continued the work of the Student Federation to create a campus-wide student evaluation process for teachers and classes. The evaluation process was initially called SCATE (Student Course and Teacher Evaluations), but after 1972 the name was changed to Teacher / Course Evaluations, and it is currently known as TRACE (Teacher Rating and Course Evaluation). In the late 1980s, the Association participated in an asbestos survey of University buildings. Through the 1990s, the Association carried on its asbestos investigation; supported the renovation and renaming of the Ell Student Center to the Curry Student Center; and helped guide the renovation of Matthews Arena. During the 2000s, the Association worked with students and administrators to bring new vendors to the Curry Student Center food court and to the International Village; to extend library, athletic facility, and dining commons hours; and to develop its website to be more responsive to student needs. The Association also supported the development of Gallery 360, an exhibit space for students, staff, faculty, alumni, special guests, and local emerging artists and worked to increase recycling facilities on campus.

The Association is comprised of five divisions: President, Executive, Senate, Committees, and Judiciary. In the spring of 2010, the Association restructured itself, creating an Executive Council with vice presidents for Student Affairs, Student Services, Student Involvement, and Academic Affairs and positions for a Comptroller, Chief of Staff, Executive Director of Communications, and Executive Vice President. As of 2010, there are 11 standing committees overseen by the executives of the Association and the Student Senate: Academic Affairs, Administration and Public Relations, Budget Review, Financial Affairs, Renewable Energy Initiatives, Nominations and Elections, Student Affairs, Student Affairs Board, Student Center, Student Services, and the University Health and Counseling Services Advisory Board.

1921

Student Council forms.

1960s

Student Council begins work on planned student evaluations of teachers and courses at Northeastern.

1967

Student Council, with co-operation from other student groups, plans and executes “experimental college” day programs.

1970

Students protest the planned appearance of S.I. (Samuel Ichiye) Hayakawa lead to cancellation of event.

1972

Name of faculty and course evaluation program changes to “Teacher / Course Evaluations.”

1971

Students protest the planned appearance on campus of United States Attorney General John Mitchell lead to cancellation of event.

1973

Name changes to Student Federation; takes more active role on campus with regard to issues including the ROTC presence at Northeastern, corporate recruiting, and the Vietnam Conflict.

1981

Name changes to Student Government Association.

1986

Begins investigation into possible presence of asbestos in University buildings.

1991

Assists with planned renovations to Matthews Arena.

1996

Supports move to rename student center after President John A. Curry.

2005

Rewrites election procedures to provide for direct election of the Association president by the student body.

2008

Supports creation of Gallery 360 as an exhibit space for students, staff, faculty, alumni, special guests, and local emerging artists.

2010

Works for new recycling initiatives on campus.

1960

Division A President: John Quinn; Vice-President: James Love Division B President: William Ryan; Vice-President: Donald Rubin

1961

Division A President: Wilfred Paul; Vice-President: James PaisleyDivision B: President: Thomas St. Germain; Vice-President: Bert Pedersen

1962

Division A President: Albert Krueger; Vice-President: Eugene Crepeau Division B President: Frank Trainer; Vice-President: Gary Orloff

1963

Division A President: Preston Bemis; Vice-President: Vincent Cortina Division B President: Robert L. Washburn; Vice-President: George DeVaux

1964

Division A President: Alan Caplan; Vice-President: William LaPointe Division B President: Carlton Stone; Vice-President: William D. Herrick

1965

Division A President: Paul F. Cowan; Vice-President: Frank Toffoloni Division B President: Barry D. Carver; Vice-President: Robert C. Baskin

1966

Division A President: Frank Toffoloni; Vice-President: Peter A. Previte Division B President: Robert C. Baskin; Vice-President: Stephen L. Brannan

1967

Division A President: Ann S. MacIntyre; Vice-President: Robert M. Bloom Division B President: Dexter J. Kamilewicz; Vice-President: LeRoy C. Wheelock

1968

Division A President: Vincent B. McLellan; Vice-President: Unknown Division B President: LeRoy C. Wheelock; Vice-President: Laurence Stanford

1969

Division A President: William A. Hunt; Vice-President: Judith Gillette Division B President: Laurence Stanford; Vice-President: Robert L. Weisman

1970

Division A President: Jeffrey Gren; Vice-President: John Hanson Division B President: Robert Weisman; Vice-President: Frank Gerry

1971

Division A President: John Hanson; Vice-President: George Smith Division B President: Frank Gerry; Vice-President: Michael Putnam

1972

Division A President: Christine Nielsen; Vice-President: Anne Sullivan Division B President: Michael Putnam; Vice-President: Vincent Lembo

1973

Division A President: Skip Hartwell; Vice-President: Olin Robie Division B President: Vincent Lembo; Vice-President: Donald Engelman

1974

Division B: President: Max Shulman

1975

Division A: President: Glenn D. Trinidade; Vice-President: Larry Babick

1976

Division A: President: Stephen M. Cidlevich; Vice-President: Odilin AmaralDivision B: President: Robert J. Cox / Val Elmore; Vice-President: Donna Holmes / Lisa Grallanardo

1977

Division A: President: Glenn Trinidade / Louis Rogers Vice-President: Louis Rogers / Martha Fox

1978

Division A: Executive Chair: Peter Stevens; Speaker: Robert Greenberg Division B: Executive Chair: Gregory M. Smith / JoAnne Varnadoe; Speaker: Blaise Stephanus / Gregory M. Smith

1979

President: Robert Greenberg

1980

President: Unknown

1981

Executive Chair: S. Ross Forster / Michael Shea; Speaker: Mark Ashley / Paul Caruso

1982

President: Paul Caruso

1983

President: Paul Caruso / Helen Fuchs?

1983-1984

President: Harriet Wall

1984-1985

President: Harriet Wall? / Brian Coventry / Matt Blodgett

1985-1986

President: Matt Blodgett; Vice-President: Ken Galer

1986

President: Anna Magliocco / Bradley Bertrand; Vice-President: Kym Richard

1986-1987

President: Darren Jones; Vice-President: Calvin Jones

1987-1988

President: Calvin Jones / Michael Shea

1988-1989

President: Peter Krause / Calvin Jones; Vice-President: Velia Carboni

1989-1990

President: Deborah Edwards / Sandra Major

1990-1991

President: Sandra L. Major

1991-1992

President: Jim Patterson; Vice-President: Mayur Gandhi

1992-1993

President: Joseph Dias

1993-1994

President: Katy Zeidler

1994-1995

President: Dan Bernal

1995-1996

President: Chris Schoeneberger

1996-1997

President: Laura Waters / Stacy Archfield

1997-1998

President: Stacy Archfield / Scott Simon

1998-1999

President: Scott Simon / Beth-Anne Dancause

2000

President: Kerryann Driscoll

2001-2002

President: Erin Dayharsh / Kerryann Driscoll

2002-2003

President: Richard Schwabacher

2003-2004

President: Michael Romano / Andres Vargas / Erin McFadzen / William Durkin

2004-2005

President: William Durkin / Ashley Adams / Michael Benson

2005-2006

President: William Durkin? / Michael Benson

2006-2007

President: Rogan O'Handley

2007-2008

President: Joseph Fiore

2008-2009

President: Robert Ranley

2009-2010

President: Ryan Fox