Courtesy GW Hatchet In June 1976 The Hatchet runs a front page story about the ratification of the Student Association.

On April 8, 1976, 85 percent of the student body voted for the establishment of the new Student Association. Six years before, student government had been abolished by Student Council President Neil Portnow, advocating the establishment of an All-University Assembly including faculty, students and administrators. Portnow¹s plan won student approval, but faculty members nixed the idea.

Although many students in 1970 felt that student government was impotent and had little influence, by 1976 it was clear that the student body lacked a united voice in communication with the administration. With the defeat of the All-University Assembly plan, the administration and trustees entertained the notion of a reorganization of student government.

By a vote of 1,343 to 241, the Student Association Constitution was given a resounding student endorsement. A legislative body composed of representatives elected from each college of the University was established. Four at-large seats were intended for representation of commuter, part-time and night students. In addition, a president and a cabinet would be elected from among the student body.

GW student Rick Miller commented in The Hatchet on the passage of the Constitution, "It¹s providing the students a voice in the University ­ a voice that has been sorely lacking."

The first student elections were held in October 1976, with each successive administration elected in February. Despite minor changes, the framework of student government established in 1976 has formed the foundation for the Student Association of today. ­Andrew Novak