Associated Students is the name of the student-run undergraduate governing body. It was founded in 1926.

History

Founding and Constitutions

In 1926 a group of students led by Herbert Cassel asked the administration of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles for permission to organize. In the following months, they wrote a constitution creating the institute’s first “Student Association.” The following letter was included in the 1927 Biolan yearbook as a general description of the process and purpose of creating Biola’s student government:

While the Bible Institute has been doing a splendid work for many years in training young men and women in the service of our King, for home and foreign missionary work, there has not been much opportunity for student organizations and kindred activities. Feeling the need and realizing the advantage of student organization, permission was required and granted by those in authority to organize a Student Association to which all registered students of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles are to be admitted.

A Constitution was prepared and adopted during the Spring Term of 1926. The object of the Association, as set forth in the Constitution, is to foster the spirit of fellowship, to promote the interest and welfare of the students and to maintain a spirit of co-operation with the Institute in carrying out its aims.

Officers were elected by popular vote that spring, as every registered student was invited to take part. Although the government has expanded as the institute, college, and now university has grown, representing the voice of the students has always been a priority.

In 1949, as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles became Biola College, the Associated Student Council expanded to include the presidents of the School of Missionary Medicine and Talbot Theological Seminary.

Student Organizations Develop

By 1940, the student government had formed the “Student Executive Council” with twelve members consisting of the heads of Biola’s student organizations and publications. The president and first vice president of the Student Body Association, the Student Missionary Union, the Senior Class, the Biola Men, and the King’s Daughters, as well as the editor and associate editor of the Biolan composed the council. The Chimes personnel were included the following year. Their advisor was the Dean of the Institute, Dr. Kenneth Monroe. The council performed in an advisory capacity to the Institute and helped the administration collect student opinion.

Organization Names

By 1941, those involved in the student government felt the name was a bit outdated. Biola’s Student Body Association became the Associated Student Body, and over the years has become known simply as the Associated Students or AS.

Judiciary Committee

Around 1955 a judiciary committee emerged, although its exact origins are currently unknown. Two years later the offices of Court Supervisor and Social Director were added. The Student Court’s responsibility was to enforce the laws of the Student Government. In the 1960 edition of The Biolan, a student notes that “students appear before the Student Court for many offenses, among which are: parking violations, late lights violations, and others. While some students are found here frequently, there are many others who are never seen in Student Court throughout their entire college career.” By 1972 few students knew about the judicial board, and its main function was to interpret the constitution in cases of confusion or disagreement, and to administer the oath of office following each election.

Challenges of AS Communication

As the Associated Student Body sought to increase communications with other student organizations across campus, the position of Inter Club Council President was created and over the years developed into the Director of Campus Organizations and later the Club Director. During the mid- to late 1960s publicity continued to grow in importance as the student population increased. Likewise, communication with a rising number of students has been one of the enduring struggles of the student government.

New Constitution

In the following spring a new constitution was ratified placing a stronger emphasis on representing the opinions of students, as three Representatives at Large were elected by the student body. Also, to ensure a qualified office staff, the positions of Secretary and Business Manager were delegated to appointment by the president.

Presidents

The second president of the newly created Student Association was Ruth Farquharson in 1928, the first female to hold the office. Since then, at least two other woman served in this capacity, Carol Hulgus in 1985 and Jennifer Cowen in 1995. Additionally, an African American man, Apollo Gesa served during the school year of 1986–1987. Several AS Presidents have also become professors at Biola, including Todd Lewis (1970–1971) and Tim Stranske (1971–1972).

Social Events and School Spirit

Biola’s Student Body Association conducted meetings once a month to coordinate events. One of the earliest events recorded is Home Night, a social gathering every Friday night in which students played games and enjoyed music, then concluded the evening with a devotional message. Picnics at Griffith Park, a Biola Rally that promoted school spirit, and Open House, an early form of open hours that happened once or twice a year. The first mention of a student banquet and harbor cruise is mentioned in the 1947 Biolan.

The first Spring Banquet was organized in 1950, and in 1959 the Biola community celebrated its first Homecoming. During the fifties, athletics began to play a greater role on campus, and a second vice president position was designated to organize games and events for the various men’s sports. Within the decade, the title was changed to Athletic Director to better reflect his focus. It was not for another twenty-five years that a women’s intramural program was established.

Traditions

In 1964 the tradition of the Biola Egg was begun, and, although a number of eggs have been lost or broken, the tradition continues today. For example, before the students left for vacation each summer, the Egg was generally buried off campus. One fall, however, the students returned to discover that the vacant lot in which they had buried the Egg was now an apartment complex. The Egg was not recovered, and another one was created to carry on the tradition. Other fun events organized by the Associated Students of Biola College included: all-school beach parties, skating parties, A.S.B. Fireside, Halloween parties, movie nights, ice cream socials, Christmas banquets, ski days, concerts, 50’s night, and a Valentine’s Day party.

Biola sports were also a facet of the university which united the community, so in 1971 the Council presented the Biola Alma Mater “All Hail to Biola” and the new fight song.

The government expanded, as Chapel Board and the Spiritual Life Board were included. These boards, as well as the Social Board, the Publications Board, Intramurals, the Student Missionary Union president, and the Club Director formed the Services Council. The Student Senate, originally consisting of eleven members and expanding to a group of fifteen, developed to better represent the student body, as those living in the residences voted to represent their constituents. Among the many new events planned for the student body were BAB Week (Betty Ask Bob), Comedy Night, Singspiration, blood drives, and Mock Rock. AS also helped to fund building the outdoor seating area at the cafeteria, as well as the fitness center.

Spiritual Emphasis

Within a few years of formation, the student government organized Friday morning devotionals for the Institute. For years students raised money to send copies of the Gospel of John to freshmen at the University of Southern California. They also enjoyed giving a gift for the betterment of the institute, and over the years helped to pay off the school debt, paint Stewart Hall, purchase a new bus, and create a recreation room. In addition to the monthly meetings, the officers met together to pray for the student body weekly, and began holding a three-day retreat in order to more effectively plan events for the year.

Outreach

Through an increasing emphasis placed on promoting Biola in the Los Angeles area, the student government initiated a Student Public Relations Advisory Board in 1970 to draw students and administration together in a collective attempt to better represent Biola. Assemblies in the local high schools and other outreach events in the community, such as parties at local children’s hospitals and a boy’s home, were undertaken toward this goal.

These efforts attracted more students to Biola and added to the difficulty in communication and representation of an ever-growing student body. To combat this issue, the Open Forum was established to allow students the opportunity to voice their concerns and initiate projects for the betterment of their peers. Service boards were also coordinated to plan activities and to provide student input on various aspects of student life. Originally known as the Cultural Arts Board, the Public Events Board created a yearly program of lectures, concerts, and art exhibits to expand the perspective of Biola students. Other subcommittees combined students and staff together to discuss campus improvement in areas as diverse as the cafeteria and the library.

Chapel Planning

Students were given the opportunity to plan an increasing number of chapels each week as well. In the fall of 1975, the A.S. Constitution was rewritten and ratified by the student body restructuring the organization of the government. As no records have been preserved in the student government, the exact changes from the earlier document are unknown at this time; however, this Constitution serves as the framework and backbone for the operation of AS to this day.

Remodeling Projects

Student Union Building

After two years of research, planning, and fundraising by a student committee, the Student Union Building, known for a number of years as the CUB or College Union Building, opened its doors to students in 1967.

Eagles' Nest

During the summer of 1981, Biola College became Biola University. The student government was not radically changed as a result, but continued to grow as more students attended Biola. Eagles' Nest, run by the student government and, originally known as the Food Factory, was remodeled over the intersession of 1983. In the fall of 1985, however, the Associated Students faced a financial crisis. The electric bills and other expenses from the Student Union Building were adding up and becoming a burden to the students. The leaders joined together to negotiate with the university and to settle the accounts, as well as reformulate the SUB proposal in the spring.

Student Missionary Union

During the college years the Student Missionary Union continued to function as a facet of the Student Council, similar to a current service board. Although school organized trips were very rare, students volunteered to serve individually over their breaks, partnering with a variety of missions organizations and returned sharing their stories of God’s faithfulness. Biola students continued to seek more information about missions and to pray for missionaries around the world. They also joined together to raise funds for a number of projects providing means of transportation for missionaries and supporting alumni in their efforts.

SMU and AS Split

As the Associated Students and the Student Missionary Union grew, it became increasingly difficult for the two organizations to work as one. Effective February 5, 2003 AS and SMU officially split. “Organizational pressure, a growing staff and financial burdens” were named as contributing factors in an article in The Chimes that month. The two branches were already viewed as separate entities by many students and the split allowed for greater freedom and focus on specific organizational goals. The student fee derived from tuition was split, officially designating seventy-five percent to the student government and twenty-five percent to the Student Missionary Union. AS and SMU continue to share an office and office staff, but today they work separately. Each organization has continued to grow in response to student needs and a heightening student population.

Current Structure

Another challenge facing the student government is collaboration among the senators and service board chairs. Fifteen popularly elected senators represent their residence halls and commuter students. In 2007, the Services Council consisted of the Social Board, Spirit Board, Intramural Board, Multi-Cultural Relations, and Chapel Board chairs, as well as the editors of the Chimes and the Biolan, the Marketing Director, the president of the International Students Association, and most recently the Director of Religious and Academic Relations, all of whom are selected through an open application process. These two branches, the senate and the services, are led by the Executive Leadership Team composed of the AS President, Senior Vice President, the Vice President of Services, and the Vice President of Finance, Technology, and Human Resources. Together they work to serve the Biola community and to help meet the physical, social, and spiritual needs of the students.

Services

Leadership Teams

AS 2008-2009
AS 2007-2008
AS 2006-2007
AS 2005-2006
AS 2004-2005
AS 2003-2004
AS 2002-2003
AS 2001-2002
AS 2000-2001
AS 1999-2000
AS 1998-1999
AS 1997-1998
AS 1996-1997
AS 1995-1996
AS 1994-1995
AS 1993-1994
AS 1992-1993
AS 1991-1992
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AS 1987-1988
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AS 1984-1985
AS 1983-1984
AS 1982-1983
AS 1981-1982
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AS 1978-1979
AS 1977-1978
AS 1976-1977
AS 1975-1976
AS 1974-1975
AS 1973-1974
AS 1972-1973
AS 1971-1972
AS 1970-1971
AS 1969-1970
AS 1968-1969
AS 1967-1968
AS 1966-1967
AS 1965-1966
AS 1964-1965
AS 1963-1964
AS 1962-1963
AS 1961-1962
AS 1960-1961
AS 1959-1960
AS 1958-1959
AS 1957-1958
AS 1956-1957
AS 1955-1956
AS 1954-1955
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AS 1952-1953
AS 1951-1952
AS 1950-1951
AS 1949-1950
AS 1948-1949
AS 1947-1948
AS 1946-1947
AS 1945-1946
AS 1944-1945
AS 1943-1944
AS 1942-1943
AS 1941-1942
AS 1940-1941
AS 1939-1940
AS 1938-1939
AS 1937-1938
AS 1936-1937
AS 1935-1936
AS 1934-1935
AS 1933-1934
AS 1932-1933
AS 1931-1932
AS 1930-1931
AS 1929-1930
AS 1928-1929
AS 1927-1928
AS 1926-1927