News Archive: 2005-2006
Key Decision: Boehmer endorses SGA control
April 4 - After nearly a week of student outcry, University administrators have asked SGA to take over running The Key. After meeting with SGA President Jamie Peper and other Student Government leaders, Associate Provost Bob Boehmer has decided to provide the grade database (a public record) to SGA so that it can provide the service to students instead of the Office of Institutional Research.
The change means students no longer have to worry about the future of the popular website, and that it will now be an entirely student-driven project. Teacher names will return to The Key, and plans are in the works to enhance the database with course syllabi and other useful tools, in addition to course grades. In the words of Jeremiah Johnson, creator of the 1250-member "Save the Key" Facebook group, "We've done what we came to do."
While the new system gets settled out, remember that the original Key is still available from the Black Tie Party's website, and includes every course since 1999.
Students support returning The Key
| Key Events: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 5 PM SLC 350 | SGA Senate | |
| Tuesday 5 PM Tate Gallery | Open Mic with Mike | |
| Wednesday 11:30-1:30 Tate Plaza | ||
| View The Original Key | ||
April 3 - Since news of changes to The Key, UGA's Course Review Book, broke last week, thousands of students have voiced their disapproval. Here's a roundup of Key facts:
- More than one thousand students joined the Save the Key Facebook group within four days of it being created. Leaders of the group have planned a rally at Tate Center Plaza during lunch on Wednesday from 11:30 to 1:30.
- The Red & Black quoted several students regarding the new policy, with the majority being opposed to the changes.
- The R&B also printed an opinion piece, co-written by SGA Spokesman Jeremiah Johnson and BTP member Paul Ruddle, criticizing the decision.
- SGA may pass a resolution on the issue at its regular Senate meeting, Tuesday at 5 PM in SLC Room 350.
- "Open Mic with Mike" will allow students to address University President Michael F. Adams opposing the changes. It's also at 5 on Tuesday, at the Tate Art Gallery.
- While the official Key has been changed, the original Key format is still available, for every year since 1999, from the Black Tie Party. More than 1,500 students registered nearly four thousand hits between Friday morning and Monday afternoon. You can read more from the Red & Black.
The Black Tie Party encourages every student to join the Facebook group, call and e-mail administrators, and come out to the events on Tuesday and Wednesday to show that we support saving The Key! The Key was created by students, for students... now it's up to us, as students, to keep it up!
Key Issue: BTP keeps grades available
March 29 - As was first reported by The Ruddle Report, a production of Black Tie member Paul Ruddle, the administration intends to change the format of The Key, UGA's Course Review Book, to make it less useful for students. The Black Tie Party predictably stands opposed to this decision.
However, as you may know, the Black Tie Party has made past versions of The Key available since this summer -- something no one else has done. And we'll keep bringing them to you, in their original format, which will soon not be available anywhere else. So, for all your class previewing needs, the Black Tie Party presents The Key.
UPDATE — The Red & Black is also following the story.
UPDATE — The Key has now officially been changed to the new format. Remember that the old format is still available at thekey.ugablacktieparty.com.
Black Tie Party Holds First Meeting of Year
September 8 -- The UGA Black Tie Party held its first meeting of the year tonight at the Student Learning Center in the heart of UGA's campus. The group that gathered in Room 248 discussed plans for the year, fundraising ideas, and the goals and aims that the Party should pursue in 2005-2006.
The meeting kicked off with pizza and Cokes before moving into the business portion, where the group considered various proposals to improve student life and the University. Attendees -- including prospective members, current members, and officers -- made suggestions of ideas that they hoped to see realized. The group also looked at the facilities Master Plan for campus, available online, and discussed allocation of student activity fees.
Continue to check this website regularly for the next meeting of the Black Tie Party, which we anticipate announcing soon. The public is invited to attend, speak out, and consider joining the Black Tie Party, to make UGA the best it can be.
Start Your Year with the Black Tie Party
August 29 -- The UGA Black Tie Party welcomes you to fall semester at the University of Georgia!
If you're a new student, we hope you'll take advantage of the many opportunities this campus and city offer you. There is always something to do, whatever your interests, and we hope you enjoy your time here. To the returning students, we welcome you back and hope that you, too, make it a successful and fun year.
We hope all of you will watch the Black Tie Party as this year progresses. We have a number of new projects and project ideas we've added over the past few months, and we're excited about what we have the potential to do. We'd love for you to be a part of that.
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The Black Tie Party is pleased to announce our first meeting of the year, an information/organizational session set for Thursday, September 8 at 6 PM in SLC Room 248. |
We hope all of you will make an effort to make the meeting and consider joining the Black Tie Party to help create a better University for all of us.
Black Tie Party Makes Website Additions
May 29 -- The UGA Black Tie Party is kicking off summer with a major addition to its website. The Useful Links page, accessible from the navigation bar on the left of every page at ugablacktieparty.com, provides links to many sites that students will find useful, including OASIS, UGAMail tips, information on filing an Open Records request, a cheap textbook search engine, and the Black Tie Party's own campus directions program, DawgQuest.
Perhaps the biggest addition, though, is a page that connects students to past versions of The Key, compiled by the University's Office of Institutional Research. The page links students to versions of the Course Review Book going back to the 1999-2000 academic year, and continuing to the current edition. The Black Tie Party hopes to eventually enhance this service by providing multi-year Keys, adding teacher and course evaluations, and integrating the University's online syllabi.
The Black Tie Party wishes everyone in the University community a happy and healthy summer. Whether you're in class, at the beach, or somewhere else, we hope you have a great time. And this fall, stay tuned for how you can help the Black Tie Party improve UGA for all of us!
