[Dan Carter]

Hey everyone,
I'm in a position on my universities student council. I know I want to make a difference at my university, but I just don't have any clue how to.

Here's a bit of background on the situation:
I returned to university from an internship in Japan this past year and and trying lots of new, crazy things.

One of those things was running for a position in my university's student council, and to my surprise I got elected as a faculty representative. My platform was basically to help build a community and connect people together during their short stay at university. I'm against silent bus rides and all for talking to random strangers in the hallway.

My question is this: What is the best way to help connect people and build a community where there may not be one right now? Most of the events that happen on campus seem to attract the same group of people, and I'm not the biggest fan of beer gardens in the world.

I'm in a position where I can generally pursue projects I want, but I've never had experience with this before. Over the past couple years I've undergone my own personal transformation from a very shy, quiet person to one of the more outgoing people I know. I'm good on a person-to-person level, but how do you bring people together on a more global scale?

A friend of mine suggested that it has to all start with me as the social catalyst. I need to make friends with other very social people on campus who know a lot of other people. Then, if I plan events, I can count on a lot of these people showing up and intermingling.

Another idea I thought is really cool is during exam period, volunteers go around campus at 1 or 2am and give out food to students who are staying up late to study. Another universities council did this. I love the idea and if more things like this were done, I'm sure students would feel like they're part of something special.

What do you guys think? I'd appreciate any input at all.

Dan - Trying to fight the "apathetic student" image