SGA requests professors honor activities period The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution last Thursday recommending the university make a renewed effort not to schedule any academic events during activities period. It passed unanimously. Senators who drafted the resolution said they received many complaints from students who could not get out of rescheduled classes to go to co-op meetings and, more often, student group meetings. Vice President for Student Affairs John Guilfoil described activities period as “sacred.” “It’s important that we make a strong statement in support of this,” he said of the legislation. “Next week I’ll have class from 8 to 4. Activities periods are there so we can have a break from the grind.” The legislation enforces an existing university policy that provides for mandatory breaks from classes several days a week for students to have student group meetings, among other events and activities.

Resident Student Association to host giftwrapping The Resident Student Association (RSA) is participating in an annual giftwrapping event, sponsored by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, a statewide advocacy group. Members of RSA will wrap gifts from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Barnes ‘ Noble in the Prudential Center. They will not charge for the service, but will collect donations for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. This will be the second year RSA has participated in the event, which was held at Faneuil Hall last year. RSA will also host Midnight Munchies Dec. 3 from midnight until 2 a.m. on the freshman quad. RSA will give out free food, hot chocolate and T-shirts at the event.

Greek life groups to hold toy drive for needy children Kappa Sigma and Delta Phi Epsilon are holding a toy, hat and mitten drive for needy children during the holiday season. The drive began Monday, and will continue until Dec. 2. Tables will be set up during activities periods today and Thursday, Dec. 1. There will also be a box set up in the Student Leadership Office in 222 Curry Student Center. Items must be new and unopened. The items will be donated to the Salvation Army for their Christmas Castle project, which gives needy families an opportunity to pick out gifts for children. Over 5,000 families have applied for assistance from the program this year. The student groups have not sponsored a drive in the past, but will do so again in the future if this year is a success, said Gary Marinelli, public relations chair for Kappa Sigma.

SGA holds phone-a-thon for financial aid bill The SGA hosted a phone-a-thon Tuesday, Nov. 21, to urge members of Congress to vote down HR609, a bill that would cut $2.2 million to federal financial aid funding over the next 10 years. The phones were open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Curry Student Center, and students were invited to call their congressmen and urge them to vote against the bill. Billy Haddad, SGA Vice President for Financial Affairs, said the turnout was high, with about 30 students coming and going throughout the day. He said some of the congressmen, particularly in Massachusetts, were inundated with calls. “We called one office and they were like, ‘We’ve been hearing from Northeastern all day,'” Haddad said. He said students also called the chairs of committees and key Republicans who were likely to support the legislation.

Panel discussion to focus on women’s issues with AIDS A panel discussion on issues concerning women and AIDS will be held tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m. in 97 Cargill. The discussion will be moderated by Professor Robin Chandler, and the panel will include Jean McGuire, a professor in the Bouv