The Associated Students of Madison announced goals accomplished during the fall semester and anticipated plans for spring semester in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

ASM detailed seven main goals for the 2004 fall semester last May. Four members of student government spoke about what has been achieved over the past months and what still needs to be done.

ASM Student Council Vice Chair Cedric Lawson spoke to a small crowd about ASM’s “victories” around the University of Wisconsin campus.

Lawson checked off the completion of last May’s goals on a large board which included course evaluation completions, the saving of the McBurney Disability Center, the Diversity and Action Exchange Program, the prevention of riots on Halloween, 10 lobby visits with the Joint Finance Committee, shared governance during Action Week and the Student Building Project.

Lawson said ASM’s Shared Governance Action was a success along with Social Justice Awareness Week, which educated participants on issues affecting UW students such as interracial relations and sexual orientation.

Lawson said the Vote 2004 Campaign was a third major success of the past semester because UW had one of the highest voter turnouts among campuses in the country.

ASM plans to continue next semester with the Campus Accessibility campaign by lobbying to the state assembly the importance of having students with disabilities attend UW. Lawson spoke against the expansion of the business school, which would lead to the removal of an on-campus disabilities center to an off campus location.

“We must continue to hold legislators accountable, including those who call themselves advocates for educational access,” Lawson said.

In addition to the Campus Accessibility campaign, ASM plans to continue the Anti-Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) campaign and the Alcohol as an Intoxicant campaign, which advocates the inclusion of alcohol in Act 220 that would lead to stricter consequences for those who use date rape drugs or alcohol as an agent for rape.

Legislative Affairs Intern Samantha Ziesember spoke of 10 visits to members of the State Joint Finance Committee to gain allies for the UW System in their upcoming decisions on the state budget.

The committee also worked to create awareness of the problems regarding Madison’s quality of housing and the lack of available student housing.

“UW-Madison is the only university in the Big Ten that does not, because it cannot, guarantee housing to all incoming students,” Ziesember said.

Student Activity Center Committee Intern Brian Jensen spoke of the committee’s efforts on the University Square Building Project, which will serve as a space for more than 700 student organizations to “meet and brainstorm ideas together.”

Academic Affairs Committee Intern Peter Albrecht discussed the committee’s efforts on textbook list availability before students register for classes. Albrecht said the committee has researched possibilities and will assemble a coalition to begin a textbook rental program next semester and further the textbook database program.

Albrecht said the committee labored to raise awareness of tuition crises during the fall and hopes to continue efforts in spring semester.

“The State Legislature and Governor are bleeding the university dry,” Albrecht said.

Members of ASM said they are looking forward to continuing their efforts in the upcoming semester and considered fall to be a “huge” success.

“We will continue to work hard at educating, publicizing and outreaching because students ‘need to know,'” Lawson said.