The new Student Association Executive Board met this week and announced that they would be revising the plans for the third annual Student Association Getaway Trip.

For the past two years, members of the student government were bussed to a hotel for a night of leadership training and socializing. Student Association Vice President Joe Danko, who is responsible for planning the event this year, felt ‘too much money was being spent on buses and hotel rooms for the SA Getaway.’

Instead, Danko opted to hold on-campus training in November. The SA Getaway, now re-named the SA Leadership Conference, will be held in the Old University Union on Nov. 10.

In the past, the getaway has been criticized for catering primarily to SA members. This year Danko says he will make a greater effort to get more students involved.

‘[The Conference] will be open to all students involved in any of the campus’ governments and the student group leaders,’ he said.

SA Academic Vice President Matt Landau attended both of the getaways and believes the Leadership Conference to be an improvement upon the previous years’ gatherings.

‘There is no need to spend Student Association money to take [students] off campus to a hotel. The past getaways were unsuccessful, they did not work.’

According to Danko, this year’s getaway is operating on a reduced budget, and the money saved on buses and hotels will be directed into the leadership training itself.

‘We will use the money much more wisely,’ he said.

Programs focusing on leadership skills and group cooperation will run from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The conference will also include a lunch and dinner for attendees, and will feature a keynote speaker, who has yet to be announced.

‘It will be a great way to form connections within the SA, gain skills to become a better leader and provide another way to have a fun time on campus,’ Danko said.

Danko said he could not comment on who the keynote speaker might be.

Danko believes that while the on-campus event might not have the same appeal that the getaway did, students will get more out of the conference.

‘I truly believe that this event will help the SA grow and prosper in the years to come,’ he said. ‘Some are skeptical as to whether people will want to show up to an event like this that is held on campus, but I feel there are enough strong leaders who will participate.’