George Mason University began operation under the name "University College of the University of Virginia" in the fall of 1957 in an 8-room former elementary school in Bailey's Crossroads. The original student body consisted of 17 young men and women from local high schools. The college was renamed "George Mason College" in late 1959 and moved to its first permanent campus at Fairfax during the fall of 1964. During this early period (1957-1964) enrollment never exceeded about 250 students. Once at Fairfax, George Mason College, while small, began to exhibit all the signs of campus life. The student body formed clubs, took part in intramural sports, published newspapers and yearbooks, and participated in many of the rites of college life. This included continuing the tradition of electing a slate of Student Government officers to represent the student body.

While there are no records pertaining to Student Government activities at George Mason University prior to 1966 in our holdings, Mason student newsletters and newspapers describe SG activities as early as 1960. That year there were a total of 10 members of the Student Assembly, 4 representatives for the Freshman Class, 2 for the Sophomore Class (George Mason College only offered 2 years of instruction at that time with the Associate degree as the terminal degree) and 4 officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer). Details regarding Student Government activities that were reported in student publications during this period and later can be found by exploring the following two electronic resources:

• Gunston Ledger and Broadside student newspaper collection https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMU~40~40 • George Mason University and student publications https://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMU~44~44

Today Student Government is part of the university's leadership group, which includes The Executive Council, President's Council, Board of Visitors and the Faculty and Staff Senates. In 2023 there were about 55 members of student government serving an enrollment of about 40,000. About 25 served in the Executive division under the President and Vice President, while 30 made up the Student Senate representing the student body on issues including:

• Academics • Diversity and Multicultural Affairs • Government and Community Relations • Services • University Life