Sunday night, the Undergraduate Assembly unanimously passed a resolution that approved a UA mobile webpage that would link to several Penn websites.
Penn’s Information Systems and Computing has developed several mobile services such as Penn InTouch mobile, Blackboard mobile and Penn Libraries mobile which will be featured on this new webpage.
The resolution pointed out that “as Penn becomes more technologically advanced [and] as a greater part of the population accesses the Internet via smartphones and other mobile devices,” the UA sees a need to compile and list Penn sites on one webpage which “will allow students greater and quicker access”.
Engineering junior and UA member Matt Sternberg, who co-authored the resolution, explained that this webpage would solve the issue of typing long URLs on smartphones which “a lot of people hate.”
Sternberg also cited a recent study by Apple which found that using the Safari browser was a faster way to access web content than saving bookmarks on a home screen.
“It’s good, it’s easy — no downsides to it,” Sternberg said.
While the website is not on the UA server yet, Sternberg said that users may access the site at www.cynthiaip.com/mobile.
The UA also debated a resolution which would fund a Red and Blue Crew-sponsored happy hour tailgate for Friday’s men’s lacrosse game against Yale, but it was not passed. UA members were divided about the UA’s relationship with the Red and Blue Crew.
The resolution asked for an allocation of up to $4,000 from the UA contingency fund — a back-up reserve — to fund this event.
College sophomore and UA member Jon Monfred, who wrote the resolution, urged “the UA to get on board for … making school spirit a priority.”
College senior and UA President Matt Amalfitano agreed since athletics at Penn “is an under-served community by school leadership.”
Providing funding is an “opportunity for the UA to step up … it’s an initiative we have been going for all year.”
Monfred added that “men’s lacrosse is resurgent this year … and an exciting game that would get people out.”
Although some UA members supported granting these funds, others were worried about the precedence that this would set and questioned the nature of the UA’s relationship with the Red and Blue Crew.
College senior and UA Treasurer Ali Huberlie noted that this resolution “pre-supposes a relationship between the Red and Blue Crew and the UA.”
She stressed the importance of examining the relationship between the two parties.
“I implore everyone that this is a discussion that happens next year,” she said, adding that “the way it was brought up tonight was a bit reckless.”
Eleven UA members voted for the resolution while 11 others voted against it and nine abstained.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.