News Analysis:

UA beginning to show signs of division Last week's confrontation between Undergraduate Assembly Chairperson Seth Hamalian and First Amendment Task Force co-founder Dan Schorr could be a sign of things to come for the UA. The mood among several UA members is that there is a potential for a split along the body's racial lines, with Hamalian interested in safeguarding minority interests and Schorr heading a group that some minorities view as threatening. "[Minorities] are totally against [the task force]," said College senior Kirsten Bartok, a UA veteran. "If [the task force] goes out to improve the community, they have a potential to make a difference. Otherwise they'll divide the UA more and it could possibly explode across campus." "Racial tensions have reached a discomforting level and both sides want to change the situation," she added. Schorr has rallied students who say they are seriously concerned with First Amendment rights at the University, especially in the wake of last spring's controversial "water buffalo" case and the confiscation of 14,000 copies of The Daily Pennsylvanian. Hamalian and members of the University's minority community are concerned that the task force may jeopardize some of the gains they have obtained, such as the creation of the Commission on Strengthening the Community. UA representative Eric Leathers said he isn't surprised that minority students are uncomfortable with the task force, a body which, one member admitted, is not diverse. Members have said the task force is in its early stages and will be adding more people. "I can see how minorities would be worried that a body that they elected would be coming out with statements such as those made by the First Amendment Task Force," said Leathers, a College junior. "The representative nature of the body was circumvented by the task force in an attempt to make a public statement about something that they feel very strongly about." There is a sense among some UA members that Schorr committed a major tactical error by not including more minorities in the task force, something which would have satisfied everyone. "I don't think any attempt was made to make [the task force] appear non-threatening [to minorities]," Bartok said. Schorr said Monday that he did not make a "tactical error" and that there is no reason why anyone should feel threatened by the task force. "Anyone who feels threatened hasn't talked to us," the College junior said. The kind of diverse, broad base which the task force apparently lacks is one of Hamalian's strengths. Several UA members said Hamalian's strong links with the minority community – he lived in DuBois House last year – make him a potentially excellent consensus builder. "Seth has the most potential of anyone on this campus to work with the community and effect change," Bartok said. "He has ties to the minority community that no other white person does – many [minority students] think of him as one of their own." Hamalian's ability to bring everyone together came through Sunday, when the UA was called on to respond to the University's lack of students from the Commission. On the one hand, Hamalian had to send a strong message to the administration that students were angry that their voices weren't being heard when it came to improving community relations. On the other hand, Hamalian had to be careful not to criticize the Commission directly, since many minority students view it as a tangible attempt to finally address their needs. Just as it seemed Hamalian had painted himself into a corner, he was able to come up with a strong resolution that seemed to satisfy all parties – he blasted the administration and threatened not to cooperate with it in the future, but pledged not to interfere with the Commission. Leathers praised Hamalian's resolution. "As chairperson, Seth must represent a cross-section of students," he said. "When taken in context as UA chair, [the resolution] was broad-based and good." Hamalian, a College junior, will have to continue taking the middle road and balancing interests if the UA is to work effectively. At last Sunday's meeting, UA Vice Chairperson Scott Sher said, "The administration doesn't give a shit about us – we have to prove to them and to the community that we deserve their attention." Leathers echoed that sentiment. "I think its high time that the UA stop pushing paper and move into the realm of working specifically in the community," he said. "Students should stop looking to the administration to solve their problems." The resolutions passed Sunday will be worthless if they aren't followed up by action, he said. Just how worthwhile the actions of this UA will be remains to be seen. While the heated debates and confrontations are a sign that the UA is alive and well, there is a chance that an explosive situation might develop, just as the campus is beginning to heal from the events of last spring. The ball is in Hamalian's court.