UA taps Debicella for chair

After over an hour of debate last night, the 25 members of the new Undergraduate Assembly elected Wharton sophomore Dan Debicella as their chairperson. Debicella defeated College junior Dan Schorr and Engineering freshman Manuel Calero in the election. Though each of the three candidates' speeches for chairperson centered around changing the UA for the better, questions for each were quite individualized. Calero was asked consistently about his experience and knowledge of the UA and the position of chairperson, as this would be his first term as a member of the body. And Schorr was criticized by several members of various minority groups, including the United Minorities Council and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance, for his views on free speech and the role of minorities at the University. "I've never seen you work with people," said College junior Stephen Houghton, LGBA co-chairperson and a Daily Pennsylvanian columnist. "I've only seen you talk at people and reiterate your views over and over again. You're very close-minded." UMC Chairperson and College senior Jun Bang accused Schorr of "antagonizing a great portion of this student body by taking a stance against the UMC." Schorr responded by saying that he is not close-minded because he is a strong advocate of free speech and "the idea that all ideas must be heard." "How can you call me close-minded?" he said. "That's the very antithesis of everything I've ever said and everything I believe in. "I want to work with the community -- every part of the community," he added. Debicella was questioned on his decision to run for chairperson instead of following through with his original intention to run for treasurer. "I really have thought about this," he said. "Some of you members believe in me? and that's why I'm running." After one round of voting, Debicella defeated Schorr in a run-off ballot. The other four members of the UA steering committee were also chosen during the three and a half hour transition meeting, during which the 25 new UA members took office. College sophomore Tamara Dubowitz defeated College sophomore Lance Rogers for the position of vice-chairperson. Rogers, who listed 10 accomplishments he hoped to achieve, advocated selling the University logo nationwide and instituting a South Street shuttle in connection with Penn Escort Service. Dubowitz said "communication, communication and communication" will be her focus. "I do think it's really unrealistic to put 20 issues in front of our faces and say we'll accomplish them," she said. College freshman Sabrina Gottlieb, who said she will work with and learn from Debicella, was elected treasurer over Wharton sophomore Quang O and Calero. "My number one goal is to educate the body about budgetary issues," she said after the meeting. "I was sometimes at a loss for what was going on last year and with better education, the budget meeting will run a lot more smoothly." Gottlieb said she hopes to evaluate the budgets of the four undergraduate schools, which have previously turned down the UA's request for their budgets. College freshman Mosi Bennett was unopposed and elected by acclamation for the position of secretary. "I want to work on internal communications, making sure that all UA members know what everyone else is working on," he said. "I want to use my position to influence the direction the UA takes this year." Schorr and College sophomore Miae Oh were elected as finalists for University Council Steering Committee representative. The UC Steering Committee will select its final choice for representative at a later date. College freshman Josh Gottheimer and Rogers also ran for the two slots. Debicella and Dubowitz said they were looking forward to a "better" year for the UA. "The UA is now poised to do what it's meant to do -- student advocacy," Debicella said after his win. "We'll tackle issues that affect the students, from security and Residential Living to tuition hikes and Revlon, amongst others."