Wharton USA begins to implement changes

The Wharton Undergraduate Student Association, an organization designed to coordinate Wharton's undergraduate clubs and activities, is beginning to implement changes outlined in its charter. The group's three-fold approach includes a reorganization of the Steinberg-Dietrich bulletin boards, a coordinated organization newsletter and a Wharton undergraduate activities handbook. The bulletin boards on the building's first floor have been reapportioned to identify general postings, University postings and Wharton-related information. "We have a program to keep them neat, orderly and readable," said Christian Coli, a member of the Executive Roundtable of the association. In order to post new information, groups must get flyers stamped at the main desk of Steinberg-Dietrich or in room 301, the Wharton USA Activities Center. The group is also planning for The Wharton Watch, a monthly newsletter, to announce undergraduate club activities and events. Finally, the Wharton Undergraduate Activities Handbook will be given to all incoming freshmen through Wharton 101 or as a part of the admissions information packet. The handbook, which will also be available for upperclassmen, will give each club recognized by Wharton USA the opportunity to explain its purpose, outline its charter and include pictures and other descriptions. "This should clear up uncertainties for freshmen and give them some knowledge about what their getting into," Coli said. Submissions for the handbook are due April 23. In addition, Wharton USA has planned community service projects for Wharton Founder's Day. "We plan to purchase and plant trees in Rosemont Park in West Philadelphia," Coli said. "This will help to solidify our ties as an organization." Coli and other members of the Executive Roundtable also met with Wharton Vice-Dean Janice Bellace to discuss the issue of funding. "Wharton gets a disproportionately small? amount of funding from SAC," Coli said. "We'd like to try to get it to be more equitable." Wharton USA is hoping for alumni donations and an allocation from the Wharton activities fee. The organization has been fairly well received within the school. "We've been searching for an umbrella organization that would serve to harness the energies of the many student clubs at Wharton," Bellace said. "It also serves as an overall student group that can look at student needs." For instance, Bellace said, Wharton USA is looking to help increase the use of electronic mail among Wharton students. "Wharton USA's goal is to open the communication link between students and the rest of the school," Coli said. "We're going to take care of a lot of problems. Both the little things and the big things."