UA members discuss education

Every member of the Undergraduate Assembly, including the newly-elected freshmen, turned out for last night's meeting on undergraduate education. As an initiation into the student government process, the freshmen participated in the meeting process, which included an extensive discussion on undergraduate education and the election of Ivy Council representatives. Four members were chosen from among the six who ran for the available Ivy Council positions: UA members Lance Rogers, Josh Gottheimer, Laurie Moldawer and Tal Golomb. "I think that considering that a lot of information was given, we will be able to get a lot from the other Ivies," said Golomb, a College freshman. "[There's] a lot they can teach us and we can help them as well." Rogers, a College junior who is also vice president of external affairs for the Ivy Council, said the council's steering committee held its first meeting on campus yesterday. "It was a historic meeting," he said. "It was the first time that we have hosted an Ivy Council meeting." The council is made up of four steering officers plus eight steering members at large. There are also four representatives from each of the eight Ivy League schools, Rogers said. Also present at the UA meeting was Ivy Council President and Princeton senior Justin Beckelman. Beckelman said the council serves two main purposes. One would be to "give our schools a foundation from which to speak on issues that are important on our campuses." "It would empower Ivy League students as a whole," Beckelman said. The second goal of the council, he added, would be to give the Ivies a national voice. For example, he said the council will work on the nation's financial aid policies since some schools still do not have need-blind admissions. Also present was Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairperson Matthew Kratter who held a discussion session with the UA body on the quality of teaching the University and the undergraduate course curriculum. UA members discussed the possibilities of a less strict curriculum, such as the one used at Brown University. UA Chairperson Dan Debicella said he would, "lean more towards the Brown-system." "It's a more flexible distribution," said the Wharton junior. "The core idea goes against the idea of a liberal education." Also discussed at the meeting was the quality of teaching at the University. College sophomore Moldawer voiced several questions to Kratter during the course of the discussion concerning "bad professors" who receive tenure "just because they attain high standards in abroad research." College senior and SCUE Secretary Carolyn Choi said students can participate in the faculty decision-making process by talking to appropriate department chairpersons.