UA drafts plans for upcoming semester at meeting

The Undergraduate Assembly discussed plans for next year and elected its Budget Committee and Ivy Council representatives at Tuesday night's meeting. Also, the Nominations and Elections Committee announced its newly elected executive board, to be chaired by Wharton junior Ning Chi Hsu. In addition, the UA approved several changes to the NEC's internal structure. UA Chairperson and College junior Lance Rogers said the meeting's purpose was to get feedback from students about what the Assembly should focus on during its term. But few members of the public showed up to the meeting, held in Chats, and the body brainstormed issues by itself. A major theme of the discussion was improving the body's image and increasing communications between the UA and its constituents. UA representative and College junior Christian Hensley proposed a "Dinner with the UA" program to promote more interaction with students. "I want us to be out there as a group," he said. "I want us to be visible, and I want us to eat." Other members said they were also concerned that many students never know what the Assembly is working on -- which results in apathy. UA representative and Wharton sophomore Tom Foldesi suggested creating "UA advisory boards," with each UA member meeting regularly with four or five students to discuss Assembly business and student concerns. Other issues raised during the brainstorming session included the quality of service provided by Residential Living and Dining Services, the implementation of several goals from Project 2000 and some short-term projects left over by the last UA. The body also held elections for its Budget Committee and its representatives to the Ivy Council. Foldesi and Wharton freshman Hester Wong will serve on the Budget Committee, along with UA Treasurer and College freshman Steve Schorr, a Daily Pennsylvanian sports writer. Hensley, Schorr, Engineering freshman Roman Krislav and College freshman Jessica Wilson were elected to the Ivy Council. The UA's representative to the Ivy Council's Steering Committee will be elected by the Ivy Council in a meeting this Sunday. Hsu announced the new NEC executive board, with some small changes in the board's structure. College junior Christina Glise will be vice chairperson for nominations, College freshman Diane Casteel will be vice chairperson for feedback and Engineering freshman Ben Goldberger will be vice chairperson for elections. Wharton freshman Daisy Tung will serve as secretary, and College junior Azusa Tice will serve as public relations officer. Previously, the NEC had a chairperson, a chairperson for elections, a chairperson for nominations, a chairperson for feedback and a vice chairperson, as well as a secretary and a public relations officer. The new structure went into effect immediately following the UA's vote Tuesday night.