UA approves plan for two parties this semester

The Undergraduate Assembly approved a proposal Tuesday to fund two parties co-sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee, the InterFraternity Council, the BiCultural InterGreek Council and the Panhellenic Council. Also at Tuesday's meeting, the UA unanimously endorsed a plan to recommend revising the recently proposed Student Judicial Charter with four amendments -- crafted by University Council Steering Committee Representative and College sophomore Tal Golomb. Last semester, the UA voted to allocate $10,080 in funding to SPEC so the four groups could throw biweekly parties open to the entire student body. But the new SPEC board decided this semester that throwing one big party with the theme "Breaking Down the Walls" would provide "more bang for the buck," according to IFC Judicial Manager and College junior Josh Gottheimer. After the UA voted down this proposal last week, the groups went back to the drawing board to come up with a more satisfactory plan, which they presented to the body Tuesday night. The approved plan will provide one outdoor and one indoor party, which will conform to the same "Breaking Down the Walls" theme. They will be free of charge -- and free of alcohol -- to the entire University community. There will also be "solid bands" as entertainment, Gottheimer said. Gottheimer added that the groups received a lot of feedback from the University community, which he interpreted as a very positive sign. And he said he is "elated" that the UA, SPEC and Greek representatives are able to work together on this project. "This is a sign to the University that these three organizations can work together to do something that is in line with what this campus is working for," he said. Under the originally accepted plan, the groups would have already thrown two parties by this time. Therefore, SAC has the right to revert the $1,400 back into its own budget. But College sophomore, UA Treasurer and Daily Pennsylvanian sports writer Steve Schorr said last night that SAC decided to be lenient because the groups "made an honest effort to approach us before the weekly parties would have taken place." The final plans will be worked out over the next few weeks. Gottheimer said the first of these parties will take place sometime in October, and the other one will occur either at the end of November or in early December. The UA also discussed the newly proposed judicial charter at Tuesday's meeting, objecting to the fact that it gives the provost too much control over the student disciplinary system. The body listened to and debated Golomb's four proposed amendments and unanimously agreed that they improved the charter. The amendments were as follows: · The Disciplinary Hearing Officer as well as the Disciplinary Appellate Officer shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate · The student respondent's advisor shall have the right to speak, question and call witnesses as well as be chosen at the respondent's discretion · In cases involving violations of the "Acquaintance Rape and Sexual Violence Policy," hearings will be closed to the public unless both the respondent and complainant request in writing prior to the hearing date that the hearing be open to the public. In all other cases, the hearing will be closed to the public unless the respondent requests, in writing prior to the hearing date, that the procedure be open to the public · The Provost may only modify the sanction ruled by the hearing panel if such a modification lessens the sanction The resolution was delivered to the four undergraduate deans, the president and the provost yesterday.