Several sources holding high positions in student government have revealed that College seniors Mike Nadel and Eric Tienou plan to propose a reform of the Undergraduate Assembly constitution. Tienou is a former member of the UA. The plan would abolish the 33-member UA in favor of a single student government president who would oversee the whole government process, according to sources. The other branches of student government which are now included in the UA budget would be funded by the Student Activities Council. And the Social Planning and Events Committee would have a separate budget, which would be a fixed percentage of the student activities fee. The plan also calls for student seats on the University Council to be elected directly and to meet monthly with the student government president, sources said. The proposal would appear on the spring UA ballot and would require that 20 percent of the student body vote in order to be considered binding, if passed by a majority of those who vote. The plan for the referendum was confirmed by Nadel and Tienou last night, although the pair maintain the proposal is still in the planning stages. Despite its early stage, it has already elicited strong reaction. UA Chairperson and College senior Lance Rogers questioned how the plan, which he dubbed the "dictator plan," would benefit the University. "I think the proposal is absurd and out of the question," Rogers said. There's no way one person can perform the functions of the UA." Rogers was also concerned about the amount of power the plan confers to one person. "There are no checks and balances on this person's interests or desires," he said. "There would be a lack of ideas." And UA Treasurer Steve Schorr, a College sophomore, also expressed disapproval of the plan. "It certainly would be difficult to get a lot of leg work done," he said. There would still be a UA -- it would just be the Undergraduate Autocrat." Nadel and Tienou said they believe the UA body is not necessary to fulfill the University's student government needs. "You find in the UA that the top people try to get the other people organized and there is so much energy and time spent on organizing that nothing gets accomplished," Nadel said. Rogers said these activities are a means of instilling the UA teamwork necessary for student government. Nadel and Tienou also said they believe individuals who are interested in issues will act regardless of whether they are on the UA, adding that few UA members actually use their offices to act on issues. But Rogers disagreed vehemently, explaining that the UA is "a mechanism by which concerned students can accomplish something to improve our university."
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