UA to form close ties with student groups

In a break from recent tradition, this year's Undergraduate Assembly members are hoping to build on work started last year, while implementing a new committee and liaison structure to improve their communication with student groups. At the end of last year, the UA divided into six committees, including the Steering Committee and committees on academics, student life, the budget, safety and facilities, said UA Chairperson Tal Golomb. They also created workgroups focusing on technology and legal services, the College junior added. The committees will meet during the UA's retreat this Sunday to develop specific goals for the upcoming year. Each UA member will serve as a liaison to specific administrators and student organizations. "We didn't have liaisons to student groups last year," Golomb explained. "It is another part of our communications strategy to bring the UA in touch with student government and interact with a large cross-section of students." UA Treasurer and College junior Steve Schorr said UA needs the liaison structure because of its common interests with many other student groups. "I think the UA will be taking a similar direction to last year but putting more emphasis on working with other student groups," Schorr said. "Most issues that concern the UA also concern other student groups, so we can all benefit from working together." Golomb agreed, noting that the UA's concern about safety is shared by student organizations such as the Panhellenic Council and PennWatch. According to the UA's University Council Steering Representative Meredith Hertz, a College junior, the new structure will make the UA more effective. "A lot of UA members start out eager to get things done but get frustrated because they don't know how to go about accomplishing their goals," Hertz explained. "We are going to work with members to help them? best represent the students."