EDITORIAL: Low UA turnout unacceptable

Undergraduate Assembly leaders must assure members that penalties will be enforced. Only 20 of the UA's 33 members attended each of the two meetings last month, and 26 members showed up Sunday night. Two members -- Wharton junior Neil Sikder and College senior Mike Steib -- have missed all three meetings. Members have given excuses ranging from rush events to job searches. The new bylaws passed last April were intended to eliminate the perennial problem of low attendance. Now, UA leaders need to be forceful about making members recognize that if they miss three meetings without notifying the Executive Board, they will be told to resign. It is beneficial to have UA members who represent different facets of campus life. Members who also belong to the Greek system or a performing arts group, for example, can provide a unique perspective on campus issues. But when candidates run for the UA, they should be making a commitment to prioritize the student government body over their other activities. If members are not willing to give up one pledge event, miss an occasional rehearsal or schedule job interviews that don't conflict with the Sunday night meeting time, the student body should seriously consider their lack of dedication when elections come around this spring. Although perfect attendance at every meeting is an unrealistic expectation, poor attendance undermines the UA's credibility and effectiveness. Members should be doing their best to ensure that the body is taken seriously. One hour a week is really not too much to ask.