UA sets fall goals, focuses on committees

Welcome back to politics at Penn. At their first fall meeting Sunday night, Undergraduate Assembly leaders outlined goals for the year ranging from the mundane --Elike improving the efficiency of the UA's committee system -- to more heated issues like the University's decision to charge students a membership fee to use the Gimbel Gymnasium's new Katz Fitness Center. The UA also hopes to look into finding replacements for the now-defunct QuakerCard, which folded without explanation over the summer. University officials have said they hope PennCash will replace the popular debit card. Turning to one of the most controversial issues on campus, the body's Student Life Committee will look into why the University imposed a $75-a-year student membership fee at the Gimbel Gymnasium's new $1.2 million Katz Fitness Center, according to UA Chairperson Bill Conway, a Wharton junior. "We are pleased with getting [the center] up, but we need a long-term plan to ensure that the fitness needs of the University are met," Conway said. The committee will try to determine why the University must charge students, whether the charges will continue indefinitely and why the fees can only be paid by check or money order. In attempting to tackle these issues, the UA will rely more heavily on its committee structure, according to UA Vice Chairperson Mike Bassik. Apart from Student LIfe, the UA's five remaining committees cover Facilities, West Philadelphia, Greek Life, Budget and Technology. "The main goal-setting in the UA comes from the committees," said Bassik, a College sophomore. "As the UA we can discuss major topics, but the committees deal with individual concerns and welcome non-UA members to voice their concerns. We want to come up with typed-up committee reports or newsletters for each meeting." After a quick review of the body's goals, the bulk of the half-hour meeting was spent introducing members to the body's new home in the renovated Civic House and discussing UA Chairperson Bill Conway's upcoming Daily Pennsylvanian guest column about the misperceptions of the UA on campus and the group's goals for the year. The Facilities Committee will also look at adding more ATMs in the high rises. The West Philadelphia Committee has big plans for 40th Street, Conway said. The committee will conduct a survey to get ideas for the possible renovation of Hamilton Village Shops. Penn has already announced that it is in the final stages of a deal to bring an arts cinema and a supermarket to the corner of 40th and Walnut streets. The Greek Life Committee plans to work "extensively" with the InterFraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and the BiCultural Inter-Greek Council to bring a Greek Olympics to Penn, Conway said. "My dream is to see [IFC President] Josh Belinfante running down Locust Walk with a torch," he added. There are also plans for a Greek recycling program and more philanthropic work. Within these committees a new, revised liaison system will take effect. Each UA member has been assigned a liaison to University administration. Mike Bassik and Ed Calvesbert, a UA member and Engineering junior, began working yesterday with liaison Jim O'Donnell, the vice provost for information systems and computing, about lack of computer access for College students. "College students currently lack access to computers aside from the library," said Bassik. "Now that Wharton access is limited to only Wharton students, College students lack 24-hour access." The 24-hour lab in Harrison House, formerly High Rise South, is open to all students. Wharton senior Brett Klein, chairperson of the Technology Committee, is working with liaison and Director of Libraries Paul Mosher to revamp security systems at the libraries. "Checking bags in the library is a major complaint of students," Bassik said. "We will attempt to find an alternate, cost-effective system."