Fidler elected to head SCUE steering cmte.

After a banner year of implementing and improving programs such as Dinner with the Deans, preceptorials and Speaking Across the University, College senior Rachael Goldfarb has officially stepped down from her position as chairperson of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education. And SCUE's approximately 30 members selected Wharton junior Aaron Fidler to succeed her at the group's annual executive board elections last night. Fidler -- a 2 1/2-year SCUE member and last year's vice chairperson -- was, according to Goldfarb, the obvious choice for the position. In his tenure with SCUE thus far, Fidler has worked with administrators to implement the SATU program, served as a member of the Experimental Education Subcommittee -- which researches and develops new education initiatives -- and has served on the group's steering committee since his freshman year. Speaking about his goals for the upcoming year, Fidler stressed SCUE's continued focus on quality teaching, as well as the development of more recent concerns, such as the intellectual environment available to dual-degree students. "I'm looking forward to the upcoming year," Fidler said. "I'm excited about our new White Paper." The 1999 SCUE White Paper, which will be released tomorrow, contains a series of recommendations on undergraduate education. In a preview, Fidler said that the latest SCUE White Paper recommends -- among other programs -- new innovative classes which emphasize research. "[The White Paper proposes] ideas for new innovative programs at the University," Fidler said. "There's a current of change at the University and we're hoping that some of our programs will be taken with the favor of our current programs." Highlighting the success of preceptorials in the past, Fidler said that SCUE felt the program was ready to become self-sufficient. When asked to discuss the highlights of her term, Goldfarb mentioned her pleasure in working with the University to institute several pilot programs. "Dinner with the Deans was an attempt to not only introduce students to the SCUE Lounge [in the Faculty Club] but also to open the lines of communication between administrators and their constituents -- students," Goldfarb said. The other members of the new executive board include College sophomore Joshua Wilkenfeld as vice chairperson, Wharton sophomore Richard Kilfoyle as treasurer, College sophomore Jasmine Park as secretary and College and Wharton junior Elana Rosenberg and College sophomore Cameron Winton as University Steering Committee members-at-large. "We'll be able to do some excellent things with the people on [the executive] board," Fidler said. "They're very committed."