STAFF EDITORIAL: Bassik, Krouse for UA posts

Michael Bassik's experience and know-how make him our pick to be the next chair of the Undergraduate Assembly. Four candidates -- College junior Michael Bassik, Wharton junior Jonathan Glick, College sophomore Dana Hork and Wharton sophomore Michael Krouse -- are running for the position of UA chairman. All of the candidates struck us as sincere and dedicated to improving the UA. But two stood out head and shoulders above the rest in both their accomplishments to date and the means they would take to improve student government at Penn. For that reason, we endorse Michael Bassik for UA chairman and Michael Krouse for vice chairman of the body. Both Glick and Hork are well-intentioned in their candidacies, but fail to offer any substantial policy proposals. Furthermore, Glick has little of the presence shown by previous UA chairmen, and Hork seems too have very limited high-level experience. Bassik, who has served as both treasurer and vice chairman of the UA, would bring an unmatched level of experience to the chairmanship. He knows and interacts well with the administration, and has substantial working knowledge of all areas of UA and University business. Insofar as it is the job of the UA chair to represent the body externally, Bassik seems comfortable with leadership and will put on the best face for the UA. And as the leading vote-getter for the College in each of the last two UA elections, he has the backing of the student body. Krouse demonstrates an admirable knack for innovative thought. His work on race relations and financial aid reform are both on the cusp of yielding real results. But Krouse is simply not yet up to Bassik's level, and would benefit from a year as vice chair. In the UA's No. 2 position, Krouse would be able to take the helm in improving the productivity of UA members, an area on which he has focused. Neither endorsement, however, is without qualification. We are concerned that Bassik is too quick to parrot the administration's line on many issues, and some of Krouse's solutions for enhancing the UA's efficiency seem to come straight from his Management textbooks. And none of the candidates have articulated any clear or comprehensive vision for what the UA should do in the next year on behalf of the student body. Nevertheless, Bassik and Krouse are clearly the most qualified and competent people to lead the UA in the coming year. We hope the 25 members of the UA will let us all see what they can do.