Panel provides CURF with advice

As the newly formed Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships has gained momentum, there has been one thing missing -- student input. Until now. With help from the Nominations and Elections Committee, CURF yesterday named a student advisory board to help run the new research center. The five-member group is composed of representatives from three of the University's four undergraduate schools, as well as from the Ben Franklin and University Scholars programs. "I thought that it would be a good way to get involved in the University," said College junior Jessica Linden, one of the new appointees. She added that it would be an opportunity to make changes that would better the community and highlight more research opportunities that students may not realize are available to them now. The other representatives are College junior Jeremy Chaison, Engineering freshman Beeneet Kothari, Engineering sophomore Alvin Moh and Wharton junior Sarah Campbell. The NEC plans to appoint a sixth representative from the Nursing School. CURF, which opened at the start of the semester, will introduce undergraduates to research opportunities inside and outside the University, help undergraduates write research proposals and provide research funding. In addition to the numerous faculty members helping get the program off the ground, the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education met with CURF Director Arthur Casciato to discuss ways to help the new center. SCUE is currently helping CURF put together a student database. "I think that it's going to be a really valuable resource," said SCUE Vice Chair and College junior Hanny Hindi, who worked closely with Casciato on the project. "In recent years students and faculty have put an emphasis on undergraduate research." "I think this is a wonderful idea," she added. CURF decided the center would not be complete without help from the student body, and consequently requested a student advisory board. According to NEC Chair Nick Goad, the new board will play a crucial role in the center. "It came really from Art feeling like CURF wouldn't be effective if it wasn't run and led by the students," the Wharton senior said. "They should really be the ones creating and shaping CURF." The NEC, through e-mail, listserves and a recent Daily Pennsylvanian column, notified the student body of the application process. The NEC was disappointed to receive only 20 applications. Goad attributed the low student response to timing. "We recognize that this is such a difficult time of year to get people to volunteer for another thing to do, especially with finals coming up," he said. "I think the applicant pool represented students who were truly interested." SCUE will nominate someone from its membership to chair the new board. Goad said he was confident that the new board will become an integral part of the center. "I think that a student advisory board will allow CURF to be an organization that will be of some meaning to undergrads and provide services for students," he noted. Linden said she is excited about the services CURF will offer. "It's completely new so what is great about it is that we get to watch it grow and make it grow," she said. "I am really looking forward to making it into something useful so that all students can benefit." For the past semester, CURF has relied on faculty from the General Honors Program, the Office for International Programs and the Speaking Across the University program.