UA: The Undergraduate Assembly governs the undergraduate student body at Penn. UA members serve as the link between administrators and students, and the group attempts to bring issues important to students to the administration's attention. Throughout the last year, the UA has:
* Collected 2,100 student signatures on a petition against meal plan changes last semester.
* Built an outdoor rooftop basketball court.
* Extended the hours of the dental library during the finals period for students living on the western end of campus.
New Chairwoman and College senior Dana Hork -- the first female head of the UA in over a decade -- leads the body, which currently consists of 25 upperclassman members.
Eight spots in the UA, however, will not be filled until freshman elections. The Class of 2005 will elect eight UA representatives of their own in October, and will also select their class board.
UMC: The United Minorities Council is an umbrella organization on campus that serves to meet the needs of the minority community at Penn.
The body works to advocate the interests and issues of minority students to the administration.
Specifically, the UMC works to provide support to Caribbean/African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American student groups.
SCUE: Not only is the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education the oldest student government branch on Penn's campus, but the group also serves the important function of advising the administration on undergraduate academic life.
SCUE regularly attends meetings of the Committee of Undergraduate Deans. At these meetings, as well as in other forums, SCUE offers suggestions to administrators as to how to improve the quality of academics at Penn.
Recently, SCUE, under the leadership of College senior Lindsey Mathews, has:
* Published the long-awaited 2001 White Paper, which provided an evaluation of undergraduate education at Penn as well as suggestions for improving the University's academics.
* Implemented the SCUE Lunchroom program, which allows students to use their meal plans to take professors to lunch.
SPEC: Spring Fling. Madeleine Albright. The Social Planning and Events Committee works to bring events and speakers to Penn students every year.
Wharton senior Kevin Meyers leads this student government group,which focuses on organizing campus-wide cultural and social events. For instance, SPEC oversees Connaissance, the group that invites famous speakers like Bill Maher to Penn each semester.
Through SPEC-TRUM, the Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities, SPEC also works toward bringing artists of diverse backgrounds to Penn.
SAC: Student groups at Penn need money in order to operate, and the Student Activities Council oversees the distribution of such funding to various campus groups.
SAC controls hundreds of thousands of dollars, and last year, the body funded various student groups, ranging from community service to performing arts to Greek houses.
