(Transcript of an interview with the candidates)
Although the Undergraduate Assembly has prided itself on its camaraderie, the body will be divided in electing the 2003-2004 executive board tonight.
This year, the position of chair will be claimed by one of three seasoned veterans -- College junior Kirsten Grubbs, Wharton and Engineering junior Matt Lattman or College junior Jason Levy.
The Nominations and Elections Committee will moderate the transition meeting, which will take place at 8 p.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Room of Houston Hall.
All the candidates praised current UA Chairman Seth Schreiberg's tenure, adding that they each want their turn to carry the UA to new and higher heights.
Grubbs aims to combat the apparent lack of connectivity between the UA and the community at large.
"I feel that we need to have a strong external voice that will promote us and market us to the rest of campus," she said.
Lattman is focusing on bringing critical thinking and research to the forefront of discussion.
"You need to be critical in order to succeed further," Lattman said. "We have a lot of potential, and I think my focus on research and professionalism is what we need to get ourselves from where we are today to where we want to be."
Levy said that he hopes to continue to work on integrating new members into the body and utilizing the ties he has forged through his work on the University Council "to convince administrators to do what is best for undergraduates on this campus."
The meeting agenda will permit time for position descriptions, candidate statements and questions, in the order of chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, secretary and UC steering representative.
Though only members of the new body can vote, outgoing members said they will attend the meeting to show their support.
"The election procedures are comprehensive enough that members of the UA will have enough information" to evaluate candidates, outgoing UA Vice Chairman and Wharton senior Ethan Kay said.
After the election for each position, candidates will have the opportunity to drop down and run for the position next in line. But Levy said that should he lose the election, he will not run for any other executive office -- "There are highly qualified people running for each position. I wouldn't want to take that opportunity away from them."
Currently, Grubbs and Levy serve on the UA executive board as secretary and University Council steering representative, respectively. Lattman, who also ran for chair last year as a sophomore, dropped down through each position during last year's elections. He was not elected to an executive position but rather, served as the chairman of the facilities committee.
"Last year, I ran on a whim with a lot less experience," Lattman said. "At this point, I have as much experience as either of my two co-candidates."
One aspect of this election that will be unique in comparison to others is the large number of incumbent members -- 17 of the UA's 23 members will be entering tonight's meeting having known the candidates for at least one year.
"I think it's hard for people not to have preconceived notions," Lattman said. "There's a lot of people on the fence."
According to Levy, "it is a flaw that new members are forced to make a very important decision based on limited exposure to the UA."
