The Undergraduate Assembly kicked off the 2004-2005 academic year with its first meeting yesterday.
The UA Executive Board -- made up of Chairman and College senior Jason Levine, Vice Chairwoman and Wharton junior Cynthia Wong, Secretary and College junior Amy Gartenlaub, Treasurer and Wharton junior Sean Walker and University Council Steering Representative and College junior Rachel Fersh -- led the 25-member body in a two-hour gathering at Houston Hall.
Being the first of the year, the meeting dealt little with UA projects, focusing instead on administrative business.
"The first meeting is always interesting, because it's more elections-based. We have a lot of positions that we have to fill," Wong said.
After a roll call and opening words from the executive board, new committee chairmen -- selected from among UA representatives through an application and interview process -- were announced.
College sophomore Georgiana Cavendish was appointed to chair the UA Education Committee, Wharton senior Yelena Gershman to the Facilities Committee, College junior Zach Rosenblum to the Student Life Committee and College sophomore Brendan Darrow to the Internal-External Committee.
"I'm really, really excited by the committee chairs. ... I think there's a lot of potential," Wong said.
She added, "I'm very impressed with the four individuals that we picked."
After a relatively brief review of old business and a few points of new business -- which included electing College sophomore Tony Inguaggiato and College junior Wesley Nakamura to the Budget Committee -- the meeting concluded relatively uneventfully.
"The bulk of UA activity stems from its committee system," Levine said.
"Since we just set up the committee structure, we'll expect the actual meat of what we do to start coming forth in the next couple of meetings."
Despite the subdued meeting, Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairwoman and College junior Samantha Springer is energized about the upcoming year.
"It seems like the UA is off to a really great start, and I'm really excited to work with them on future endeavors."
A few non-UA members, primarily freshmen, attended this opening meeting, which the board fully appreciated.
"We're looking forward to advertising our meetings and having more people come to help bridge the gap between the UA and the rest of the student body," Levine said.
