With 2 1/2 weeks left in the semester, the Undergraduate Assembly has done relatively little in terms of passing new proposals and making progress on old initiatives.
While the UA has worked on relaxing the final exam schedule and passed a resolution supporting the Penn College Democrats in their drive to add on-campus polling locations, this semester has been relatively unproductive for the group compared to past years.
The UA has passed seven proposals this semester, two of which were concerning internal matters. Last year at this time, the body had passed twice as many proposals.
There has also been little tangible progress with regard to proposals passed last year, with the exception of the changes to the final exam policy. Under the new schedule, effective fall 2005, the first exam period of each day will begin at 9 a.m. -- rather than the current 8:30 a.m. start -- and the time between exam periods will be extended to a full hour.
According to UA Chairman and College senior Jason Levine, however, the reason that the UA has passed fewer proposals this semester than in previous years is because it is narrowing its focus to address only those proposals with the most promise.
"In past years, one of the biggest criticisms of the UA is that it has been a paper-pushing body," Levine said, noting that previously, the body would pass proposals that were not adequately researched. Such initiatives therefore had little support when brought before administrators.
This year, the UA is trying to do more extensive research by increasing communication with University officials and conducting surveys of undergraduates "to make sure that our initiatives have a better chance of getting implemented," Levine said.
"It means less proposals but more success," he added.
Levine also noted that a larger focus of the UA this year has been to increase communication between the body and Penn undergraduates. It has tried to achieve this goal through a redesigned Web site, opt-in weekly e-mail updates and UA Across Campus -- which periodically relocates weekly UA meetings from Houston Hall to a college house or another building closer to students' homes.
However, these efforts are lost on a number of undergraduates.
"I have no idea what the UA does," College junior Jeffrey Kahn said.
Kahn added that the information "is available, I just don't pay attention. I just don't think it's worth my time to focus on it."
College sophomore Sara Anderson expressed a similar sentiment.
"I really have no knowledge about what the UA is doing," Anderson said. "I haven't made an effort to find out."
Though many students remain uninterested in the UA's activities, some are satisfied with its progress.
"They're not super fast" in terms of turning out proposals, Engineering sophomore Samhitha Udupa said, "but they're not lacking."
A busy semester?
In 10 meetings over the course of the semester, the UA has passed seven proposals, two of which covered internal matters. UA meeting attendance policy: Implemented stronger sanctions for members who violate attendance rules. Internal budget request: Approved $78 for posters. College House Plan of Action: Provided suggestions for improving college house programs. Recycling at Greek houses: Proposed an increase in recycling efforts after registered parties. 'Penn Talks Politics Day': Backed plan for a day of political discourse prior to the election. On-campus polling locations: Supported the Penn Democrats' proposal to add four on-campus polling locations for the election. File-sharing proposal: Encouraged officials to look into file-sharing options for students.
