While the Undergraduate Assembly completed its fall 2004 semester with fewer proposals than previous bodies, members are taking pride in the tangible progress that has been made behind the scenes, and are hopeful that more long-term projects will come to fruition next semester.
The most timely of the UA's accomplishments this semester is the addition of more late-night study options during finals week -- particularly at locations near off-campus housing.
McNeil Computer Lab, 1920 Commons, and Steinhardt Hall are all extending their hours of operation during the finals period, as will Ben and Jerry's, Bubble House, and Bucks County Coffee Company on 40th Street.
The UA also played a part in getting a revamped final exam schedule implemented for Fall 2005. Under the new system, finals will begin later in the day and there will be more time in between consecutive finals.
Also this semester, the UA passed a plan of action to support the exploration of legal alternatives to file sharing through student access to a music file database, and successfully lobbied for the addition of a computer lab in Houston Hall.
Nevertheless, according to Undergraduate Assembly chairman and College senior Jason Levine, the primary, overarching goal of the body this semester was to increase communication with its constituents.
To that end, the UA switched the location of their weekly meetings from their usual Houston Hall locale to buildings closer to students' homes twice this semester.
While he acknowledges that the student turn-out for these meetings could have been greater, Levine said that the meetings will continue next semester because they were successful in letting undergraduates know how to reach the UA.
"If [students] have an issue, they'll come. If they don't, they won't," Levine said.
The UA also intends to hold more topic-based town hall meetings, like their collaborative effort with the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education last week, to try to ascertain student opinion on varying issues.
Also in Spring 2005, the UA hopes to create a student health advisory board, which will to work towards improving the Student Health System.
Additionally, the body is focusing on making advanced registration easier and more convenient for students -- perhaps by including a "shopping period" for classes. The UA will also be meeting with dining officials to discuss meal plan improvements.
Levine noted that the body made fewer proposals this semester than in semesters past because much more work and time has gone into researching and creating their initiatives.
"In terms of productivity and being a representative body, our members have been absolutely incredible," Levine said.
"We're expecting to have an amazing spring semester with regard to the number of formal recommendations we make, and we are confident that they will be favorable to the administration."
