The Undergraduate Assembly accused University real estate officials of deliberately misleading students about projects that will limit outdoor recreation space.
In response, the UA urged a halt to construction on an art project at 40th and Locust streets that is scheduled to be completed this week.
As part of a larger proposal that seeks to increase green space on campus, the UA said, "The University has been less than forthright on past and current development of such [green] spaces."
Real estate officials could not be reached for comment after the UA meeting adjourned late last night.
UA Vice Chairman and College senior Zack Rosenblum said that University officials did not accurately inform students about the extent to which the construction -- part of a public-art project called "Plateau" -- would monopolize the field near the high rises.
Senior Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik "assured us it would not take up any of the green space," Rosenblum said. "That is not the case when you walk down there. The art installment goes into places that were [once] green space."
The resolution, which passed unanimously with one abstention, urges administrators to better inform students about construction plans before projects move forward.
"They talked to us about the art project, [but] they thought about landscaping and making pathways" without informing students, said College senior and UA member Spencer Scharff. "When you build pathways, you take away green space."
UA members who spoke in favor of the proposal said they want to maintain the sense of community that green space lends Penn's urban environment.
UA member and College freshman Hayling Price said that he was initially attracted to Penn because the campus boasted ample lawn space in its brochure.
However, he said he is disappointed to find only a few areas of green space open to students on Penn's central campus.
The body also discussed developing long-term plans to increase the amount of green space, including efforts to reclaim outdoor recreational areas overrun by new construction projects.
"The issue of restoring green space is not one we need to be hindered by," Rosenblum said. "To [get rid of] pathways [that infringe on green space] is in no way a huge burden. We're not talking about knocking down buildings."
Student debt
The UA also passed a resolution that members plan to send straight to the U.S. Congress.
In an effort to reduce the financial burdens that students face, the UA resolved to send its concerns to Pennsylvania representatives as part of the coalition to "Stop the Raid on Student Aid," a nationwide effort to lobby politicians against cuts to federal tuition-grant programs.
Student debt has come to the UA's attention due to the government's recent large-scale cuts to programs that offer students billions of dollars in financial aid.
Earlier this month, Congress voted to slash federal student-loan programs by $14.3 billion. The Senate also cut $9.7 billion in similar aid.
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