To Penn's top administrators, College senior Rachel Fersh is the face of 9,900 undergraduates.
As chairwoman of the Undergraduate Assembly, Fersh leads an organization with the power to allocate $1.4 million in funds and represent undergraduate interests to the administration and faculty.
Despite 40-hour work weeks, Fersh still says that she loves her job.
"It makes me happy to represent undergrads," she said. "I know I'm doing everything I can to improve student life at Penn."
Fersh took questions submitted by interested students.
College sophomore Alexis McFarlane: Who are you? What do you guys do?
RF: We are 33 elected representatives who all have a passion for helping our fellow students.
We do whatever is in our power ... to improve the quality of undergraduate student life. That's anything from trying to get a music-subscription service with Napster to improving facilities and to working on the College House system.
College and Wharton sophomore Szoa Geng: We just got a Starbucks. Are there any plans to have other retail institutions come in?
RF: That's done by the retail department at Penn. Members of the UA have been asked to help with input for all these different places. We are looking for new retail options as they develop the postal lands.
Wharton freshman Yusuke Uchiyama: Why is it not an entirely wireless campus?
RF: We are one of the top advocates for getting wireless. [The University does not yet] have the money for it.
College sophomore Heather Gorn: Are you planning to increase recycling on campus? What is your plan of action?
RF: Recycling is one of the top priorities for the UA. Our [campuswide recycling] plan is to have a building code that requires a number of recycling receptacles [per] square footage. We plan to have a system in place by the end of next month.
College freshman Boris Fedorov: Do you actually feel that you're representative of our undergraduate class?
RF: I know that I try my best to be a representative for the undergraduate class. This is difficult when there is a one-third voter turnout. I would like to be more representative. The only way I can do that is if undergraduates take the time to tell me what they like and dislike.
Nursing sophomore Meggan Dillon: What do you do to try to foster unity and respect among the four schools?
RF: Most of our focus is on the average Penn student and their way of life. Many [social aspects such as] housing, dining and recreation are similar. So we don't tend to focus on the differences between them but more the commonalities.
