The Undergraduate Assembly met last night for the first time this semester, reviewing past undertakings and discussing the body's future initiatives, which range from a music subscription service to petitioning for Ivy League postseason football play.
"I'm impressed with the progress we've made and I hope the whole University will be impressed with our progress by the end of the year," said UA Chairwoman and College senior Rachel Fersh.
The meeting included a mid-year progress report for all of the UA's completed, in-progress and upcoming projects. Representatives from several umbrella student groups were also in attendance.
Completed projects include an improved UA Web site where students can now view the voting records of UA members.
UA Secretary and College senior Amy Gartenlaub noted that the improvements would be especially helpful to students during student government elections.
Many projects have seen progress over the course of first semester, UA members said, but are not yet completed.
According to College sophomore Jason Karsh, the UA has narrowed music subscription service options to two possible providers and hopes to have the service available by the end of August.
The UA's Student Life Committee will present a dining improvement proposal next week following "a successful in content -- but not in attendance -- town hall and many e-mail surveys," College freshman and UA member Bing Chen said.
Initiatives for Spring Fling alcohol and drug awareness programs will continue this semester, keeping the slogan, "Changing culture, maintaining tradition."
UA Vice Chairman and College senior Zack Rosenblum plans to lead an effort in conjunction with other Ivy League universities to allow Ivy football teams to compete in the NCAA postseason.
The UA also presented a host of new project ideas, including a landlord symposium for off-campus living, Blackboard and Penn InTouch changes, improved peer advising and the addition of recreational classes.
"It's our goal to figure out how to get everything done by the time we leave here in May," Rosenblum said.
Fersh noted that many projects are slow to start but that the UA has made headway.
"A lot of great projects take a long time to complete, and that's OK," Fersh said.
Looking ahead - The UA set its agenda for the upcoming semester at its first meeting last night. - UA members discussed procuring a music subscription service that would allow students to legally download music - The Student Life Committee continued debates on ways to control drinking at Spring Fling
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