The Undergraduate Assembly saw its largest turnout yet this semester at Sunday's debate on the recent decision to update the current Information Systems and Computing calendar rather than endorse DormNoise as the official University-wide calendar system.
While DormNoise - created by Wharton sophomore and UA member Jay Rodrigues - functions as a social networking Web site with a built-in calendar, ISC would rework the Penn calendar system on Penn Portal.
A group, which included members from the UA Academic Affairs Committee and the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education's Online Initiatives Working Group, met earlier this semester to select the final PennCal option by ranking criteria important to student and University needs.
The group also met with the School of Arts and Sciences Technology Advisory Board, SAS Computing representative Chris Mustazza and Office of Student Life Director Fran Walker before ultimately choosing ISC.
Among the crowd that voiced opinions were several members from SCUE in support of the ISC calendar.
In opposition was a group of students, mostly unaffiliated with any involved parties, who said they supported DormNoise.
Rodrigues explained the efficiency his platform provides, in contrast to ISC.
DormNoise "moves fast - as fast as [ISC] can," he said.
Rodriguez also noted that hosting the calendar on Penn's servers would require both initial hardware investments and annual server costs. DormNoise, in comparison, would be free to both students and the University.
College sophomore and UA Academic Affairs Committee Chairman Matt Amalfitano expressed concern over a third-party vendor, citing possible security issues with providing PennKeys to access the calendar.
College and Wharton senior and former SCUE Chairman Zach Fuchs agreed with Amalfitano, stressing the "universality and longevity" an ISC-based system would provide.
Fuchs also explained the decision process and the need to support what has been carefully chosen.
"You have to respect the process," he said. "You have to go with your own people here."
College sophomore and UA member Alec Webley suggested an alternative to the DormNoise or ISC debate.
"We can have free competition between DormNoise and the PennCal system," he said.
In comparing DormNoise to Facebook, Webley said, "Students will use DormNoise whether we want it or not."
After the PennCal debate, the majority of non-UA members filtered out and the UA turned to other new business.
Members discussed the laptop lock pilot program in Van Pelt Library and a preliminary overview of the 2009-2010 budget.
They also passed a proposal to host an on-campus "College Day" program to expose local Philadelphia middle- and high-school students to the opportunities of college.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.