Tonight, student government leaders will be holding a meeting to discuss changes to the Undergraduate Assembly’s election procedure. And while we don’t yet know where we stand on the idea of UA reform, we’re open to the discussion and happy to see students engaged in the issue.
Currently, the UA uses a parliamentary system of elections — students elect 24 members to the UA in the spring (an additional nine are elected through fall freshman elections), and then members of the body elect an executive board to govern the body.
This system has worked well enough since the inception of student government. In recent years, though, as the profile of the body has arguably risen, some students have begun to question whether the chairperson should be a popularly elected position.
Over the last several years, this paper has very consistenty maintained and promoted the belief that any efforts to engage more students in Penn’s student government should be encouraged. Student leaders have actively and creatively tried to do so several times in the last few years; starting a discussion over how to elect one of the most important and visible leaders on campus is a step worth considering.
Involving more students in the election could, in theory, increase both transparency of student government as well as awareness of the role that student leaders play on campus.
It is far too early to endorse or discard the idea of UA reform, but we will be paying attention to this situation. We hope you will, too.
