Sunday night, the Undergraduate Assembly convened for the first time at the newly-renovated DuBois College House.
Representatives from the 5B, Penn’s five minority coalitions, and the Penn Consortium for Undergraduate Women were in attendance to speak about issues relevant to their groups.
Prior to voting on any resolutions, UA members listened to presentations from 5B, the minority groups’ representatives outlined upcoming objectives and events.
Afterward, attendees were given the opportunity to present their proposals, followed by a question-and-answer session and a final vote.
The first resolution the UA voted on was the Student Financial Services Feedback Proposal, introduced by Latino Coalition Vice Chairwoman and College junior Wendy de la Rosa and Nursing junior and UA member GJ Melendez-Torres in response to the current absence of a feedback system by which students who visit SFS can evaluate their experiences.
Once put into effect, the proposal would implement a student feedback system to monitor and assess the quality of service provided by SFS counselors. It would also mandate an annual student relations training session for SFS staff members to standardize service.
De la Rosa said the measure will identify the counselors who perform their jobs exceptionally well, as well as expedite counseling sessions and enhance the efficacy of the overall process.
This proposal was passed unanimously, with no abstentions.
The second resolution, advanced by UA member and College sophomore Amanda Young, advocated winter break housing for international students who live in low-rise college houses. During past winter breaks, international students who did not live in high-rise dormitories had to live in the rooms of friends who did.
In addition, the International Student Housing Resolution aimed to provide a summer mailing system for international students who lack U.S. addresses while abroad over summer break, resulting in lost mail and problems with loan applications and monthly bill payments.
Lastly, the proposal advocated the abolition of the International Student Orientation fee which charges ISO participants $25 to $50 more per night, in addition to the New Student Orientation fee they are already required to pay for the extra two days they live on campus before NSO begins.
Because ISO is already optional, the resolution argued, this additional expense may deter international students from attending the program.
After much debate, the resolution was tabled to the Housing, Sustainability and Facilities Committee to be discussed further.
The final item on the agenda was a request for permission to print a letter of support addressed to the East Coast Asian American Student Union in a press kit. The proposal passed with a unanimous vote and one abstention.
