My motivation behind running for Undergraduate Assembly vice president stems from my involvement as College freshman representative in 2008-09. I was excited to be a part of an elected student government branch that could effectuate the will of the student body, or so I thought. With that excitement I worked with seniors of that year and lobbied the administration to expedite renovations of DuBois College House, a project which had been continuously pushed back in favor of other initiatives. After this accomplishment, I was upset to slowly discover the UA was not structured in a way that could truly represent the will, desires, events, philanthropy and issues of Penn students, and, furthermore, that most Penn students didn’t view the UA as a significant branch of student government. I left because I wasn’t in a position to change it. I’ve returned because now I can change it but not alone. I need your support.
As UA vice president, I will change the structure of Steering in very positive ways: at a very fundamental level, we would work to bridge the gap between UA members and Steering by establishing an attendance policy at Steering meetings for UA members. We believe it is absolutely essential for the entire body to understand, verify and act on the issues brought to the UA by Steering groups and their constituents. We will mandate all UA members to be assigned to each umbrella group on UA Steering and attend the general body meetings of these groups. We want to create more direct channels of communication between Steering groups and UA members; we want Steering groups and their constituents to feel more included on the UA, and we will actively reach out to Steering groups to properly grasp each group’s interests/initiatives. When these members attend, each sub group within an umbrella group will list their events, philanthropy and projects for the year. These UA members as well as UA Steering groups will present these events and issues at Steering for two purposes: 1) to match and potentially coordinate with other groups for events and philanthropy if desired (this will increase awareness and attendance for the event). 2) to compile these events (when finalized) into a database that we will disseminate to Penn students through emails from individual UA members.
I believe this system will place an importance on and incentive to attend UA Steering meetings. We will also open meeting to all groups, clubs, sports teams and individuals for an opportunity to collaborate and advertise through this system. This system will also serve in organizing rallies, sit-ins and petitions for issues that require larger student numbers, such as increased minority faculty recruitment and spurring efforts to departmentalize undergraduate centers and programs.
I also plan to advertise the fact that people can email the UA and Steering freely. I just think part of the problem is people don’t know or don’t think the UA has much to offer them. However, if everyone is included in student politics and everyone knows they’re voice will be heard and responded to, then that will keep students involved, informed and in communication.
These are my visions, hopes and plans, but it’s only a small portion of a larger initiative complemented by Cornelius’ platform. Together, we believe that the UA should not be about arguments over scope, nor about listening to one voice while ignoring another — the UA should not be about policy updates or placing one’s name next to a project; rather, the UA should and will accept all opinions and realizes that these polar opinions are what comprise our whole body — rather, the UA will serve as a medium for mobilizing students for events, philanthropy and larger issues and disseminating that information out to you.
My name is Adam Alexander Hamilton, and I am running for the opportunity to augment a branch of Penn’s student government that has the potential to truly serve you. Godspeed.
Adam Hamilton is a College junior and former member of the Undergraduate Assembly. He is running for UA Vice President. Check out his candidate page here.
