GUEST COLUMN: "See Beyond the Headlines - We are Making a Difference

What is the Undergraduate Assembly doing for me? Why doesn't elected student government do something? These questions are asked time and time again by undergraduates around campus. While headlines might tell you differently, the UA has accomplished a lot this year and is working on even more. While student government is far from perfect, it is not the defunct, useless body some say it is. Despite having its share of problems, the UA does get a lot done. The UA is pursuing two types of goals this year: long-term and short-term. Our long-term project this semester is called "Project 2000," a five-year plan for improving student life at the University. It will not be a group of empty resolutions, but a specific, detailed plan of how to reach the goals that we undergraduates have set out for ourselves. The UA, in conjunction with other groups and individuals, is working hard to create proposals for keeping tuition increases to just one percent above the rate of inflation, getting PARIS on-line, placing police in the most effective manner to combat crime, and many others. These are not flashy or exciting projects. There is no high drama or intrigue. Don't expect to see them very often in the headlines, as committee meetings to discuss serious proposals are not exactly the most interesting stories in the world. But know that student government is working on long- term proposals to improve student life at the University. Project 2000 will profoundly change this University for the next five years, but many people don't know that the UA is creating such solid proposals. The UA is also working on short-term goals to improve life right now. Already this year we have completed reports on how to implement the new changes in fraternity rush and a report reviewing the budget of Residential Living. As a result of these reports, fraternities will have time to adjust to moving rush to spring semester, the elevators in the High Rises are being renovated in the upcoming years, and a competitive bidding practice has been instituted as the norm in hiring external firms (like Allied Security). The UA is now working with different administrators and theater companies to try and keep a movie theater on campus. We are lobbying the Provost to commit to the building of a new campus center. Our finance committee is trying to get the four undergraduate schools to release their budgets so we can review them. We have just instituted a Program for Student Advocacy, where we will be visiting the residences, sitting on Locust Walk, and setting up a newsgroup to get more student input and to help undergrads with problems they might be having. You can also get involved. There is no reason why only the thirty-three elected members of the Undergraduate Assembly can work on these issues. All portions of all of our general UA meetings are open to the public, and we have twelve different committees where any undergraduate can join and be a full participant. We meet every Sunday at 9 p.m. (usually in Houston Hall). Stop on by or call us at 898-8908! No student government is perfect. The UA has made mistakes in the past and will make more mistakes in the future. Student government derives all of its power from its ability to propose ideas and persuade administrators. Very rarely will you hear the UA praised either in public or the media. When the UA accomplishes something, it is buried in the middle of a paper or newscast, and when we make a mistake it is always front page or the top story on the evening news. You have probably seen that we have had our share of internal problems over the course of the past week, but we have now worked them out and are ready to continue on our mission of student advocacy. We ask all undergraduates to see past the headlines and see the real story: that while the UA is not going to solve every problem of the University in one semester, we are improving student life in many ways. We will continue to do so -- no matter what the headlines might read. Dan Debicella is a junior Finance and Strategic Management major from Shelton, Connecticut and chairperson of the Undergraduate Assembly.

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