Staff Editorial: Jason Levine for UA chairman

At tonight's Undergraduate Assembly transition meeting, one of three UA members -- College juniors Jason Levine and Jennifer Choi and Wharton junior Yelena Gershman -- will be picked to be the chairman for next year.

The candidates are all well-qualified, possessing both experience with the internal workings of the UA and a vision of an assembly that will better serve the undergraduate body. All three would make an effective chairman. Nonetheless, we believe Jason Levine to be the best candidate.

Levine is organized and articulate, and he would make the best public face for the UA. For a body that often has trouble with student recognition, the fact that he got the most votes in the last election is telling.

Levine understands the importance of timely legislation. His effective work with the dispute between the food truck operators and the University regarding how late the trucks could stay open is a testament to this. That effort also demonstrates his ability to work with other groups, since while the food trucks were an issue for undergraduates, they were a bigger issue for graduate students. He authored the coed housing proposal, something brought to the UA by an unaffiliated student and an issue that many students find important.

Levine also recognizes, as do the other candidates, that the UA election process in general lends itself to jest over genuine debate. While he understands that some students need to make a splash in order to get themselves noticed, he recognizes that this creates a tone that is unpleasant to many potential voters. His suggestion to standardize the process, making candidates address the same questions in their statements, should be examined by the UA regardless of whether he becomes the next chairman. Levine also appears to have a good ear for what concerns the undergraduate body, noting the impending need to address the conflict between students and the RIAA.

Yelena Gershman understands, as do the other members, that the UA's biggest problem is outreach to the undergraduate body. Her concrete method for dealing with this problem was salient: She suggested having separate UA meetings to address issues that undergraduates care about. This way, students could be involved with the process and make their voices heard without sitting through the motions and formal processes that keep many students away from current UA meetings. However, we worry that her desire to consistently represent a united front may lead her to ignore some important voices on campus in favor of pleasing everybody. An effective leader must realize that you cannot please everyone all of the time.

Jennifer Choi's experience and professional demeanor were impressive. As treasurer, a position that involves actually running meetings on occasion, she is loaded with experience and appears very committed. Her focus on efficiency and professionalism would be vital to a body that has been stymied by inaction in the past. However, we were not convinced that she would be the most adept at dealing with the myriad groups and personalities that the UA chairman must interact with.

While all the candidates are strong, Levine seems to be better suited to the role of chairman than the others. When UA members vote tonight, they should select Levine to lead the body next year.

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