Presented by The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Undergraduate Assembly is the elected, representative branch of student government at Penn, charged with improving life for all students through funding, services, and advocacy. The highest authority is the President of the student body, followed by the Vice President. The UA Vice President oversees UA Steering, a group of influential student groups on campus that meet to discuss issues pertaining to student life.
The purpose of the four Class Boards is to provide social programming that instills a sense of class and school spirit, unity and pride, and breaks through social barriers. Each class popularly elects a president, executive vice president, vice president for internal affairs, vice president for external affairs, vice president for finance, and class chairs.
1) Penn’s Funniest Home Videos: Penn students dm funny or interesting videos about their home life to the Class Board, and they can be highlighted in a weekly email.
2) Penn Olympics: the class is split into four teams, and it’s like color wars. The members on the winning team will get prizes (depending on the budget, hopefully gift cards).
3) Class Board sponsored blood drives throughout the in-person semester! People need blood more than ever and having lots of people donate at once will greatly help the Philadelphia community.
4) Virtual Penn Abroad: one or multiple Penn students per week from around the world (and different parts of the U.S.) describe what their lives are like at home.
5) Movie nights! Through Netflix party, Hulu Party, Amazon Prime party… any streaming service that has a share play feature we can use for a movie night.
1) Organization of donation program to Philadelphia AIDs Thrift. Instead of throwing out valuable goods during move-outs, students will be encouraged to make charitable gifts towards people living with HIV/AIDs
2) Organize activities that encourage classmates to explore the bounds of our diverse city, away from tourist centers and into real communities.
3) Push for Penn to make PILOTs towards the Philadelphia School District. This will be done by encouraging a class donation freeze until Penn recognizes this fight.
4) Create activities that highlight Penn's gentrification of West Philadelphia, educate peers about redlining, and explore overpolicing in Philadelphia.
5) Stand in solidarity with sanitation, food, and other service workers by demanding liveable wages. Creation of class activities that show appreciation for (predominately Black) service workers on campus.
6) Create more social events with goals of fostering trust, individual wellness, and artistic expression among classmates.
1) Speakup@Penn will be introduced as a CB controlled page for students to post complaints and ideas.
2) More COVID-19 testing throughout the semester, we have to flatten the curve and ensure we're back for spring, we want to experience fling. (Let's also not forget about tuition)
3) International students must be given more attention to navigate through life and work abroad, especially during these troubling times.
4) Let’s stop getting locked out because we forgot our PennCard, I’ll connect it to Apple and Google pay so we'll have it on our phones.
5) Ensuring that our campus is diverse and inclusive will be a priority, I will advocate for the introduction of a new Diversity & Inclusivity seat at the Class Board.
6) Social life once campus is open again will be prioritized, I will make sure that there are as many events as possible (please read the first letter of each point :)).
1) Delayed Gratification Plan - More conservative spending budget consisting of creative virtual programming fall semester, allowing more flexibility, opportunity, and spending power for *hopefully* responsible in-person events in the spring.
2) Creative Virtual Programming - Given the new environment, I will be resourceful to continue virtually bringing the class together and build community, including leveraging new emerging platforms and online options.
3) Local Collaboration - I want to increasingly work alongside other student groups/organizations at Penn to create and offer additional value to our class this year for ideas and programming.
4) Diversity, Inclusion, & Social Justice - CB is a position of privilege. I want to leverage that to continue advocating for further change, representation, and initiatives for BIPOC at Penn.
5) Pushing The Boundaries - Looking outside of the Penn bubble and Philadelphia for more opportunities, such as collaborating with student governments at other schools for unique student offerings and programming.
6) Merch - Our merch last year was cut short due to COVID. I will work with OSA to brainstorm and troubleshoot how we can still create and offer 2023 merch.
1) Appoint the first chair of diversity and inclusion to the Class Board, who will protect the interests of underrepresented minorities.
2) Work closely with the UA and university administration to ensure all future COVID related planning is disseminated promptly and includes actionable information, preparing for a return to campus this spring.
3) Ensure future Class Merch receives a modern and appealing update and is actually delivered as promised.
4) Drive to unite our class through events and programming that will foster a stronger school spirit and increase attendance at athletic events.
5) Enhance online programming and expand to organize an influential speaker series, featuring prominent and inspiring personalities to engage with the Penn community, wherever you may be this semester.
6) Collaborate with members of Penn dining and university administration to improve quality and ensure inclusivity in food options for people with food allergies, dietary restrictions, religious diets, and athletic requirements.
1) Mental health matters. We need to emphasize mental wellness year-round with regular ‘23 group CAPS sessions and partnerships with campus mental health organizations to bring comprehensive resources to the class.
2) Diversity strengthens us. We need to uplift diverse voices by partnering with student leaders in multicultural organizations to host cultural creative nights to foster unity through education.
3) COVID-19 should not be the end of student-to-student connection. We need virtual social programming like Zoom mixers, streamed concerts, and physical wellness activities to continue to build relationships off-campus
4) Class Board is a valuable platform to educate and assist. By working with campus organizations that work for the betterment of the community, we can positively impact our neighbors.
5) Students deserve easy access to information. A new website would feature class events, resources, and initiatives while highlighting student creative projects and permit easy submission of requests and complaints.
1) Drive participation and engagement among classmates.
2) Offer unique events that will appeal to the masses complimenting the longstanding Penn traditions the Class Board already presents.
3) Pressing issues I will push in student government: (lead in to four and five)
4) Increase the number of options for meal plans. The ratio of dining dollars to swipes is incompatible with students' experiences.
5) Change the printing system, making it free for all students, not just those within specific schools.
1) Mental health matters. We need to emphasize mental wellness year-round with regular ‘23 group CAPS sessions and partnerships with campus mental health organizations to bring comprehensive resources to the class.
2) Diversity strengthens us. We need to uplift diverse voices by partnering with student leaders in multicultural organizations to host cultural creative nights to foster unity through education.
3) COVID-19 should not be the end of student-to-student connection. We need virtual social programming like Zoom mixers, streamed concerts, and physical wellness activities to continue to build relationships off-campus.
4) Class Board is a valuable platform to educate and assist. By working with campus organizations that work for the betterment of the community, we can positively impact our neighbors.
5) Students deserve easy access to information. A new website would feature class events, resources, and initiatives while highlighting student creative projects and permit easy submission of requests and complaints.
1) Maintain community this semester in a virtual environment with events like Zoom raves, game nights, and speed-dating. Collaborate with other Class Boards to connect different years together.
2) Come back strong from COVID-19 with back-to-back events and Penn traditions on-campus.
3) Provide a shipping option to deliver Penn merch sold by Class Board to directly your house (financial aid included for eligible students)
4) Promote inclusion, and increase funding/partnerships with cultural organizations like the Makuu Black Cultural Center, the LGBT Center, La Casa Latina, the Penn's Women Center, and the Assembly of International Students.
5) Continue supporting FGLI students in Penn traditions and represent FGLI interests in the UA
6) Promote better communication and outreach practices in UA representation
1) Communicate: You can’t take advantage of opportunities that you don’t know about. I’ll make sure that conversations outside and inside the university are concisely conveyed to the class of 2023.
2) Empathize: I care. It’s that simple. I want everyone to feel welcome, worthy and supported. I’ll put in the work to get you whatever you need to feel that way.
3) Connect: We are more physically distant than ever, but physical distance doesn’t meet that we forget each other. I promise to provide ways for everyone at home and at Penn to meet.
4) Safety: Your health is of paramount importance to me. I push Penn to provide more virtual opportunities for both your physical and mental health like free therapy.
1) Unity: more important than ever now! We must find ways to be together.
2) Social Justice: we must also learn how to be responsible members of the Philadelphia community.
3) Community Service: what ways can we serve the greater community?
4) (Virtual) Fun: lots of opportunities to continue meeting peers and having fun together!
5) Communication: I will make sure that we stay in contact and find the best way to give and receive information.
1) Community & Connectivity - Fun merch! More social events/activities to connect people (hobby webinars, collaborative playlists, etc.)! More connection with Penn groups/organizations for collaboration
2) Communication - Ensuring transparency between the board and student body. Continue utilizing social media to engage students (would love to do Quaker highlights on our stories).
3) Inclusivity - Providing more options/support for FGLI, POC, LGBTQ+, etc. Focus our efforts on important issues that matter to students.
4) Mental Health & Wellness - Care packages for midterm/finals season! Emphasize/offer CAPS resources. Positive/pick-me-up messages on social media with mental health reminders :)
1) Last year, I fought to increase the class board budgets alongside the older VP’s of Finance. This year, I will do the same. Let’s increase financial aid substantially for merch.
2) Supporting and uplifting our class’ diverse voices and cultures is really important to me. So cultural food festival anyone? Free food from a variety of cuisines sounds like the dream.
3) For mental health advocacy, we’ll partner with Active Minds so people can virtually hear helpful tips/ask questions about resources. Also, Pet Meet N Greet online and more puppies/massages on campus!
4) Socially distanced on campus, we’ll do a painting day! All supplies (canvas/paint) will be provided and it’ll be a fun and relaxing hour with music lightly playing in the background.
5) Along with offering increased financial aid for merch, I want to help offer a boatload of options other than just P Sweaters: sweatpants, bucket hats, and whatever you all want.
6) My last platform point is blank on purpose. I want to hear what YOU ALL want. Do you all want a field day with tug-of-war? A silent rave? I’m listening!
1) I plan to design awesome UPenn Class of 2023 apparel!
2) Until in-person events are possible - I plan to do whatever I can to virtually unite our AMAZING class.
3) When safe, amazing events with LOTS of food!
4) I plan to advocate for funding of groups that fight for racial equity!
5) More events with puppies :)
6) Overall, I want to be a supportive presence for our entire class in these trying times.
1) Penn Sophomore Year Sweatshirt Sale
2) Virtual volunteering/internship opportunities for our sophomore class
3) Class Board fund allocation to non-profits that fight for racial equity in academic environments
4) More puppies on campus during our spring semester
5) More free food and new collaborations with restaurants
6) International Food Event in the Spring
1) Diversity and inclusivity- ALL of your perspectives and inputs matter; cultural events, etc.
2) Mental Health Awareness and support- the GRIND never sto-... needs a break once in a while
3) MORE FREE MERCH and collabs for engineering shirts
4) More engineering bonding events (potential collabs with ESAC etc.)
5) Connection: Isolation is tough :/…. Chill online events for fall to connect with peers
6) Ultimately, I want to be a friend that can both listen and act on what you think is important :)
1) “We Are Not Really Strangers”: having an in-depth conversation about self-perception, emotions, and reflection with a stranger to facilitate meaningful connections.
2) "Saturdays with the Sophomores”: creating a social media movement where we would highlight a talented and high-achieving member of our class each month.
3) “Social Equity @ Penn”: continuing the Class Board’s effort in advancing diversity inclusion on campus by increasing CB’s social activism and student life support role.
1) Maintain accessible free COVID testing on campus throughout the year
2) Implement a program through which students can form online study groups and meet peers in their classes; Adapt the Take Your Professor to Lunch Program to an online platform
3) Partner with local restaurants and food trucks to accept dining dollars; Allow meal swipes at Houston Hall (post-COVID)
4) Work on acquiring student government funding for pre-professional clubs
5) Improve and increase outdoor seating on and around Locust Walk
6) Work with mental health and wellness groups on campus to ensure easily accessible resources for all students
1) Quarter Zips & Harry Potter T-Shirts - Even though its up in the air if we'll ever get back to campus, I will make sure our class can purchase both items
2) Merch Drops - As we will be saving our funds for the first semester, I plan on having a massive merch drop when we return to campus! Hats, Mugs, Scarves, etc
3) Improving Residential & Dining Life - I continually want to make sure that students are happy with dining & housing by advocating through each respective advisory boards.
4) SAC Recruitment - Improve the recruitment process for freshmen and transfers who are already stressed about acclimating and meeting new friends.
5) Traffic light - Fix the traffic light at 38th & Spruce. It is so dangerous! DPS should put more pressure on the city to fix it.