Run entirely by students and encompassing the entire student body, the Undergraduate Student Government provides a representative voice for all undergraduate students, USG President Seth Williams said.
The organization is modeled along the lines of the United States government and is comprised of three main branches -- the executive branch, which oversees the entire organization, the legislative branch and the judicial branch.
The executive branch, headed by Williams and Vice President Amy Manderino, acts both as a liason between the administration and the undergraduate student body, and coordinates the activities of the various USG departments and other branches.
Various departments of the executive branch include:
-- Political and International Affairs, which serves a two-fold purpose. International Affairs attempts to promote international understanding among undergraduate students by bringing speakers and programs to campus, said department co-director Amy Dusch. The political affairs department focuses on student awareness of local and national issues, as well as conducting voter registration drives.
-- Legal Affairs, which provides students with information and advice on problems requiring legal expertise. The department, which operates under conditions of confidence and privacy, usually selects 15 new members from a pool of 80 to 100 applicants each semester, said Darryl Hummel, director of the department.
-- Minority Affairs, which promotes interaction among minority and non-minority students and provides related programs and speakers.
-- Women's Concerns, which focuses on such issues as sexual harrassment, rape survival, job discrimination and affirmative action.
USG's legislative branch includes the Academic Assembly and the Senate. A total of 34 representatives, representing both town and campus students, comprise the Senate which is designed to help students get problems resolved.
The Academic Assembly, made up of student representatives from the various colleges is concerned with improving the quality of undergraduate education at the University, as well as dealing with other academically related issues.
The judicial branch of USG contains the government's Supreme Court. Seldom in the spotlight, this branch is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Elected the same way as United States justices are, they hold their position until they resign or depart from the University.
The Court is responsible for chartering all new university-associated organizations. It also resolves disputes that may arise between different organizations or within USG itself.
Since USG elections last March, Williams feels his administration has accomplished a great deal.
On his first day in office, Williams was involved in what turned out to be a 12-hour student occupation of Old Main, after several University students were unable to set up a meeting with University President Bryce Jordan to discuss discrimination concerns.
Williams said he also has gone to Harrisburg six times over the summer in an effort to lobby for an open University budget, and said USG has passed legislation calling for such a budget.
The former USG administration of Todd Sloan and Bonnie Miller dealt with issues during their term in office ranging from internal structural changes to efforts to pull USG out of approximately $10,000 in debt.
The Strategic Analysis Research Team, formed last September by USG executives, proposed several structural changes, among them combining the Senate and Academic Assembly to form one joint assembly.
Once the new administration took office in March, nothing more was done concerning START's recommendations, and Williams says he would only change governmental structure if it hinders the functioning of USG.
Concerning USG's debt, Williams estimated that $2,000 still has to be paid off, but said "during our administration, we will be in the black."
Even with all he feels his administration has done, Williams said many issues must continue to be followed up this semester.
He said he plans on taking a proactive stance, which includes continuing to eradicate discrimination at the University and seeing to it that "the voice of the student is heard."
