A successful future for the organization will stem from contacts with University students from the past, University Board of Trustee member Ben Novak told the Undergraduate Student Government Senate last night.

"We can learn from the past," Novak said. "Re-inventing the wheel is the past, but when learning about the past we can break repetition."

Novak said there are thousands of alumni who want to support student organizations but feel unwelcome.

"Many alumni don't come back to campus because they can wander around campus for hours and hours and not talk to a student," Novak said. "Think of yourself two, five, 10, 25 years from now. Wouldn't you like students to come up to you and ask you about your school days?"

Novak said USG has the power to become a very strong organization if it establishes contacts. But, it has been working on the same projects for years because it has neglected communicating with alumni.

"This has been going on for years," he said. "I graduated 25 years ago and lived in this town for five years. This is the first time I have been invited back to a USG meeting, and I was president."

Novak concluded his speech by listing four steps in creating alumni relations for a stronger organization:

-- Contact alumni.

-- Establish and cultivate shared experience.

-- Be interested in others.

-- Be independent -- do not wait for administrators to initiate programs.

Most senators said involving alumni is a good way for the senate to better itself.

"I was very impressed by his speech," said acting Senate Vice President Sean Wilson. "It started me thinking of ways of getting USG off the ground by using contacts."

In other business, USG President Janyne Althaus said she was displeased with the news release concerning Senate Vice President J. David James. Althaus said the senate, through its comments, has downplayed the fact that James was charged with taking more than $800 from the USG office.

"It did not assure students that USG will continue serving the students," Althaus said. "No one took responsibility or credit. Whether you like it or not, you elected him."

The release said James was suspended from the senate and praised him as a diligent senator.

Senate President Ron Marlow, who wrote the release, defended it. He added that both he and Althaus agreed to submit releases, but Althaus had not done so.

Althaus said she did not think it was her place to comment on a senator.

Most senators said they did not agree with Althaus, because James has not been proven guilty.

"The senate must move on," said East Halls Senator Saul Treiman. "But also, it must maintain a certain loyalty to J. David James, because he has not been proven guilty."

In other business, the senate passed a bill appropriating $20 to pay Doug DeLong, manager of the USG/ARHS book co-op, for a summary report about the co-op and for his efforts.

"Doug has worked really hard on this book co-op," said West Halls Senator Kelly Glazier, a sponsor of the bill. "We've learned a lot from this. We're asking for a report, so we know what has to be done for next year."

DeLong announced that 742 out of 1000 books were sold and that $13,071 was raised. He added the co-op was more successful than the one two years ago.