The HUB Cellar is open on weekends and you might be able to catch a bus to an away football game. But are things better for students now than a year ago?

Undergraduate Student Government President Mark Stewart and Vice President Merryl Werber should be commended for accomplishing some of their platform goals. They made transportation arrangements for the Kickoff Classic, managed to get the hours extended at the HUB and helped register voters for the past election.

However, these accomplishments have not dealt with the real issues student leaders need to address. Lobbying to prevent a tuition increase was not done frequently -- or effectively -- enough, opening the University's budget was not a priority and expanding the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and HUB is no closer to becoming a reality.

USG must do more than just provide services for students -- it must act as an advocate for the student body and actively fight for relevant issues affecting them -- such as extending library hours.

By taking a passive stance and operating as a service organization, USG loses its effectiveness with the administration, which is consistently unresponsive to many student concerns. Student leaders must make themselves heard.

Some of Stewart and Werber's proposals, such as a downtown computer lab, are noble pursuits, albeit unrealistic. Others, such as using meal points in downtown restaurants, are insignificant and a waste of time.

Future USG leaders must determine if their proposals are important and feasible before adopting them as part of a platform. The important causes require continued attention from leaders.

With USG elections just a couple of months away, Stewart and Werber should focus their attention on staving off the University's expected 25th consecutive tuition hike. At the same time, students should decide what they want from their USG representatives and vote for the candidates who will get it for them.