Assembly refocuses after troubled period

Back on track.

Even though the Undergraduate Student Government Academic Assembly underwent a senate investigation for poor performance last year, members plan to address some major University education policy issues this semester, said Desha Girod, president of the assembly.

"It's no secret that the organization was disorganized and not in really good shape a year ago," said Girod (sophomore-political science). "It really let the students down."

But this semester, members of the reorganized assembly plan to help determine the arrangement of the new freshman seminars, work with other sectors of USG to address the student request for a Fall Semester break and investigate student complaints of teachers with accents that hinder learning, Girod said.

The freshman seminar, a new requirement for freshmen entering the University beginning Summer Session 1999, will be many students' first experience at the University, Girod said. She and fellow committee member Mike Platz (senior-chemical engineering) said small class sizes with an emphasis on faculty involvement is essential for the freshman seminars.

"That'll really benefit students, seeing their professor as a resource rather than a barrier," Platz said.

By beginning their collegiate careers with "cool" seminars intended to introduce the University to students, Platz said freshmen will better understand their majors, available technology and programs.

A USG senator has worked on the possibility of a fall break, and some assembly members plan to run a student petition drive, Girod said. A massive wave of lethargy overtakes the campus between Labor Day and Thanksgiving breaks, she added.

"It'll keep students more energetic throughout the semester. I think a lot of students just get tired," she said. "It might preclude that exhaustion that happens in November."

Investigating student complaints about the English proficiency of professors and teaching assistants is another item on the assembly's agenda, Girod said. Specifically, the assembly received complaints from students majoring in the sciences, she said.

Member David Kayal (junior-economics) said he was beginning to examine the situation at the University. He said he and other assembly members intend to investigate the University's hiring requirements.

"We want to just start by looking into what exactly people coming over, the teachers and TAs, have to go through to establish they teach good enough English," Kayal said.

Any student may attend Academic Assembly meetings and address the assembly during the open student forum period. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 15 in 307 HUB.