A group of Undergraduate Student Government senators presented a new proposal to reform the University Park Allocation Committee last night in front of about 30 students. The senators asked for feedback from the students, and they were told to get more feedback themselves.

Town Sen. Jason Covener said the plan might not be brought before UPAC until next semester because it has a broad focus and it takes time to do research, and get student input.

The plan recommends that the large allocations UPAC gives out be limited, that students be given more access to how UPAC spends money and that UPAC be more flexible in following its own guidelines.

The proposal states that $900,000 in large allocations was given to organizations such as the Distinguished Speakers Series, the subsidy for the Intramural Building, and other "administrative costs," which Covener said included money for the Center for Performing Arts as well as Late Night-Penn State. In comparison, other student organizations received around $610,000 for speakers and related events. The goal of the proposal is to limit the total amount of large allocations to $500,000 and put the remaining money toward programming for student organizations.

Several students said the senators should get more student input before moving forward with this proposal, but Covener said he has done this and will continue to do so. He said he would take student opinion into account, whether it is for or against the proposal.

"I've talked to people from a variety of diverse backgrounds. I go out and I try to get a diversity of opinions," Covener said.

An audience member questioned Covener on why the single focus of the original proposal brought before the senate was on changing the way DSS is funded. He said the senators could have focused on several different groups that have access to UPAC money before other groups, but DSS happened to be where they started.

"In no way was it meant to be an attack on DSS," Covener said. "We have to look at everything."

The proposal also asks for more student input in the selection of UPAC members, as there are currently eight elected undergraduates on the committee. While only seven students ran for the eight available positions in last spring's elections, Covener said he had considered running for the board, but he decided not to. He said the lack of general interest was because students do not feel empowered to make changes in the way the committee is run.

"If I felt like I could do anything but be a tiny vocal minority," he said, "I would run."

Catrina King (senior-animal science) said it is up to the senators to inform students about the details of their plan, so students would in turn be able to decide if they are in favor of it.

"I just think it's poorly constructed and they don't have enough information to make a good decision," King said.

Senate President Sean Clark responded to comments by some in the crowd that they did not know enough about this plan by saying that information about the senate is available to the public, and it is up to students to seek it out. He added that this proposal is an example of the senate working for the students.

"It is impossible for us to go out to everyone," Clark said. "This is something for the betterment of student life, which is the charge of senate."

According to the proposal, students are not allowed to be present when UPAC debates and votes on policies and budgets. Covener said he has heard this is the case so that UPAC members aren't pressured into voting one way or another. However, they should feel pressured, he said, especially if they are voting to spend money on something students don't want, or are not spending money on something students do want. The proposal states that the senators will encourage UPAC to allow any student to observe their meetings.

USG President Justin Zartman and Vice President Amanda Hudnall sat in on the discussion for several minutes, which disappointed one student.

"They were present for just five minutes, showing they didn't care about reform," Jim Flook (freshman-aerospace engineering and history) said. "It's disappointing for me, especially as a freshman, to already have a president who's not listening."