When faced with a problem, what does the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate do?

It forms a committee, of course.

The problem is that -- without surprise -- in more than two months the committee has not made much progress in investigating whether South Halls Sen. Andy Banducci should be cleared or impeached for attending a controversial Halloween party.

Former Town Sen. Brian Battaglia's party made national news in December after some students said certain attendees' costumes were offensive or racist. There doesn't seem to be any reason why the committee to investigate Banducci hasn't reached a conclusion yet.

It appears as though Senate formed the committee simply to create the appearance that they are doing something about the incident -- but they're not. Senate could easily have debated Banducci's fate during a December meeting and decided whether to reprimand him.

Forming a committee, rather than taking prompt action, loses its effectiveness. Doing so essentially acts as a diversion and takes responsibility off Senate's shoulders.

Quick action was needed in this case. USG already has the reputation among students for taking too long to complete goals -- that is, if the goals are ever completed. And that's assuming there are practical goals in the first place. Why bother expelling Banducci at this point anyway? USG elections take place in a month, which means the current slate of senators will be wiped clean for the most part.

Meanwhile, the other senators who attended Battaglia's party have resigned. If Banducci has remained in office almost four months since the party took place, staying for just one more month can't hurt.

Besides, Senate has lost at least 18 of the 27 original members whom students elected last year.

At this point, they need all the help they can get.