Members of Penn State's Undergraduate Student Government (USG) say a positive atmosphere and more achievable goals are setting the tone for a productive year.

By this time last year, the 34th Senate had considered 12 resolutions, though a number of them had failed. The current 35th Senate has considered only half as many.

East Halls Sen. Matt Ritsko said while there have been fewer resolutions this year, bigger projects are getting more attention now.

Ritsko, the only senator who remains from last year, said he introduced a lot of resolutions early in his first term.

"I learned then if you push too hard too soon, you turn some people off," he said. "Using committees is a better idea."

Some of the resolutions passed so far and some of the ones he expects to come from committees soon are moving USG in the right direction, Ritsko said.

"I think project-wise, we're doing better," he said. "We're definitely on a big project path a lot sooner than last year."

Ritsko said Senate meetings are ending sooner, partly because this year's Senate has reached a "happy medium" in terms of debate.

"We want to be sure we don't stifle debate," he said. "There's a fine line sometimes."

USG President Galen Foulke said goals set last year by former President Ian Rosenberger and Vice President Takkeem Morgan "were a little lofty." He said the executive branch is in a better position this year to achieve its platform goals.

"Since they're a lot more specific ... than what Ian and Takkeem had, we're feeling a lot better about it," he said. "Things like the webcams and the Constitutional review commission, we're on top of, we're getting to them."

Senate Vice President Zach Merritt said he is already pleased with small achievements, such as successfully asking the university's Office of Physical Plant to investigate lighting around McAllister Building.

Merritt said he and Senate President Chris Owens were walking home one night, and noticed the Peace Garden south of McAllister was dangerously dark.

"We said, 'Hey, we should do something about this,' " he said.

He said they contacted OPP, and lighting was installed within two weeks.

Foulke said the atmosphere within USG this year is positive "despite heated debates" last week.

"We're really far ahead in that respect," he said. "We're definitely in the capacity for greater productivity."

Ritsko echoed Foulke's comments. At one Senate meeting, he said he thought this year's Senate could be the most productive to date. "As long as we stay the course, it will be a productive year," he said.

USG Treasurer Andrew Reeve said the Senate now has $2,244.72 to spend.

However, that number could increase by as much as $3,000 with money from fund raising already completed.

Reeve said on Sept. 30, 2003, the Senate was running on the assumption of having $3,858 to spend, but much of that money had not actually come into the account by then.

Ritsko said in late September 2003, the Senate decided to freeze $600 because of cash flow concerns.

"Money wasn't coming in, and it was getting dangerous," he said.

Ritsko said the 34th Senate had more money to spend early on than the current Senate did.

"That's why we [the 34th Senate] spent a little more. We were left a little more," he said.

Merritt, who is new to USG, said he was surprised by the problems the current Senate had with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was initially adopted two weeks ago and then rescinded this week.

But he said he was confident the Senate would approve a replacement once the wording was tightened.