Members of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) staunchly voiced their opinions about the impeachment of USG President Galen Foulke last night at a meeting of the USG Academic Assembly.

"This past week has been rough for a lot of us ... we've been told we're doing a disservice to students," Assembly President Mark Levin said, adding that he has been called profane names and encountered physical threats from angry students.

Levin told assembly members they should not have to endure criticism from students who claim the assembly is ineffectual. "If somebody comes to you and says you've been doing nothing for students, look them in the eyes and say, 'Don't you dare say we're not doing anything for students,' " he said.

College of Engineering Sen. Josh Hauenstein read a personal statement during the meeting expressing his views on the impeachment.

"This is our right, our duty to the students of Penn State to investigate these charges," he said. "These charges are not a personal attack on Foulke."

Although Foulke was not present at the meeting, he expressed his disagreement with the assembly's claims after the meeting in a phone interview.

"It isn't an investigation," Foulke said.

"Impeachment is the product of investigation. The assembly skipped this process and went right to accusation."

Hauenstein also made a new allegation that Foulke signed a request for USG funds, an action that Hauenstein said is not within the president's power. This power is also not listed in the most recent version of the USG Constitution.

Hauenstein said someone told him and certain assembly members this information in private. He said last night he would not disclose the name of the source.

After the meeting Foulke denied the charge.

"That's the first time I've ever heard this," Foulke said. "I've asked what the charges are about...[but] I don't know what they're talking about. It's kind of unprofessional rather than investigating and finding out facts."

Members of other USG branches came to the assembly meeting and spoke in Foulke's defense during the open student forum.

"It's a weak argument for impeaching somebody," USG Treasurer Andrew Reeve told assembly members.

Reeve said it is unfair that the assembly is accusing Foulke of failing to represent the students on the grounds that Foulke formed a commission to look into rewriting the USG constitution.

He added that Foulke specifically included his intentions to change the constitution in his campaign platform.

"I don't think disagreement between branches is grounds for impeachment," Reeves said. "If it was, then the President of the U.S. would be impeached every day ... There are ways to find out what's going on without impeachment."

Levin said after the meeting that he encourages open discussion at meetings, even if some people voice negative views about the assembly.

"I welcome everybody to speak," he said. "Personally, I feel that I would rather have them address us as a body."

The assembly also passed a resolution amending the USG constitution, which will grant the assembly power to issue executive orders.

The resolution comes one week after the USG Supreme Court ruled that the assembly did not have this power, after evaluating a disputed copy of the USG constitution.

"This is a step forward for Academic Assembly," Schreyer Honors College Rep. Rodney Hughes said.