After dealing with internal fighting and scrutiny throughout the year, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate is looking forward to next semester.

This year, the Senate had to overcome not only the executive branch's development of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), but also a palpable decline in student involvement.

"The executive branch basically isolated themselves this year because they were working to destroy the organization," former Senate President Andy Banducci said. "The entire year was framed as Senate and Assembly fighting to keep representation and student government at Penn State."

Current Senate President Brock Coleman echoed Banducci's statements.

"There was a pretty clear division [between the executive branch and Senate] from the beginning," he said. "We were not given a lot of information [about the formation of UPUA] until things started to change."

Senate Vice President Frank Criscione said the formation of UPUA made things difficult because it seemed as if the executive branch was no longer helping the Senate. But Criscone said the development of UPUA has given USG a reason to work even harder for student support.

"UPUA has invigorated this Senate; now we have to work harder and give back to the students," he said. "Next year, they might be sick of us, but at least they will know who we are."

This semester, Senate was able to tackle the issue of tuition increases by holding two tuition rallies.

"A Penn State education ought to be accessible for students," Banducci said. "It is a real hardship for a lot of students and the rallies were successful."

Banducci also said Senate was able to address the administration with questions regarding tuition that the executive branch did not always propose.

"In my opinion, [former USG President Galen Foulke] and [former USG Vice President Luke Adams] did not ask all the tough questions," he said. "Someone had to."

Banducci said another important issue that has developed throughout the past year is that of student representation.

He said the Senate worked with the Graduate Student Association and other student organizations' leaders to enhance the influence of student advocacy on campus.

"Student government ought to be a government that gives students rights and an opinion; representation isn't enough," he said. "Students shouldn't have to plea and beg with administration about who their student government should be."

Banducci added that next year, the Senate will probably continue to face problems with the administration.

"I believe that the administration is going to make it more difficult for USG in the future," he said. "However, USG will continue to survive as long as it has strong independent leadership."

Coleman said that to run smoothly next semester, Senate will need to rely on student involvement within the organization.

"Yes, there are obvious problems that USG needs to fix," he said. "However, it doesn't matter what the structure is, what matters is the people involved."

Coleman also said the Senate members are now more involved and committed to getting things done.

"There are a lot of good people involved, which is why I trust our Senate so much," he said. "The best thing for us to do now is bury ourselves in work."