Many USG members said last Spring's process that led to the creation of UPUA was flawed -- so now they want to try reforming USG again.

Last night, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) unanimously passed a motion to form a committee to begin organizing a constitutional convention to reorganize student government at Penn State.

"We feel as though we need to take another look at student government and the role it plays in the university," said concerned student Sean Gordon.

After students and administrators planned to recognize the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) as the new student voice at a convention in the Spring, some USG members thought the process could have been done differently.

"We all know what happened with UPUA," Gordon said. "A lot of stuff happened outside the eyes of the USG, the media and the public. The entire report was done in secrecy."

"Last year, there was one student forum where people had their mouths pretty much closed the entire time," Gordon said.

After attending the Association of Big Ten Students(ABTS)conference at Michigan State University, executive members of USG collected ideas for a modification in student advocacy.

"Actually, other student governments operate like UPUA would," Nick Stathes, USG president, said. "Stathes believes a second constitutional convention would allow students more of a voice. "Other schools have more power for their students," Stathes said.

After ABTS, Gordon drafted a proposal to put a constitutional convention into action.

"We wanted a tentative committee formed," Ralph Crivello, chief of USG's internal affairs. "Then we can get a proposal with definite bullets so we know what's happening from here on out."

Some individuals involved with the development of UPUA believe another constitutional convention is not needed.

"Personally, just knowing Nick Stathes, this idea is less of an aspect of wanting to help the student body and more of an effort to try to hault UPUA," said Andrew Reeve chairperson of the UPUA transition group.

Gordon said ideally, the details of the convention could be approved in mid-October. However, Reeve said he does not see a need for further governmental examination.

"I think it's a run-around democracy," Reeve said.

"We held a referendum in which the students wanted UPUA to be the student voice. This convention is someone trying to get done through the administration what they couldn't do at the ballots," he added.

Recently, Stathes said he met with Graham Spanier, Penn State president, to discuss the practicalities of a pending convention. "It sounded like he was interested," Gordon said. "He wants what's best for students."

Spanier refused to comment, saying that he does not disclose the details of private meetings with students.