Princeton Undergraduate Student Government

Dear member of the Great Class of 2013,

I want to offer you my sincerest congratulations for getting into one of the best universities in the world. I’m delighted that you made the right choice, and I hope you can enjoy the feelings of success and accomplishment in spite of the sense of apprehension and insecurity that hit most of us before setting foot on the finely-groomed lawns of Princeton’s campus. I assure you that these feelings are entirely normal.

As a result of the recently conducted elections audit, the USG found an error in the 2012 senator elections this past year. Michael Yaroshefsky and Julie Chang had received the most votes, however the system reported that Julie Chang and Rebecca Lee had won the election.

Michael was given the opportunity to assume Rebecca's position as 2012 senator, however he declined this option to continue his role as the USG IT Chair. As a result, following constitutional procedures, USG President Connor Diemand-Yauman and Class of 2012 President Lindy Li held a series of interviews to appoint a new 2012 senator.

In the end, they decided to appoint Rebecca Lee back to her position as Class of 2012 Senator. So for the remainder of the year, Rebecca Lee and Julie Chang will be the Class of 2012 Senators.

This past semester has seen substantial action from the USG in addressing student concerns over the grading policy. One of the greatest products that resulted from ongoing discussions and meetings with University administration was the online grading policy letter distribution system. The service allows students to send a letter written by Dean Malkiel explaining Princeton's unique grading system to employers, graduate schools, etc. with a touch of a button.

Dear students,

Over the last few days I have had numerous conversations with students in person and via email regarding the referendum pertaining to the reallocation of the USG social funds and more specifically those allocated to the USG concert in the fall. I want to thank everyone who has participated in this dialogue, whether for or against the referendum, for discussing an important issue that will greatly affect our undergraduate experience.

Throughout these conversations, two points seemed to be mentioned far more than others.

The first is related to the choice to allocate the funds to Annual Giving. Numerous students voiced their support of donating the USG concert funds but expressed a desire to have the choice to give the money to a community service group or organization. Therefore, the USG Senate has amended the referendum. Students may now choose to donate the money to Annual Giving; or they may choose to donate to student-initiated service projects coordinated by the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, Student Volunteers Council (SVC) and Community House. This way, we are allowing students to choose between two options that will both directly benefit Princeton undergraduates and enhance the student experience in very valuable ways.

The second is related to our selection of the USG concert as a potential item to cut from the USG budget. Many people seemed to question the efficacy of the budget allocated for USG projects and initiatives including study breaks, Deans Date giveaways and senate projects. Therefore, under the new referendum, students have the opportunity to make a significant cut to the Senate Pilot Programs budget, which pays for such initiatives.

With this new referendum item, students will be able to choose to donate $20,000 from our Senate Pilot Programs budget allocated for the 2009 fall semester in addition to all the remaining funds in this year's budget at the end of this semester to either Annual Giving or the above mentioned groups. To be clear, this money does not affect funding from the USG for student groups such as funds distributed through Projects Board.

From the beginning, the purpose of this referendum has been to give students the opportunity to exercise choice in these unique and uncertain times and to play an active role in these discussions. I hope that these changes will give everyone more flexibility to make a decision that resonates with this purpose.

 

Sincerely,

-Connor Diemand-Yauman, '10

Dear Students,The grading policy at Princeton is an issue that the USG has been attempting to address for quite some time given its gravity for the student body.

Over the course of this semester, other USG members and I have been soliciting student input on grade deflation. One main concern we have heard is that employers and institutions without a well-established rapport with the university are often unfamiliar with our unique grading policy. After evaluating the current services available, we have concluded that the current distribution of information on Princeton’s grading policy is insufficient.

If the policy itself is not going to change, then we need to work proactively to increase awareness of it among future employers, other academic institutions, foundations and non-profits. We need to ensure that all relevant parties know Princeton grading is more rigorous and demanding than that of many peer institutions.

I have been working on two initiatives to ameliorate this problem. The first is an official letter that I collaborated on with the Dean of the College, Nancy Malkiel, explaining our grading system and how it sets us apart from our peer institutions. This official correspondence will now be readily available to all students to use at their discretion. I have attached the letter to this email- please include it with any paper or online applications you may complete.

The second is a new service (developed in cooperation with Career Services and the Dean of the College) which gives students a way to take part in official communication about Princeton’s grading system. This service allows currently enrolled Princeton students to log in and request that official correspondence be sent on their behalf, via email, to the address of their choice. Employers or graduate schools will receive an email from Career Services and the aforementioned letter from Dean Malkiel. Employers will be encouraged to contact Career Services with any additional questions regarding the email or our policy. This service can be found here:

https://ocsweb-dev.princeton.edu/oncamp/gradingpolicyletter.php

Every time we use this system, we are helping ourselves in addition to our classmates. I hope this service will be a step forward in making the current system work for us in the best way possible.Sincerely,Connor Diemand-Yauman, ‘10

To my fellow undergraduates,As you doubtless know, the University has been hit hard by the recession, and all facets of the University are making sacrifices to curb the effects of the economic downturn. In this time of hardship, the student body has an unprecedented opportunity to show our commitment to the University community through a referendum to appear on next week’s ballot.

If passed, this referendum will reallocate the funds in the social budget for the USG’s concert at fall lawn parties, as well as the remaining social budget at the end of this semester, toward a donation to Annual Giving, a major source of financial aid. This referendum is a chance to demonstrate that we as a student body are deeply concerned with the economic situation and that we are ready to do our part. While the USG Senate voted unanimously to support the referendum, we in no way want to use money devoted to the student body without the consent and approval of the students.

We are requesting that all undergraduates vote to make this donation to Annual Giving because it has the most direct and immediate impact on the experience of current students. Because many of our fellow undergraduates have needed additional help in order to continue their studies at Princeton during this recession, the University has increased its financial aid budget substantially. The University is relying on Annual Giving contributions to help ensure that it can meet the need of every Princeton undergraduate even in these most trying of economic times.

To be clear, this donation would only affect the USG concert typically held at Quad, and would not affect fall lawn parties as a whole, which is sponsored by individual eating clubs. We feel that this would send a powerful message that the student body does not take the economic crisis lightly and wishes to ease the burden faced by other members of the University.

While we are advocating for this collective donation, we want to clarify that by proposing this gesture we are in no way trivializing the value of the USG concert. Indeed, it is often very well attended and appreciated by all those involved. However, the USG concert is entirely unique from our other events in that it is the costliest and shortest event that we sponsor, costing approximately $60,000 for 90 minutes.

We want students to be able to discuss this issue as freely as possible, so this Wednesday, April 22nd, we have reserved McCosh 10 from 8-9pm. I invite anyone who would like to discuss this issue to this forum. If you would like to make a formal statement, whether for or against the referendum, please contact USG Communications Director Peter Tzeng at ptzeng@princeton.edu.

We hope that this donation will stand as one of the most significant actions taken by Princeton students in recent history, and we hope that the entire student body will support our efforts to assuage the effects of our current economic situation.Sincerely,

Connor Diemand-Yauman, '10

Welcome to the new Undergraduate Student Government website! I hope you will be able to easily navigate through the site  and find what you are looking for.  The IT committee has spent countless hours designing the ideal way to present the most relevant information, and we are extremely satisfied with the final result.This website will allow you easy access to all things USG. Our goal is to be as straightforward and transparent as possible, and I hope this site stays true to that. With various new features, such as the public display of our attendance records and regular project updates, you will be able to learn as much (or as little) as you want.

To our fellow undergraduates:As members of the Princeton community, we share a common bond, a common identity that overrides our various affiliations with clubs, groups, and departments. As a student body five thousand strong, we define this great university.  At the same time, we have the power—and the obligation—to unite and create real change, wherever change is needed.As we have learned recently, this is especially important when it comes to the drinking culture at Princeton. We operate within a system that allows us a great deal of freedom, and we’re fortunate to have an administration that’s willing to work with us to shape an alcohol policy that accommodates the concerns of both the university and the student body. If we act irresponsibly, by condoning or— even worse— encouraging high-risk drinking, we create a ripple effect that endangers our fragile social structure. Therefore, we all must strive to maintain a system that is as fair and safe for the students as possible, protecting our rights while also discouraging dangerous drinking habits. The success of the alcohol policy, the eating clubs, and every aspect of our social lives at Princeton depends entirely on our own capability to demonstrate our willingness to cooperate, act responsibly, and be accountable for our actions.

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President Connor Diemand-Yauman Vice-President Michael Weinberg Treasurer Trevor Martin Executive Secretary Jack Altman Undergraduate Life Committee Chair Arthur Levy Academics Chair Ben Lund Social Chair John Wetenhall Campus and Community Affairs Chair George Tsivin Communications Director Peter Tzeng Media Liaison Billy Hepfinger Student Groups Liaison Brian Jeong IT Committee Chair Michael Yaroshefsky 2010 Senators Christina Bortz Cole Morris 2011 Senators Helen Chen Derek Welski 2012 Senators Julie Chang Becca Lee U-Councilors -U-Council Executive Committee Representative -U-Council Chair Carter GreenbaumTiernan KaneJulia KaplanSteven LindsayBrian NoAlex PretkoKelly Roache Harry Schiff John-Allen Zumpetta

Connor Diemand-Yauman President

Connor Diemand-Yauman is a Psychology major who hails from the roaring metropolis of Chesterland, Ohio. Connor is busting at the seams with 2010 pride, having served as 2010 Class President for two and a half years before assuming his current role as USG President. During his term, Connor will make every effort to keep the USG's direction focused and relevant, addressing the most pressing student concerns that are likely to have the most far-reaching positive impact on the Undergraduate experience.

Michael Weinberg Vice-President

Michael is an ORFE major in the class of 2011, originally from Suffern, New York. On campus, Michael is also a leader in the Outdoor Program and is a conversation partner in the English Language Program. His favorite type of music is classic rock and favorite movie is Casablanca. His goals for the USG include increasing the efficiency and efficacy of the organization and fostering a close working relationship with the administration.

Trevor Martin Treasurer

Born in Atlanta, GA and a member of the great Class of 2011, Trevor is a prospective Molecular Biology or Physics major. When not staying up all night working, he likes to play violin, read the news, and juggle. As USG Treasurer, Trevor is working hard to make sure that the USG budget is used carefully and conscientiously, as well as serving on various working groups in the senate.

Jack Altman Executive Secretary

Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Jack Altman is a sophomore in the Economics Department. He hates foreign languages and loves swimming and video games. He hopes hope to aid the creation of an efficient and results-oriented student government.

Arthur Levy Undergraduate Life Committee Chair

Arthur is a junior History major from Boston, Massachusetts. In his spare time, he loves playing tennis and squash and watching Summer Heights High. His goal for Senate is to continue to work on issues that will improve student life on campus.

Ben Lund Academics Chair

Ben Lund is a Molecular Biology and Neuroscience major from Worcester, MA. When he's not working, he enjoys playing squash and baseball. Ben's goal as USG Academics Chair is to bring the concerns of the student body to the administration, particularly regarding P/D/F Policy and Academic Calendar Reform.

John Wetenhall Social Chair

John was born and raised in Rochester, NY and is a junior in the history department. John is a member of the sailing team and an Outdoor Action leader. He loves to ski and misses the snow and cold of upstate New York. As Social Chair, John hopes to bring more concerts to campus and make Princeton more social.

George Tsivin Campus and Community Affairs Chair

George Tsivin is a Senior in the Slavic Languages and Literature department, focusing on Linguistics. When he's not too busy, he enjoys playing tennis and researching genealogy. George is working on Lot 23 bike racks, Taste of Prospect, and Alcohol Initiatives. George hopes to foster healthy "town and gown" relations for this year and many years to come.

Peter Tzeng Communications Director

A proud member of the class of 2011, Peter is a Woodrow Wilson School major from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He enjoys running, playing ultimate frisbee, learning languages, traveling, and blasting 90s music. In the realm of student government, Peter hopes to ensure a clear and concise presentation of information to the student body.

Billy Hepfinger Media Liaison

Billy is a senior in the comparative literature department. He comes from Pittsburgh, PA, and keeps a photo of Troy Polamalu under his pillow. Billy performs with a number of groups around campus, including the Nassoons, the Triangle Club, Theatre Intime, PUP, and Funkmaster General, and is also a member of Tower Club. His work ethic will decline tremendously when the final season of LOST starts in January. As Media Liaison, Billy hopes to foster more transparent, well-articulated communication between the USG and the student body.

Brian Jeong Student Groups Liaison

Brian Jeong, class of 2011, is from New York City. On campus, he is a proud member of diSiac Dance Company and plays for Club Basketball and Princeton Taekwondo. As Student Groups Liaison, Brian will work to foster dialogue among student group leaders, the USG, and ODUS.

Michael Yaroshefsky IT Committee Chair

A member of the class of 2012 from Wayne, New Jersey, Michael is a prospective Operations Research & Financial Engineering major. He enjoys working with other people, learning about technology, and playing tennis. He has been making websites since 2001 and serves as president of MikeYaroSoft, Inc, his website design firm. This year, Michael hopes to improve the way the USG uses technology to communicate and to achieve its goals.

Christina Bortz Class of 2010 Senator

Christina is a senior Politics major, with a focus on International Relations, and hails from Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Besides her involvement in USG, she is a co-captain on the varsity field hockey, a residential college advisor in Rocky, and co-VP of National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Princeton Chapter. She enjoys traveling and loves meeting new people.  Her goal this year is to serve to student body by contributing to focused initiatives that seek to improve the quality of student life - academic, socially, and athletically.

Cole Morris Class of 2010 Senator

Hailing from Hingham, MA, Cole Morris is a junior in the Woodrow WIlson School. He likes logic puzzles, squash, and public safety officers. He puts the Student back into Undergraduate Student Government and is generally very attuned to the USG's internal morale. His picture is sexy.

Helen Chen Class of 2011 Senator

Helen is from the far and exotic place of Roxbury, New Jersey. Things she loves: napping, frist salads, carbohydrates, napping Things she hates: non-frist salad vegetables, doing laundry, wearing pants Helen hopes to help make USG more action oriented and transparent.

Derek Welski Class of 2011 Senator

Derek hails from the exotic town of far-off Princeton, NJ and resides in the lovely Rockefeller College. He enjoys traveling, skiing, and sitting down and having a good conversation. As far as the USG is concerned, any meaningful and practical policy requires a glimpse into the perspective and first hand experience. Just as much as the students need the USG to pass policies, the USG needs the students by its side and providing it with ways to improve Princeton; from the social to the academic and communal. Derek hopes that the USG and the students together will make this a more transparent and vocal USG.

Julie Chang Class of 2012 Senator

Julie hails from the great unincorporated area of Bethesda, Maryland. She is considering either History or Comparative Literature as a major. In her spare time, she enjoys playing club sports, watching Damages, and listening to Tuvan throat singing. Her goal as student senator is simple: to maintain an open dialogue with her constituents, and to proactively address issues concerning Princeton undergraduates.

Becca Lee Class of 2012 Senator

Becca is from South Burilngton, Vermont and is considering history, politics, and psychology as potential majors. She enjoys taking pictures and watching movies and she is also a member of the club lacrosse team. Her goals this year are to lower textbook prices, encourage civic engagement on campus, and get some sort of a postal stamp vendor in Frist.

Carter Greenbaum U-Councilor

Carter is a Sophomore Politics major from Newport Beach, California, pursuing a certificate in the creative writing department. He is a varsity member of the men's lightweight crew team. He is incredibly excited to kick off his first term on the USG pursuing initiatives for the equal treatment of all students on campus, and creating a closer rapport with the administration on policy matters to help represent the student body, while making the "Princeton experience" better for every one.

Tiernan Kane U-Councilor

Tiernan is a junior from Fishers, Indiana.  A Classics major, he is interested in politics, history, and philosophy. On the USG, he wants to set achievable goals and then achieve them.

Julia Kaplan U-Council Executive Committee Representative

Julia is from South Brunswick, NJ and is a Woodrow Wilson School major in the great class of 2011. Her interests include politics, music, and attempting to become fluent in Spanish. Julia's goal on USG is to accurately represent the student voice, working with other USG members to find innovative ways to improve the undergraduate experience.

Steven Lindsay U-Councilor

Steve, from West Milford, NJ is a prospective Politics major whose primary interest is constitutional theory and interpretation. On campus, Steve is involved with American Foreign Policy magazine, Princeton Model Congress, and the James Madison Program for American Ideals and Institutions. In his free time, he enjoys golf and playing the bass guitar. As a U-Councilor, Steve hopes to promote fiscal responsibility, electoral fairness, and constitutional reform. He also hopes to raise awareness in issues dealing with mental health and the quality of life on Princeton's campus, and to address those issues with care and precision.

Brian No U-Council Chair

Brian is a third-term U-Councilor and a member of the Class of 2010. He is a Politics major and hails from Denver, Colorado. He is also president of the University Press Club. His primary goal on the USG is to serve as an effective voice for student issues, including sustainability, housing, and student-professor relations.

Alex Pretko U-Councilor

Alex Pretko is a sophomore from Kingston, PA concentrating in economics. When not sleeping (which is far too often for his tastes), he enjoys singing in the Princeton Glee Club, speaking foreign languages, and the occasional marathon session with his Xbox 360. His goal for the USG is to effectively address the concerns of and bring about the changes desired by the student body.

Kelly Roache U-Councilor

Kelly is a prospective Woodrow Wilson School major with a Near Eastern Studies certificate from the Jersey Shore. Aside from USG, she enjoys being active in the International Relations Council, Forbes College Council, feminist blog /Equal Writes/, Princeton University Gospel Ensemble, and several religious and political groups. She looks forward to increasing USG's accessibility and working on several promising projects this semester to enhance civic engagement and student life on campus.

Harry Schiff U-Councilor

Harry is a '10 Psychology Major from Montreal. His main goal is attempt to shape university policy in such a way that it does not interfere with the needs and desires of a wide range of students. This means that new policy should only address issues that are clearly and widely agreed to be problems and solutions that aim to directly address those problems, while minimizing other side-effects.

John-Allen Zumpetta U-Councilor

John-Allen is a sophomore Politics major from West Virginia. In his spare time he likes playing soccer, swimming, and listening to classic rock. He hopes to improve the efficiency of USG and produce tangible results that all students will be able to benefit from.

Tradition dictates that the newly elected USG President send an email laying out his or her plan for the upcoming year. Before I get to that, however, I would like to say that I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as your next student body president. Thank you all for allowing me to serve in this capacity.To begin this letter frankly, I can assure you that I will make mistakes before my term is over. I have much to learn from you, the student body, and from the other students who comprise the USG. I can promise you that I will do my best, and that I will communicate the focus of the USG as plainly and effectively as possible while continually soliciting student input from all corners of campus.As such, my first priority will be to address the conflicting Borough and University amnesty policies concerning students who make potentially life-saving calls for friends in need. My second priority will be to evaluate the recently revealed structural shortcomings of the USG and to initiate reform with an emphasis on ethical issues within the USG and its constitution. Making well-informed, effective policy decisions takes time, and this year, I plan to emphasize the quality, rather than the quantity of initiatives that the USG undertakes.