About USG Working Groups:
USG Working Groups are flexible, issue-focused teams established on an ad-hoc basis each semester to address the evolving needs of Princeton’s undergraduate community. Unlike standing committees, Working Groups are created in response to timely campus priorities—whether that be academic policy changes, campus life concerns, student wellness, inclusion efforts, sustainability initiatives, or other emerging matters brought forward by students.
Each Working Group is led by a U-Councilor or Senator and brings together interested undergraduates, relevant stakeholders, and, when appropriate, administrators and campus partners. These groups conduct research, gather student feedback, and develop targeted recommendations or initiatives that can be presented to the Senate for action. By operating with flexibility and a focused scope, Working Groups allow USG to respond quickly and thoughtfully to new challenges, pilot innovative ideas, and ensure that student voices are represented in ongoing campus conversations.
If you have comments or concerns that could best be routed through one of USG's Working Groups, please reach out to usg@princeton.edu.
Athletics
Mission
Increasing campus engagement for Athletics, driving increased student turnout at Men’s & Women’s Games, and helping athletes feeling supported at games & students have fun.
Priorities:
- Organizing events with food, merch, and giveaways for several athletic game days in varying sports (basketball, softball, track, lacrosse, tennis)
- Campus Rec events (roller skating, pickleball)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding membership on the USG Athletics Working Group, please contact Chair Malcom Tafadzwa Dzimiri (md6180@princeton.edu).
Civil Liberties
Mission
The purpose of the Civil Liberties Working Group is to educate undergraduate students about the rights afforded to them, and to address undergraduate concerns, including through policy advocacy, regarding—Free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly; Privacy and surveillance; Equality before the law and due process; Fundamental fairness in disciplinary processes; and Any other topic relating to the rights and freedoms of undergraduate students.
Priorities:
- Freedom of expression
- Privacy and surveillance
- Due process
- Worker rights
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding membership on the USG Civil Liberties Working Group, please contact Chair Ila Prabhuram (ila.prabhuram@princeton.edu).
Dining
Mission
Increasing upperclassmen dining access and encouraging student engagement and inclusion in campus/community dining spaces.
Priorities:
- Collect /document student opinion (pool of 500 minimum) on dining policies (upperclassmen 2 meal a week rollover, paw points, late meal)
- Connect with faculty in regards to upperclassmen 2 meal a week rollover
- Work with Dining Teams on pulling data
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding membership on the USG Dining Working Group, please contact Chair ().
International Student Experience
Mission
Improving the Princeton experience for international undergraduate students.
Priorities:
- This semester, the International Student Experience Working Group focuses on the international student 14% international student tax issue. The goal is to get the University to grant financial assistance to student body members affected by the tax. Currently doing research and assembling an outline for a memo to the University based on Princeton students and models at peer institutions.
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding membership on the USG International Student Experience Working Group, please contact Chair ().
Religious Experience
Mission
Identify challenges preventing students from living out their faith or spiritual practices and develop practical policy solutions
Priorities:
- Tangibly understand the challenges facing religious life on campus
- Develop concrete policy proposals to address items such as dining, spaces, and transportation
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding membership on the USG Religious Experience Working Group, please contact Chair ().
Transit
Mission
Increasing community engagement through public transit subsidies, Tiger Transit hours, and bicycles
Priorities:
- Ensure compliance with new bike parking municipal order for new construction
- Expand TigerTransit at Dawn hours for beginning/end-of-summer travel to airports
- Creation, implementation, and promotion of a universalized student forum for ride-share requests as an alternative to the current practice of email listservs (in collaboration with TPS)
- Pilot a free giveaway of NJTransit tickets