Many Undergraduate Student Government senators have taken a do-it-yourself attitude about this year’s senate.
“A lot more of the work that comes out of this senate has come from personal projects,” said USG Vice President Beth Schneck.
Many of the personal projects come from the senator’s interests outside of senate work, but are introduced into senate because of their benefit for students. The projects are introduced into senate through proposed legislation.
“Personal projects are the essence of this senate,” said Senate President Mike Gillespie. “The senators come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, and so the resulting projects represent diverse groups.”
Gillespie said he believes it is not always possible to work within committees on personal projects and is pleased with the projects that have come from individual efforts.
But USG President Rob Kampia said he believes personal projects can be done by anyone and the senate’s time could be better spent.
“I think people have become more concerned with their personal projects than they are with the senate,” Kampia said. “The senators could be much more productive working together on projects that change administrative policies.”
Town Senator Adam Bender has worked closely with disabled student interests.
Although most of his work takes place outside of the senate, he invited a speaker from the group ABLED to talk with the senate. As a result, the senate voted to send a letter to the Office of Physical Plant that expressed the senate’s concern with University building accessibility for disabled students.
Marc Van Camp, chairman of the Administration Contact Committee (ACC), also does work with ABLED. He said his committee’s purpose is to work on personal projects.
Van Camp said he believes senators are missing out on resources by working alone and he would much rather see senators work through committees.
“I’ve always preached against individual projects,” he said. “They are restricting themselves by not working through committees. Rather than having one person tied up in a project for a whole semester, you could have nine people knock it off in a month.”
Van Camp said the ACC delegates powers for each personal project within the committee.
Centre Halls Senator Julie Donnell said personal projects help senators work together and communicate. She created the easel project, in which the senate voted to place easels throughout campus to inform students of current USG projects and affairs.
Donnell said she has been contacted by many senators for suggestions for the easels and believes her individual project has helped improve communication between senators.
“There has been dissention in the senate regarding personal projects,” she said. “They say it diminishes the unity. I think they help bring us together.”
Pollock/Nittany Halls Senator Lisa Fields said senators live among many of their constituents and take on projects that will help the people they represent.
“Many of these projects do not involve senators from other areas, so they are easier to work on alone,” Fields said, adding that the projects increase communication between senators.
“Senator (Mike) King and I worked very closely on the Weekend Loop project,” she said. “I think they are a good reason for the senators to work together.”