Committees present projects at USG meeting

Catherine Ettman ’13 spoke on behalf of three initiatives, first on the Leadership Implementation Committee. She said the committee’s purpose was to “find many ways to engage students in the practice of leadership,” explaining that its goals were to expand access to leadership to all students and to improve support of student leaders.

Ettman also spoke about the Women’s Mentorship Program, which she started in the fall of 2011 with Caroline Kitchener ’14. The program divides female undergraduates from all residential colleges into “pods” of four women — one from each year — and sponsors group activities for them. She also highlighted the reorientation program that began this semester, which seeks to help freshmen adjust to college life halfway through their first year at the University.

Next, the Orientation Committee detailed new ideas for orientation week. The committee discussed the creation of a competition between residential colleges called “Clash of the Colleges,” a fundraising walk around the neighborhood and a potential change of the move-in date to before OA and CA. The committee also said it would investigate why some students choose not to attend either of the two pre-orientation events.

After the Orientation Committee, representatives from the Residential Life Committee spoke. They discussed involving upperclassmen who live in residential colleges more in the social life of their colleges. They also talked about extending a “college night” dinner — open only to residents of that college — to each residential college. Currently, only Whitman College holds weekly “college nights.”

Finally, representatives of the Campus-Wide Social Event Committee spoke, encouraging USG participation in campus-wide event planning. They also said that their committee is reviewing current campus-wide events and the reasons why some are more successful than others.

Class of 2013 president Zach Beecher said that high participation of upperclassmen in eating clubs presents a challenge to campus-wide event planning that requires additional coordination between the clubs and the University. He also said that the committee is trying to expand student participation in Princeton Preview, including an art showcase.

Class of 2014 senator Charissa Shen spoke next about involving students more in school sports events. She mentioned planning a barbecue on Poe Field or in the football stadium during orientation that would bring athletes and freshmen closer together. She also suggested the possibility of a campus-wide pep rally for underclassmen.

The meeting then entered an agenda-setting session for next week’s meeting, which will include discussions about USG election information, Princeton Preview weekend and a recap of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Correction: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story misidentified a presenter at the USG Senate meeting. Class of 2014 Senator Charissa Shen spoke about involving students in school athletic events. The 'Prince' regrets the error.

Clarification: Class of 2013 president Zach Beecher's comment about organizing campus-wide events has been clarified to note that high participation of upperclassmen in eating clubs presents a challenge, he said, to campus-wide event planning that requires additional coordination between the clubs and the University.