F & Lewis - 2007 - Platform Information

Platform Information:

The F&Lewis Platform

Having been a part of the UPUA since its inception, we feel we have gotten to see firsthand what this whole "student advocacy" thing is all about. We want to beat student apathy by creating a clear, logical connection between student opinion on an issue and student advocacy. We'll explain all of this below, but in case you don't make it that far, know this: none of us candidates can do anything without you. Please help.

We will:

Work with technology services to incorporate E-Lion with ANGEL. This just seems obvious. Students' schedules should be placed in the calender on ANGEL along with exam times and homework due dates. Convenience = Utility, to students at least.
Create a way to collect and synthesize student opinion. Imagine being able to voice your opinion on UPUA issues with the click of a mouse. Imagine being able suggest issues for consideration. Imagine being able to do all of this without leaving your computer. We can. Our goal is to create a connection between student opinion (you) and student advocacy (us).
Consolidate information. Have you ever used http://www.psu.edu to find something really important? No - you probably relied on the kid who usually knows everything you don't know. We need something more reliable (and sober) than that kid. We can think of no reason all of this information shouldn't be easily obtainable and will pressure people to make it happen.

Ensure the sale of student tickets is fair for all. You shouldn't have to go to FTCAP to get tickets before freshmen (no offense). Students don't appreciate ball-dropping on the field - why should a violation of ticket obtaining traditions not be met with the same chorus of disapproval?

Make student funding more accessible. Question: What is the difference between FAB, UPAC, and SPA? An informal poll of ten people at the G-Man revealed that zero in ten students at Penn State know (Poll Results are +/- one or two drinks). You should know where your money is going - you should demand the people in charge ask questions.
Cultivate freshmen students for their ideas and their talents. We have and will continue to advocate for diversity of opinion within the UPUA. Some people didn't want to have freshmen representation. You probably didn't know that. Now you do.
Attempt to make food pricing make sense. Redifer Dining Commons in South Halls offers meal plan holders a 70% discount on all food packaged and prepared by Penn State. The Pollock Dining Commons charges full price for the very same food. What gives? This practice should be questioned and an attempt should be made to make dining more equitable for all.
Advocate for the construction of more student housing. Supplemental housing is either really fun or really awful. Why gamble with your money and your education? It shouldn't really be an option.

We want to push the administration to be more fiscally responsible and lower the cost of tuition. If you live out of state, you already know about this. Even if you don't, you should know that the CCSG along with our UPUA committee (Governmental Affairs) helped coordinate a "Rally in the Rotunda" to show our support on this issue. "What is a rotunda," you ask? Come next year - it's an excused absence.

We want students to be aware and foster the traditions of Penn State. You shouldn't have to be a Lion Ambassador to know the *** **** words. More than that, we have the LARGEST body of active alumni in the nation. They all loved Penn State as much as you do. Chances are, they might even like you if you meet them. As a Penn Stater, you should be able to relate something universally important to random Penn Staters that you meet and establish a relationship with them. You might even be able to strike up a conversation with someone from another Big Ten school - even if they went to school in Ohio or Michigan. This can only help you in the long run.

For The Glory.