The first USG Senate meeting of the spring semester Sunday night began with a discussion of a recent University decision that is, according to USG President Joe Kochan '02, "potentially campus-changing."
The first order of business on the inaugural agenda: a proposed sixth residential college.
With University Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62 as the evening's guest speaker, USG members — elected and appointed individuals representing all four undergraduate classes — were given the opportunity to review an interim report submitted Feb. 7 by the Sixth College Program Committee outlining suggestions for altering the University's current residential college system.
Wright, who acted as chair of the committee, described the report as the culmination of nearly a month's worth of "gathering as much data about [the prospect of a new college] as possible" and also acknowledged the importance of placing the issue before the USG.
"We're very excited," Wright said about the prospect of a new college, "[but also] open to all possible opportunities to continue dialogue about this proposal."
The report, a preliminary response to last year's Wythes report, suggested different ways of meeting the needs of an additional 500 undergraduate students — 125 per incoming class — to be admitted over the next four years.
One proposed model included in the report involves the introduction of a sixth residential college for firstand second-year students that would be almost identical to the five that already exist.
On the other hand, the report also offers a number of controversial variations geared toward offering upperclass students — as well as a small percentage of graduate students — the opportunity to remain in residence for all four years.
Despite Wright's obvious enthusiasm, the report — which was made available to the members of the senate before the meeting — was nonetheless subject to close scrutiny by senate members.
U-Councilor F. Dok Harris '01 spoke on behalf of a small number of concerned individuals and asked Wright to outline "what steps would be taken to ensure that this new college feels a part of the Princeton community."
USG treasurer Michael Kimberly '03 also articulated his concern that the integration of upperclass and graduate students might effectively "threaten the residential college experience as it stands."
Wright responded by pointing out that any new residential initiative would seek not only to preserve the existing benefits of undergraduate college life, but would also remedy the "disconnect between upperand lowerclass students."
"The bottom line here is choice," Wright explained. "Choice between clubs, colleges and going independent. [With the proposed changes] we imagine a very different experience for thirdand fourth-year students."
According to Wright, an additional college — which would likely be paired with Forbes — would also offer valuable "joint-programming accessible to freshmen."
USG Executive Committee member Ryan Salvatore '02, who worked alongside Wright in drafting the report, expressed his approval and said the proposed changes would represent "a positive thing for everyone."
After encouraging senate members to meet independently with Wright to further discuss the issue, Kochan addressed a number of procedural items such as funding requests from the project board — submitted by special interest groups such as the Agape Christian Fellowship — and then, in the absence of new business, offered his closing remarks.
Kochan said one of his primary goals for the upcoming semester will be to facilitate the creation of two new standing committees — one for women's issues and another for minority affairs — in an attempt to improve the way in which campus concerns are handled.
When asked to comment on this year's senate, Kochan said he hopes to see sustained and enthusiastic involvement from all — an important mark he believes last year's USG "fell short of."
"It's really nice to see such an active, involved senate," he said. "I think you'll see the USG moving in new and exciting directions. It's time to start thinking outside the box."
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