USG Senate meets to discuss mission of constitution

The USG Senate met last night to focus on the intellectual environment on campus, but half the meeting was spent discussing how to formally realize the mission of the USG's constitution.

The topic of intellectual dissatisfaction attracted heated debate, both from USG officers and students not affiliated with USG.

As a result of a letter discussing the discontent with intellectualism on campus, students at the meeting said they simply do not have time for casual intellectual pursuits.

USG officers have suggested the academic calendar be modified to lower the intensity of students' workload.

Under this idea, the number of school days would be increased, with the work more spread out throughout the term.

The concern, which is one not of "anti-intellectualism, but a lackluster intellectual climate," was the result of a report on precepts published last year, Anderson said.

This concern was reaffirmed by "countless discussions with both students and faculty" initiated by USG officers, he said.

Faculty members have expressed discontentment with the academic discussion beyond the classroom, said U-Council chair Josh Anderson '04, who authored the letter about intellectualism.

The lackluster intellectualism is a result of the "success work ethic," in which students feel every academic pursuit determines their future success, professors have said.

Although faculty may consider their extracurricular activities to be "resume builders," they provide experiences that are equally rewarding, students said.

Anderson emphasized that the criticism of intellectual vigor "does not condemn, or even address, the eating clubs."

Yet, resolution of this issue seems neither short-term or clearcut.

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Olivier Kamanda '03, special projects coordinator, called for a forum for both students and faculty to further discuss the issue.

Moreover, students expressed an interest in heightening the intellectual discourse between faculty and students on an extracurricular level.

One method may be to expand organizations such as Paideia, which organizes dinners for students and professors to discuss academic matters in a relaxed, informal environment.

"Intellectualism is not the best that it could be considering the vast interests and talents of the student body," Anderson said.

He added that because students express interest in attending their professor's office hours or public lectures, but are unable because of time restraints, the problem stems from the "institution of Princeton," rather than the students.

During the second half of the meeting, the USG also discussed a revision and expansion of the USG mission statement.

Kamanda proposed a specification of the purpose and procedures of the organization.

The protocol for soliciting and addressing student opinions is a primary concern of the USG and, pending discussion, should be added to the constitution, he said.