USG approves letter voicing student opinions

After almost a week of discussion and debate, the USG approved a letter Tuesday night expressing a number of student concerns with the recent grade inflation proposals. The letter supports the administration's efforts to address grade inflation but suggests that the quota system suggested by the proposals could adversely affect student wellbeing.

The USG emailed the letter to the student body this morning and delivered copies to President Tilghman and Dean of the College Nancy Weiss Malkiel. The letter will also be distributed to every professor's mailbox by Friday afternoon, USG president Matt Margolin '05 said.

"We feel that the point of this letter is not to convince Dean Malkiel but to communicate student fears and anxieties to the faculty," Margolin said. "That's the great thing about Princeton: there is so much room for interaction between students and professors and students and the administration."

The letter is the result of a USG-sponsored roundtable held last Thursday, where students gathered to discuss the pros and cons of the proposals and formulate an official response representative of the student body's views. The USG then revised the draft of the letter during its senate meeting Sunday night but postponed a vote on it in order to give members a chance to discuss its contents with other students.

While the final letter says grade inflation is a problem that needs to be addressed and praises the efforts of the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standings, it takes issue with the lack of student input in formulating the proposals.

"The Committee did a good job of addressing issues of graduate school admissions and job placement, but most of the students I have spoken with are more concerned with how this will impact campus climate," Margolin said. "I think that's the area where student involvement in formulating the proposal could have improved it."

Ever since the release of the proposals, grade inflation has seemed to dominate campus debate. Malkiel has worked to facilitate this discussion, speaking with groups of students in order to answer questions and assess their views.

Whig-Clio also hosted a panel discussion composed of Malkiel, professors and student leaders last Thursday. During the discussion many students voiced opposition to the proposals, saying that — if passed — they would raise the level of competition on campus, harm students' mental health and discourage intellectual exploration and creativity.

The proposals have also sparked discussion among faculty members as they prepare for the April 26 faculty meeting. Each department will hold a meeting specifically to discuss the proposals before that date.