At Sunday's Senate meeting, the USG discussed endorsing the National Tuition Endowment Act, designed to help lower the financial burden of college students, but decided to wait to receive more information before acting.
The act was drawn up at a conference at Columbia University attended by U-Councilor Rob Biederman '08. Concerned by problems in the federal aid system, the group drew up the act, which mandates that money generated by the interest on direct loan programs be funneled back into federal aid.
University undergraduates would not be affected by the act, but USG member James Williams '06 said it would be a "tremendous and powerful statement for the university to endorse it and a good thing to do in common with other universities."
Principal opposition came from U-Councilor Sandy Gibson '06, who argued that while the idea was well-intentioned, students would not stand to benefit from the act, and it would be "unbelievably difficult" to guarantee that additional aid would be generated.
Many agreed with U-Councilor Brandon Parry '06, who approved of the act's intentions but wanted more time to gather information and to "hear what the pundits will say."
Earlier in the meeting, which was led by Vice President Jesse Creed '07 in the absence of President Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06, Projects Board Co-Chairs Lide Paterno '06 and Daphra Holder '07 presented a long list of University and student organizations approved for insurance, mainly from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, the Pace Center and Venture Funds.
The much-touted Bonfire Burrito — "unfortunately" named, Creed noted — was not able to make a profit in its first run last Thursday. The USG has plans to spin it off as a student-run business to some interested students.
The Class of 2006 Senator Update centered on the issue of cluster printing, focusing on the increasing volume of papers printed and the efficiency of printers, chiefly at Frist Campus Center. Members also discussed the efficiency of space usage within Frist.
Senator Michael Murray '06 later proposed increasing the availability of periodicals and newspapers at the campus center in the interest of promoting awareness outside the "Princeton bubble."
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