Devotion shows through

January marks both the end of the fall semester and the twilight of the USG presidential term. In what has become an annual tradition, the Editorial Board of The Daily Princetonian offers a performance review at the end of each USG president's tenure.

A number of issues have captured the attention of the student body over the past year, including the plans surrounding the four year residential colleges, the decision to increase eating club financial aid, the continuing policy to combat grade inflation and the reorganization of Campus Club. As our USG President, Alex Lenahan '07 has had a hand in shaping the student body's response in every one of these issues.

Like past presidents, Lenahan excelled in some respects and fell short in others.

One of Lenahan's chief weakness lies in his difficulties in communicating to the public. For example, at several points during the year, he sent out thesis-length emails when short concise statements would have been far more effective. Though Lenahan's long messages demonstrated his dedication to the job, they raised the question of whether his time could have been spent better on other tasks. Rather than investing so much time in getting students on board with his initiatives — which were usually worthy causes — he might have focused more on implementing them.

No issue was more mishandled than the University's grade deflation policy. It is time for Lenahan and other students to recognize that, in one form or another, Malkiel's grade deflation policy is here to stay. Rather than sending mass emails to students and merely demonstrating the student body's dissatisfaction, Lenahan should have picked out specific problems with the implementation of the policy and worked with the University to solve them.

Despite its limitations, Lenahan's presidency was by no means a disappointment. Even in areas where little actual progress was made, Lenahan's term was marked by his eagerness and desire to help his fellow students. Most impressive was his strong commitment to listening to students and devoting countless hours toward improving their quality of life. His genuineness was refreshing for students who sometimes feel that USG leaders are more interested in their resumes than the students they are charged to represent.

Beyond his energy and dedication, Lenahan's term boasted several achievements. While freshmen may not be able to appreciate it, the lives of Princeton students became much easier after Lenahan worked to increase the email quota to a reasonable level. In addition, the extension of SCORE's hours provides students with more flexibility in course selection. Finally, Lenahan — in conjunction with other student leaders — successfully experimented with the campus bar, creating a success on the nights when it did occur.

Whether we consider ourselves to be supporters or skeptics of the Lenahan presidency, we should all thank Lenahan for the hard work he has devoted to the job as USG president and his eagerness to act on our behalf.