USG to consider Dillon options

President Tilghman discussed how the University administration views the USG during a question-and-answer session with the outgoing USG administration yesterday.

Speaking during the last USG Senate meeting of the semester, Tilghman cited two main areas in which she said the USG was most valuable. First, she said, USG input shapes the "experience of undergraduates really from the day they first get that acceptance to the day of Commencement," giving administrators a window into student-life issues.

Additionally, she said, the USG's role is "to keep [the administration] apprised of the areas of the University where you think we're not doing as well as we should." Specifically, she cited weaknesses in the peer advising system for freshmen and overcrowding in Dillon Gym, two issues previously raised by the USG.

Tilghman also stressed the importance of a cordial relationship between the USG and the University administration. "Working together ... we can get a lot more done," she said.

Though Tilghman reaffirmed the University's position that construction of a new gym is currently unrealistic, she encouraged USG members to develop alternative solutions to the problem. "Really creative thinking might actually make a difference," she said.

Several USG members suggested organizing satellite gyms as a temporary solution to the overuse of Dillon's facilities. USG president Rob Biederman '08 added that "people won't believe [expanding Dillon] is a priority unless students are very vocal about it."

To let more students express their views on the issue, the USG will launch an online petition asking the University to address space concerns, with the goal of having administrators commit to a timetable for renovations.

Tilghman also discussed her plans for making the University more environmentally efficient, noting that she spent winter break working on a draft of the Princeton Sustainability Plan, which she said is nearly complete.

While she did not disclose the plan's specific recommendations since it has not yet been reviewed by the Board of Trustees, she said it includes environmentally friendly building plans as well as other proposals to adopt greener technology.

"No one who has been involved in the process has been pushing against Princeton taking a very responsible position in this area," she said, but added that goals must be realistically achievable for her and her successors.

USG vice president and president-elect Josh Weinstein '09, who also participates in Greening Princeton, a student environmentalist group, praised the administration for what he characterized as "major leaps" in reducing its negative impact on the environment. He added that he looked forward to learning more about the plan.

During her discussion with the USG, Tilghman also offered some suggestions to the incoming USG administration regarding how it can be most effective.

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She advised the newly elected USG officers to "choose wisely the things you want to focus in on." Sometimes the student government tries to deal with too many issues at one time, Tilghman said, adding that she believes it is important to expend resources on only a few issues that are very important to the student body so that the greatest possible progress can be made in resolving problems.