USG previews upcoming COMBO III results

Other topics at the meeting included a discussion of the state of the freshman class elections, Senate votes on the USG budget for the current year and a funding proposal for the upcoming Cane Spree event.

When compared against COMBO I and COMBO II, this survey garnered a high number of responses, with over 1,900 students participating. Class of 2015 senator Shawon Jackson presented a summary of the data, which included the observations that students from lower income families appear to struggle disproportionately when pursuing summer abroad and internship opportunities.

Additionally, LGBTQIA students were noted to be more likely to report mental health issues during the school year, with a number referencing that they felt “out of place.”

With respect to academic life, the survey noted several ethnic and gender disparities. These include the finding that men are generally less comfortable using campus services — such as McCosh and the Writing Center — than women, as well as that the proportion of black students reporting difficulty with workload management was 64.8 percent higher than the same proportion for white students.

Initial data from the survey was released last December.

At the beginning of the meeting, which was held at the Department of Public Safety’s at 200 Elm Drive, Sgt. Sean Ryder introduced himself and several of his colleagues to the USG. Following the introduction, the USG announced that 32 freshmen applied for the five places available on the Class of 2016 council. Campaigning for the elections will begin today at noon. This is the first year that the freshman class will elect representatives to a council rather than to specific offices such as president or vice president.

Next, USG treasurer Lillie Cartwright ’14 presented the proposed budget to the Senate and saw it quickly approved by a 20 to zero vote, with no abstentions.

Following the vote was a discussion of USG’s role in the upcoming “Cane Spree” event, to be held this Wednesday evening. Open to all students, the gathering takes its name from an incident dating to 1865, when some upperclassmen deemed the freshmen class unworthy to carry canes and many were forcibly confiscated as a result, Class of 2014 senator Charissa Shen ’14 explained.

While this week’s event — to be held in Princeton Stadium — will certainly be friendlier in nature, Cane Spree preserves the spirit of competition between the freshman and sophomore classes by pitching the two grades against one another in athletic competitions. USG will host the event along with Campus Recreation.

A motion was passed by a vote of 19 to four, with one abstention, to set aside $1,686.25 for the rental of inflatable games.