Cheng '16 looks back on her year in office

FormerUndergraduate Student GovernmentpresidentElla Cheng '16said that the past year in USG was highlighted by revision of the P/D/F reversal policy, efforts to spread awareness about financial aid andanalysis of studentneeds through the 'What Matters' survey.

Cheng is a former staff writer for the Daily Princetonian.

According to outgoingacademics committee chair Ramie Fathy ’16, the USG academics committee pursued many projects driven by student interests, particularly administrative changestothe P/D/F policy.

“When I came into the committee it was very different. The academics chair did a lot of the work. I decided to take a different approach,” Fathy said. He explained that he created three different sub-committees that focused on undergraduate admissions and coursework, financial aid and academic policy respectively.

Regarding the P/D/F policy, Fathy said he was pleased with what the committee had been able to achieve. With the committee's efforts, students are now able to reverse apass/D/fail grade option for a course that could be used to fulfill requirements for a concentration or a certificate, he said.

“We wanted to get it right the first time. This has been tried before, with strong arguments against un-PDF-ing any class,” Fathy said.

During her term, Cheng stated that she frequently revisited the 3 R'sprinciple--Responsiveness, Relevance and Representativeness--in evaluating USG.

“Throughout my term I've consistently been looking back at the platform,” Cheng said. She noted that under her leadership, USG had provided more training for members, as well as extensive dialogue.

Cheng added that the ‘What Matters’ survey had helped determine student needs and set agenda priorities for USG. According to Aleksandra Czulack ’17, former USG vice-president and incoming USG president, this was USG'sfirst time using data analysis to select projects.

“We actually followed it [the survey] closely, so we knew students had a stake in everything,” Cheng added.

Cheng noted that the survey, which asked students to compare potential projects for importance, generated more than 26,000 clicks.

She also noted that USG had worked to reach out and connect with groups on campus working on specific projects. For example, USG worked with the administration to provide students with more accurate information about financial aid. This campaign encompassed not only information about subsidies for eating clubs, but also about the lesser-known emergency fund.According to Cheng, in cases of emergency in which a student's family would be burdened financially, the fund can provide help that might include a flight home or assistance with medical bills.

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“USG has made it much easier for students, faculty and staff from many different pockets of campus to get involved ,” said Czulack.

Another achievement for the academics committee include efforts to reform the academic calendar. According to Fathy, a new survey to determine what students would like to change in the academic calendar will be administered by emailon Mar 1.

The survey will include concerns that have previously been raised by students, such as whether to have final exams before break.

“With any alternative calendar comes some tradeoff,” Fathy said.

Looking back at his term as Campus and Community Affairs committee chair Michael Cox '17, who will be serving another term,said his committee worked to revamp and refocus its efforts, figuring out where members wanted to put their energy.

“It was optimistic to think we can do that in one semester,” Cox said.

“In the fall, we have the later start and many breaks, so it’s hard to get actual projects done,” Cox said, “But now we are really getting in the groove and ready to start for the new year."

Cox said he found his role as CCA chair particularly rewarding and well-aligned with his passion for putting together social events.

For example, Cox said that CCA’s biggest project for the year, Restaurant Week, went very well with higher participation among local restaurants compared to previous years.

“The committee members were very persistent in contacting restaurants, and we were much more organized in laying out exactly how we would do it,” Cox said, noting that the committee secured a deal with all restaurants that had expressed interest.

USG Senate members said that they faced a multitude of different challenges over the course of the year, including awareness about resources and politics within collaborations.

“The frustrating part was really politics, as is the case with anything that requires collaboration with other parties. Needless bickering, overlaps or debates were had,” Cheng said.

Cox added that it was difficult getting to know all the resources that USG had at the beginning of his term.Fathy noted that bringing about significant changes in policies, including the P/D/F policy, presents challenges.

“You might imagine it would be a very easy process to work through and get it changed,” Fathy explained, “But there is a lot of logistics, many people to be contacted, and a lot of different factors.”

Cheng said that it is important for incoming members of USG to keep looking back at the motto, “To lead is to serve,” something former USG president Shawon Jackson '15 also emphasized.

“You only succeed if you actually care about the topic you're working on, the students and the impacts,” Cheng said.

Cheng added that USG has given hermore than she's given to it, and that she's learned a lot during her time as USG president. She added the she was immensely grateful to the student body for giving her the chance to serve.

Cox added that it is important for other students to explore multiple aspects of the University’s support system. There is no other support system as extensive as that which students have now, Cox said.

"It’s my responsibility now to really use those resources to make Princeton a better place for everyone,” Cox said.