At the Sunday meeting of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Senate recapped the Ivy League Mental Health Conference, conducted language reviews of referendum resolutions, and previewed USG’s 50th anniversary event.
USG President Enzo Kho ’26 started the meeting by congratulating USG representatives on the success of the Ivy League Mental Health Conference, which took place over the weekend.
Representatives from the other seven Ivy League universities, as well as from the Princeton Alumni Mental Health Coalition, University deans, faculty, and students, attended the conference.
Kho then discussed a meeting earlier in the week between himself, USG Vice President Aishwarya Swamidurai ’26, and several Princeton deans about potential modifications to the spring academic calendar, though any changes would take several years to take effect.
Charlie Yale ’28 submitted a student-initiated referendum proposal to the Senate for language review. The resolution was proposed on behalf of activist group Sunrise Princeton and called for the University to end its financial affiliation with PetroTiger, an oil and gas company in which the University holds a significant stake.
Yale is an assistant Opinion editor for the ‘Prince.’
A second referendum was proposed by Kho calling for the restoration of the independent dining option and the prioritization of students not in eating clubs or co-ops in Spelman room draw. However, if the University does not restore the independent option, the referendum urges the reinstitution of the Block 105 meal plan instead of the proposed Block 128 plan.
After minor grammatical revisions, the Senate unanimously approved the language for both the resolution and the ballot questions of the two referenda. The measures will require signatures from 10 percent of undergraduate students to appear on the USG winter election ballot.
Student referenda are strictly advisory and the University does not have to adopt proposals approved by the student body. Last year, four referenda were passed by the student body. However, the University has yet to implement any of the changes.
“We recognize the advisory power of the referendum but we think this stays with the promise of ensuring that the [dining option] conversation doesn’t die down, and it gives students a chance to just collectively voice what they're feeling,” Swamidurai said.
Following the referendum proposals, USG Chief of Staff Amy Park ’27 highlighted the upcoming event celebrating the 50th anniversary of USG, which will be held from 5–7 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Prospect House. Kho and Thomas Pyle ’76, Princeton’s first USG President, will deliver remarks to an audience of past and present USG representatives, along with any undergraduates who register.
USG Meetings are open for all students to attend and are held on Sundays from 5–6 p.m. in Robertson Hall 016.
Gray Collins is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Villanova, Penn. and can be reached at gc7410[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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