The UA has released its 2009 Annual Report, a comprehensive overview of its work over the last year in general and last semester in particular. This website will be updated in the next weeks with the complete text of the Report, but check out the consolidated and printable publication here!
On September 16th, the University released its Climate Action Plan, a plan to reduce the University’s carbon emissions and enhance sustainability. This was the result of over two years of work, including the appointment of a University Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, and the creation of a guiding group, the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC). Numerous University entities contributed to the development of the plan.
The Undergraduate Assembly, among other student groups, has made sustainability a core part of its mission through its housing, sustainability and facilities (HSF) committee. It has helped for coordinate outreach out the plan, hosting the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, Dan Garofolo, for a town-hall style meeting. Student leaders from over campus were able to ask questions following an informative presentation.
The UA’s response to the Climate Action Plan focused on the principles of leadership, environmental effectiveness, and student involvement. It commended the University for its environmental policies, called upon the University to commit to carbon neutrality, recommended further energy conversation incentives, and urged the university to be work with students interested in sustainability, among other recommendations.
You can read the minutes from the meeting here.
The UA hopes to continue its work on sustainability. Those interested in getting involved can apply to be an associate member for the HSF committee.
Not these sirens, unfortunately
From tomorrow until the 20th of August, you’ll likely hear the sound of Westminster Chimes as DPS tests their new siren system. Don’t be (a) alarmed, or (b) tricked into thinking time is passing much faster than normal. The system will be fully operational by the start of Fall semester, when it will be tested on the first Friday of each month at 11am until all the kinks have been worked out.
Many freshmen have indicated an interest in the PennPass. On the face of it, it’s a great deal. No tokens! A mere $280 per semester for unlimited trips on SEPTA! And this is a 10% discount from four monthly passes!
Except it’s still not a good deal for most undergraduates – to break even on the Pass, you have to take SEPTA at least twice every day (including weekends) on average. Check out below the fold for the math.
That being said, the PennPass is a great and convienent deal for our small but significant commuter undergraduate population. But it’s not a good deal for those living on campus; not even the most dedicated urbanite travels into Center City and back every single day of the week for the whole semester.
The UA will continue to lobby for a good deal for undergraduates across this city from SEPTA – hopefully with SEPTA’s transition to a tokenless system we will finally see a PennPass that works for undergrads!
Coverage of the new Penn SOS System
A few weeks ago, the Division of Public Safety staged a public launch of the Penn Siren Outdoor System (appropriately titled Penn SOS). This means that in the case of a major emergency, DPS has the option of adding a community-wide siren and public address alert to the existing email/text/phone alert system.
The system will be tested both over the summer (August 18th to August 20) and then once a month on Friday at 11am until the system works fully. All tests will use Westminster Chimes. In an emergency you will hear a fifteen (15) second siren followed by a voice intelligible message instructing you on what to do. This will repeat three (3) times. When the crisis has passed, the system will emit a series of beeps followed by a voice saying it is “All Clear”.
The UA and GAPSA worked with DPS to ensure that this important new system would be tested appropriately, communicated to everyone on campus including new freshmen, and did not interfere with major worship services; we’re confident that the new system will be well tested and add significantly to the safety of students in an emergency. But don’t think that the siren gives you an excuse to not put your phone into UPennAlert – if you haven’t added your emergency contact details, you are a silly person! Do so right now!
Check out more details and an FAQ below the jump.
