On Sunday, February 26th, the UA passed its $2 million budget for 2012-2013 academic year.

The entire budget can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AmpLuhsh1-lQdEtTaEhUU2x2cDhLMFNXVjRvOVM3U1E&output=html

Thanks to the budget committee for all of their hard work!

Check us out at the following events!

Sept 3 10PM-12AM, Houston Hall
Penn Student Government’s NSO Late Night

Sept 5 11AM-2PM, Locust Walk
Fall Activities Fair

Sept 7 8:30-9:30PM, Claudia Cohen Hall
Penn Student Government Info Session

Sept 11 5-6PM, Ben Franklin Room, Houston Hall
UA Info Session

Sept 11 9PM-12AM, Ben Franklin Room, Houston Hall
UA General Body Meeting

If you are interested in running for a seat or getting involved as an Associate Member, please attend our Info Session on September 11, 5-6PM! If you cannot attend any of these events but would still like to contact us, please get in touch with Cynthia Ip (speaker@pennua.org).

Remember, you can pick up your candidate packets in Houston Hall 200!

Convenient Summer Mail Options

After lobbying from the UA and other student leaders, Housing Services is pleased to announce a new service designed to meet the needs of students who are leaving the country for the summer months.

Starting this summer, mail services will accept and hold all postal mail-at no charge- for students traveling internationally. This means that any letters you receive during the summer will be securely held until you return and pick them up. This is a perennial concern for many students, and we are very excited about to announce this program.

New School Year Package Holding

Beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year, our mail services will now hold packages for off-campus residents. This includes those living in Greek housing. Packages will be held for these students during the spring and fall semesters, including during breaks. Students will sign up through a simple online form and pay a small fee for each package held. We are very excited to bring this service to all off campus students!

Questions? Concerns? Check out www.pennua.org/outreach and get involved!

For more information, check out this link.

Major Changes Coming to Penn Dining

After listening Penn students voice their concerns about dining , the UA is thrilled to announce that after much lobbying and advocacy on behalf of the student body, changes are coming to the way YOU dine. Here are four major points:

1) Taste of Penn Dining Event- This event sponsored by Penn Dining and the UA will allow students on dining plans to vote for foods that they would like to see in our dining halls. This is a great gesture on the part of Penn Dining and it will truly be your voices being heard.

2) New Dining Plans! Based off of student feedback from the UA and focus groups, there will be a major restructuring of dining plans. Plans will now be reduced, more customizable, and incremental additions will be available. Here are the plans:

Freshman Plans

• EAT Plan (Eat AnyTime)- Unlimited meals and $100 dining dollars
• BEN Plan (Balanced and Eating Naturally)- 370 meals and about $425 dining dollars total
• BFF Plan (Best Food Fit)- 200 meals and $800 dining dollars

Upperclassmen Meals

• OMW Plan (One Meal Works) – 175 meals and $1,150 dining dollars
• CAP Plan (Club and Activities Plan) – 100 meals and $1200 dining dollars
• FIT Plan (Food In Time) 75 meals and $700 dining dollars
• GTG Plan (Good To Go) 50 meals and $2,o00 dining dollars

3) New Dining Hall in McClelland- In partnership with the College Houses, Penn is creating a new and expanded dining experience at McClelland which will expand dining options for over 1400 residents of the Quad. The renovations of McClelland occurred during the summer of 2011 and will open on Thursday, September 7th. Cafe hours are below:

Full service: Monday – Friday 8 am to 8 pm

Express and retail grocery: Monday through Thursday 8 am to 10 pm; Friday 8 am, to 8 pm

Saturday and Sunday, Full service, express and retail grocery – Noon to 6:30 pm

Options include:

• Staff to prepare food while you wait (crepes, omelets, pasta toss, etc.)
• Continental breakfast (waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt)
• Toast and bagel bar
• Salad bar and soup station

There is also be a grocery and express food section with grab and go salads, sandwiches and sushi.  Also created is new soft seating and additional tables and dining space designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate a variety of uses.

4) Dining Advisory Board- Thanks to student feedback and the hard work and dedication of our student life committee, the UA recently passed the Dining Advisory Board Resolution. The DAB is composed of students from different organizations and stakeholders such as Hillel, MSA, RAB, and the College Houses who will meet regularly with representatives from Penn Dining, Bon Appetit, and Business Services. The dining advisory board will improve the quality of dining for student at Penn so that you can have it your way.

Want to get involved with great change like this at Penn? Have any ideas you want to share? It’s easy! The UA wants your feedback, so please make sure to check out pennua.org/outreach and get involved!