Wednesday, October 23, 2013

SA Senate Calls for Increased Transparency in University’s Admissions Process


BY MCKINLEY KANT


The Student Association Senate met Monday evening in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center to pass a resolution in response to the university’s admission that the Office of Admissions sometimes takes into account applicants’ financial aid statuses when deciding whether or not to admit them.

The Senate passed the Administration Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Ryan Counihan, Nick Gumas and Ben Pryde, around 40 minutes after the Senate invoked a rare executive session, where they asked members of the public to leave.

“I’m tired of this sentiment of finding out that the university screwed up again and saying there’s nothing we can do about it,”  Counihan said.

Many non-undergraduate senators voted ‘present’ because they felt uncomfortable voting on a resolution pertaining only to the undergraduate admissions office.

Others questioned the reasoning behind the resolution.

“I’m concerned that [the resolution] could be interpreted in a negative light,” Senator Daniel Egel-Weiss said. “I want to commend the university for coming forward and being honest.”

The resolution does commend the university for coming forward, though it firmly states that the Undergraduate Office of Admissions must take clear steps toward better transparency.

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