At last night’s meeting, the ASSU Undergraduate Senate consolidated its goals for the 2007-2008 academic year and established its top priorities — reducing the average cost of student living and working to enhance the role of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

Senate Deputy Chair Eugene Nho ‘10 detailed efforts to decrease the cost of student living. He targeted four different goals: reducing the cost of course readers, encouraging faculty to upload class reading assignments online, increasing the bookstore’s buyback values and improving the library reserve system. The Committee of Student Life, Housing and Education began work on these issues during its first meeting.

“We have a two-pronged approach,” Nho said of the Committee’s efforts to reduce course reader prices, “so we don’t have to pay ridiculous mark-up at the bookstore.”

“First, we want to convince faculty that [using outside printers] is truly benefiting the student body. Second, [we need to] negotiate with printing shops on getting certain things, such as logistics of distribution and the tailoring of services, before we go to the faculty,” he said. “When it comes to faculty members, working with outside printing shops should be as easy as possible.”

Regarding the OSA, Nho stressed the need to increase transparency between the ASSU, OSA and the student body itself. He emphasized the OSA’s lack of availability and outreach to students.

“[The OSA] is not able to offer good enough services to the students [due to its understaffing],” Nho said. “[Its] office hours are just two hours, [leaving only enough time] for a couple groups to meet with [OSA Director] Nanci Howe. When it is really critical, no one is available to meet.”

Senators are also working to obtain a LateNite delivery system and improve the late plate system in dining halls.

Senator Jose Benchimol ‘08, communications committee chair, announced the beginning of ASSU Senate office hours, which will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Axe & Palm.

“The purpose of office hours,” Benchimol stated, “is to get students that have any issues or ideas to come to us — whether it’s questions about funding, creating new student groups or getting involved in ASSU. It is a more friendly way for the students to approach us.”

The meeting concluded on a lighter note with the unanimous passing of the eighth undergraduate senate bill — A Resolution to Express Congratulations to the Stanford Football Team.

“Historically, the Senate passes congratulatory resolutions,” said Senator Stuart Baimel ‘09. “I thought this would be a good thing to do, as it makes it the official position of the Undergraduate Senate that we shall beat Cal!”