Winter 2009 Platforms – Carleton Student Association

CSA President

McKay Duer

To the Carleton Student Body:

Last year when I ran for a CSA senate seat, I had a somewhat vague idea about what the senate really was and what it could really do; now I know. My platform is not filled with unrealistic promises of change and implausible ideas to administer. Rather, it is filled with things I know the senate can, and should, do. I want to make the changes that are necessary for this campus and for its’ students, like you and me. I want to institute policies and programs to promote equality across this campus, to encourage inter-group dialogues, to make sure all important aspects of student life (housing, dining, activities, ect.) are put in the hands of people who can get the job done, to represent student voices to administrative bodies, and to make the CSA Senate a more visible, accessible, and transparent organization.

I have, as I promised last year, given my time whole-heartedly to the CSA. I have gained an understanding of, and gotten involved with, as many committees as my schedule has allowed. I have been an active, persistent, informed, and dutiful senator who has taken the job of representing student voices very seriously. As a current member of the Dining Board, governance committee, constitution review board, career center working group, club sports council, and Carletonian as well as being a past member of Syzygy Women’s Ultimate, varsity soccer, and SAAC I have had the opportunity to hear a number of different perspectives, voice concerns, evaluate current institutions, fight for changes, listen to the opinion’s of others, and engage in meaningful dialogues with faculty, staff, and students.

That being said, there are still a lot of other voices I want to hear and other opinions I want to know. If elected as President, I will make sure to promote the CSA and its’ working committees around campus to get more students involved. I hope to, in addition to the current weekly office hours, have a table once a week during common time so every student can ask questions, voice complaints, and speak of the improvements they hope to see at Carleton.

On the note of school improvements, here are a few things that I want to, and will, accomplish this next year:

Create an inter-group dialogue pilot for all incoming freshman – after the Campus Climate Survey and all the work the ECC has done this year, in the curricular review, it is clear that there needs to be a way in which ALL students can talk about sensitive issues in a safe and welcoming environment on this campus. I want to develop a pilot program for the much-discussed inter-group dialogue that will encompass faculty, staff, and students.
Design a new and improved “New Student Week” experience so our new freshman will feel more connected to the campus right away by eliminating the chaos and anxiety of the first week. This can be done by creating specific themes for each day, limiting the number of different groups the students are in (ie. one group for academic oriented issues and one group for social activities), and by teaching the students what is expected in the classroom before their first day of classes.
Help improve the effectiveness and usefulness of the career center – the career center and its’ staff have a lot to offer the Carleton student body but, it is currently an under utilized office. As a part of the career center working group I have been meeting with career center staff to find a way for more students to get involved with this office and the programs it offers. That said, we still need to improve student relationships with alumni by making more students aware of the alumni-student oriented events, getting more students involved with the scholars program by designing more diverse interest-oriented trips, and organizing more internships/externships for students based on their specific interests.
Finalize the P.E. credit issue for club sports – during the ECC curricular review it was decided that all club sports would have the potential to receive up to 4 years of P.E. credit. As President of the Club Sports council I am currently designing a system to judge each sport and decide if it is eligible to receive the full 4 P.E. credits. I want this change and process to be instituted and used by the time I leave this school (since it is a system that will affect over 600 students).
Improve the CSA website – the current CSA officers have been working together to design a new and improved CSA website. I will continue their efforts to make the CSA website accessible, informative, and interesting. I hope that, one day, it can be a hub for students (meaning the majority of students will look at and use the website) who want to know what is happening on campus, what the CSA is doing, how to voice concerns, who to contact about what, etc.
Reevaluate the current transportation offered at Carleton – let’s face it, the system at Carleton needs some work. There is a limited budget and limited means of transportation but we need to reevaluate the efficiency of the current system and make changes to better serve the needs of the students. The city of Northfield is in the midst of reviewing Northfield Transit and I think this is the perfect time for Carleton to reevaluate our transportation too. I think it is important to create a survey so the administration can know what students want, need, and would use. Once this has been completed we can decide what this school needs and what its’ students want in terms of campus transportation.

In addition to the above mentioned changes I want to get more OneCard readers on vending machines, reevaluate the meal plans based on our new dining service provider, get more printers on the east side of campus (particularly because of the new dorms), create new student activities (ie. increasing on campus performances), continue to make this campus more sustainable (ie. promote the use of the Green Fund), and inform more students about the CSA and how to get things done on campus.As you can see I have many ideas on how to improve this campus and I also know how to turn ideas into actions and actions into institutional changes. That being said, it is not just my concerns that I want to act on, I want to hear yours. I want to hear your thoughts, your ideas, and your suggestions. I want to take what you say and how you feel and get you involved; but if you don’t want to get involved then I will be your voice – your voice to the senate and your voice to the administration. So please, let me represent you.Vote McKay Duer for CSA President.

CSA Vice-President

Jinai Bharucha

Dear Carleton students,

I am writing to ask you to vote for me, Jinai Bharucha, for CSA Vice President. In the last year, Carleton has undergone a multitude of changes. The student body has seen the changes made in upper Sayles, in our food service provider, and in the continuing buzz of the campus climate survey. Through this all, the CSA Senate and Budget Committee have tried to advocate for all of the students in these processes. I have been a senator for one year and a budget committee member for two terms, which has given me an inside vantage point on many of the issues and changes which are critical to all of our experiences at Carleton. I feel that this experience renders me very qualified to serve as your Vice President for the next three terms.

I believe that the role of the Vice President is two-fold:

To improve your life as a student, and
To serve as the leader of the CSA Budget Committee.

In the past year as a senator, I have worked with other senators and students to:

Hold “office hours” in the CSA office to listen to you every week of the term,
Obtain funding and make plans to renovate upper Sayles,
Support student sentiments regarding the Wellness Center throughout its departmental review,
Research the possibility of having medical supplies more readily available on campus,
Join a Northfield-Carleton community group discussing transportation and its availability on campus
Support the campus climate survey and the initiatives following it, including workshops, curriculum changes, and a pilot program of the Intergroup Dialogue Seminar

As a member of the Budget Committee, I have:

Supported countless student initiatives requiring funding,
Made fair decisions without personal bias,
Helped student groups find ways to raise money whenever possible. I believe that the Vice-President should be experienced with the financial needs of students and organizations and simultaneously understand student life and programming at Carleton. As the treasurer of the Minority Students Pre-Health Coalition, I have experienced the frustration with finding funding for attending conferences and other events that are vital to my experiences with the group. As an RA and a participant in Model UN conferences, I understand how organizations think and promise to help by supporting your personal endeavors.

This year, as your Vice-President, I promise to:

In conjunction with the Treasurer, make the Budget Committee guidelines, the process of requesting funding and various available funds on campus publicly known,
Continue to support changes to the Wellness Center in order to provide adequate care to all students,
Raise student concerns regarding printer availability on campus and ensure that there are adequate printing stations on both sides of campus,
Pursue the issue of transportation (and its lack thereof) on our campus,
Establish an Intergroup Dialogue Pilot Program and maintain student-faculty-staff connections to the Campus Climate Survey
Support the Career Center and make it even more accessible to all of our students
Finalize the availability of PE Credits for Club Sports
Support your initiatives and your concerns! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email me (bharuchj). I encourage you all to vote at csa.carleton.edu from Thursday, February 12th-Sunday, February 15th.

Thank you and I look forward to serving as your CSA vice-president!

Jinai Bharucha

Robert Stephens

I would first like to thank both President Fleming and Vice-President Kenney for their leadership over the past year. The purpose of this platform is to communicate my experience, my plans, and the reason I am running for CSA Vice-President. Serving as both a senator and member of the budget committee, I have direct experience with both bodies over which the Vice-President presides. This experience will enable me to accomplish a variety of policy objectives. Some of which include: P.E. credit for club sports, continuing the advocacy for responsible energy and financial investment by the college, and the creation of a CSA Student Bill of Rights that would provide a central location for the constitutional rights and responsibilities of the student body (i.e. the right to not only attend senate meetings, but to speak as any elected senator does).

While I have my own ideas, they are not why I am running. I am running because representing and advocating for people are core-values of mine. Values dictate action. There may be disagreements about policy and reform, but the core-value of representation ensures dialogue. Dialogue enables advocacy, an advocacy that empowers you to accomplish your goals, even when they are not the same as my own. My representation of each student on this campus does not stop when the meeting ends, and is more than merely executing the bylaws and constitution. I believe in the capacity of CSA to be a dynamic voice and instrument for empowering and enriching the lives of all students. I want to help lead a body that realizes this potential not only through the responsible allocation of CSA funds, but when necessary, serving as the bridge between the students and the administration. I would appreciate your support in this campaign and thank you for your time.

Treasurer

Sarah Duane

For the past five terms I have been a Student-At-Large on the CSA Budget Committee. Through this position, I have seen the multitude of amazing projects and events that the Carleton student body has hosted. In addition, my experience on the Budget Committee has provided me with an intimate knowledge of the CSA financial operations. I believe that it is CSA’s job to promote quality student projects and represent the needs of the student body when working with the college. As treasurer, there are two things I will do to achieve these goals:

Make the Budget Committee more visible, accessible, and transparent to students: As everyone who has been to budget committee knows, requesting funds can be a confusing process. My goal is to make the process simple enough so that it is not a hindrance to any event. I want increase the visibility of Budget Committee to promote the creative use of CSA funds. The unfortunate thing about Budget Committee is that most students do not know the extent to which they can use CSA funds. To accomplish this I will start a campaign to promote the use of Third-Center, Metro-Arts Access Fund and Alt-Bev.
Increase the support for large long-term projects that involve funding from multiple sources: The Budget Committee is currently funding many long-term projects. We have teamed up with many campus offices, such as the ACT center and the Club Sports, to stream line the allocation process. However, this takes away some of the Budget Committee’s discretion. As treasurer I will monitor and support these projects to ensure that students money is being used in the best way possible.

If you elect me treasurer I promise to be open, honest and most importantly, represent the needs of the student body. If you have any questions feel free to email me at duanes@carleton.edu. I encourage you to vote February 12-15th on the CSA website.

Thank you,

Sarah Duane 2011

CSA Senator

Samir Bhala

Background and Experience:

As a freshman, I have worked extensively on the Committee on Student Life, helping revise the college’s out-dated discrimination policy. To that discussion, I bring my experiences as a student with multiple disabilities and as a student of color. Because of the significant medical trials through which I have endured during my short life (a rare, incurable genetic disease and a surgery to clip a brain aneurysm that resulted in several severe strokes), I have a stubborn perseverance to do what I feel is right, justified, and in the interests of all. Fairness and equitable treatment are my twin peaks. As a senator, my goal will be to ensure that no student’s voice – however unpopular – goes unheard, no student’s question unanswered.

My experience in public service is also varied and long for someone my age. When I was four-years-old, my father defined for me the meaning of responsibility as “Knowing what you have to do and doing it unasked.” For the past 16 years, I have tried my best to incorporate that definition in the way I live my life. At an early age through high school, I volunteered every summer at my local library and nursing home. The summer before my senior year, I took a job at the school district assisting teachers at a science camp for kids. During my senior year, I worked as an Election Judge and on the Naperville City Plan Commission; the latter provided me with a non-partisan avenue through which I learned the realities of governing and setting policy to the ideals put forth in my hometown’s city plan. Finally, this past summer, I worked extensively – sometimes upwards of 70-hours-a-week – on a first-time Congressional candidate’s campaign. We lost the race, but I learned that I am a dedicated fighter for my beliefs.

I will fight for you. I bring forth a pragmatic, but open-minded, approach to governing. I offer the experience of having worked on and streamlined operations. Perhaps because of my circumstances, I stick up for the underdog, the underserved. I would be honored to continue my service as your representative to the Carleton Student Association Senate.

Platform:

Increase Student Input: I would, as your CSA Senator, increase your input. I will lobby the ECC, or Education and Curriculum Committee, to mandate course evaluations at least once a term. Implied in the college’s mission – “(to build a) collaborative community that encourages curiosity and intellectual adventure of the highest quality … (to develop) qualities of mind and character…” – is the promise that everyone, faculty, staff, and students, alike, can learn from anyone. The most experienced professor can improve his methods through feedback from the greenest of students. A constant feedback helps both student and professor alter their strategies and attain the goals for which we, the members of the Carleton Community, strive. I feel this plan can be implemented elsewhere, with regards to the dining services, and other college policies – such as the yet-proposed College Discrimination Policy – too.

It’s not easy being green, but we should still try: As your CSA Senator, I would push Carleton toward more, “green” policies. Cutting energy emissions is necessary for the future, and I would propose the college convert solely to CFL bulbs by 2012. I would further propose that Carleton invest in more short-term goals: low-pressure shower heads, hand-driers instead of paper towels, low-flow toilets. Increased solar power cells and additional windmills, long-term goals, would also buttress our push for sustainability. With some ingenuity and strategizing, the campus can prove Kermit wrong.

Bettering Facilities: Aside from the ameliorating the obvious constraints placed on using public labs or the library, I would venture to make the dining halls work for the students, not the college. There is a lot of discontent regarding services, and I would work with Bon Appétit, the Dining Hall Board, and fellow students to ensure that “milk-less” Mondays, “tray-less” Tuesdays, or “”fork-less” Fridays stem from our commitment to sustainability, not for lack of resources.

Fiscal Responsibility: While I am not a fiscal hawk, I believe increases in spending should result in concomitant budget cuts. This is not to say that I will vote down appropriating any funds for any reason. I think intelligent spending, efficient allocation, on items that people most want it spent should dictate our policy. So, unless people really want new computers every two years, instead of a better printer, in Sayles-Hill Computer Lab, I will not cast that vote. If something interests you, and regardless of whether you seek college funds for it money for it, send me an email. I am here to represent you, not an ideology. The purpose of the CSA is to apportion funds with the discretion of students. In this economic climate, the college has managed our funds with great poise. I hope to help them continue to ride out this storm.

These four platforms highlight my beliefs as to what we can do together. I hope you support me, and thank you for this opportunity.

Eric Hitimana

My name is Eric N. Hitimana and I am a sophomore. I am interested in becoming a CSA senator because I love helping people in any capacity that I can. I currently work for Residential Life as an RA. I feel qualified for the position because of my current job on campus and the responsibilities that come with it. I believe that there are individuals whose voices and opinions are not being represented, and it is my hope to bring them to light.

I am running for this position because I feel the need for an individual on the Senate who represents ideas that are just, opinions that are thought provoking, and not simply representing a specific group.I hope to be able to be open-minded and thoughtful in my position and to bring a fresh view on how things work here at Carleton.

Thank you.

Issac Hodes

Experience: I know how to work with people on issues that matter, and I know how to research and persuade and collaborate to get things done.

I’m a member of Model United Nations, and I’m a member of the Forensics Debate Team; I have applied experience negotiating and debating that I’ll bring to the CSA. You may also have seen my articles in a number of issues of the Carleton Progressive; I can articulate myself, and I can articulate what you need me to to the people who need to hear it. I am very active on campus, and I want to (use extreme amounts of caffeine to) help you get what you want and what you need.

Issues: I’m not about bringing a set of issues that I’m set on getting passed to the senate, I’m about bringing issues that YOU have to YOUR senate. I’d like to be your representative; this doesn’t mean, as is often the case in modern politics, that you pick the person who has ideas that are close to yours; it means that you get to pick me to convey your ideas and push for them in the senate.

That being said, I have heard of a few issues which seem to be something many students would like that strike me as something we can accomplish by working together:

Longer Library hours;
Greater meal plan/meal replacement flexibility;
Getting funding to organizations that need it;
More of what YOU want! Email me or Facebook me anytime – hodesh@carleton.edu or Isaac Hodes on Facebook.

Vote Hodes “Hodes” Hodes for CSA senator 2009-2010!

Khant Khant Kyaw

During the past four terms at Carleton, I was involved with several clubs and organizations, ranging from being an ASIA Club Co-chair, being on the board of Multi-Cultural Alumni Network as a sophomore representative, to being on the Carleton Women’s Rugby team. This term, I would like to take a step further, by running for the CSA Senator Position.

Being on the Senate, I hope help build a more cohesive the Carleton community. Although Carleton is a small college of less than 2000 students, there are fragmentations in this community; the divide between involved/active students and those who do not pay much attention to what is going on in the place they live in, 24/7, the lack of coordination between the student groups, the communication among the various administrative organizations. (And of course, there is also the racial and/or ethnical divide that everyone is talking about, but really, I think this could be made less visible, if students channel their thoughts and actions to other issues.)

But these divides are not ones that are irreconcilable, or ones that should be left alone. If we want to work towards a more conducive and inclusive institution for all or almost all of its participants there will have to is much time and effort spared by many. And I hope to play a role in working towards this change and give back to this community that has helped me learn and grow.

Moshe Lavi

My name is Moshe (Emilio) Lavi, and I am running for the CSA Senate to the Senator position. I have vast experience in Student Government and I wish to serve and assist the student community of Carleton College as well.

Student Government:

Vice-President of the Shaar-Hanegev Regional Youth Council; Member of the Student Council in Shaar-Hanegev High School; Member of the Pedagogical Board in Shaar-Hanegev High School; A founder of a revolutionary and democratic student-staff based group called “Althing” that promoted constructive reforms in Red Cross Nordic UWC (Norway).

Other positions:

Chair of several organisations in RCNUWC: Just Ice Magazine, Refugee Media Service; Vice-chair and secretary of the “World Today” service (RCNUWC); An age-group leader in the Israeli Scouts (Tribe Sinai, Sederot); Chosen to represent the Israeli National Committee of United World College in the aforesaid RCNUWC.

In Carleton

Chair of STAND; Member of the Lens Magazine Business Team; Member of the Debating Society; Member of the IRC (participated in HMUN and will participate in the World MUN); Member of the JSC Board; ISO leader; member of the Dean of Students Search Committee.

The following are issues I will promote if elected:

Divestment: Our student community must address the issue of divestment from Sudan and as a senator I will try to initiate a discussion forum about this topic. This is not to say I will try to promote any side of the issue but rather will attempt to advocate the discussion on campus.
Wellness Centre: This is not a trustworthy institution and thus should be revised.
- Adding Hours; At least one staff on call during the nights.
- Arranging more workshops and lectures in the areas of mental and physical health.
Student Parliament: I believe that the democratic procedure in small communities needs to be more communal than representative.
- Institutionalising a Student Parliament that will convene every 3 times a term.
- All students attending will be able to vote on vital issues, rather than letting the Senate have all the power of voting.
- No student will be obliged to participate, but students who care about vital issues will have the power to be part of a communal decision making process, that will reflect the student body better than it is now.
Transparency: Continue the work in the area of transparency and allow students to be exposed to all the documents that should be available to the public. By creating a student parliament there will be a need to improve the level of transparency on campus, and thus clause 2 & 3 goes together at that matter.
Diversity: In the long term, I will try to work with other students from relevant committees in order to create a possible plan this college could take in order to promote more diversity within the student body and the faculty staff.
Social and Political awareness and Engagement: the Senate should not only foster democracy and student government but also promote the awareness of students in events that occur outside campus.
- Create a special committee that will deal with funding to student groups that are established in order to fundraise money/good to victims of natural and human made disasters.
- Improve the political and social discourse on campus.
Transportation: The current transportation system from the campus to the cities lacks the ability to serve the students properly.
- Designate weekdays in which student will be able to drive with a bus to the cities in order to avoid problems with flights, visa-issue appointments and other important errands.
Smokers: I think that smokers on campus should have designated sheltered smoking areas, in which one will be able to smoke in peace and warmth (especially during winter term).
I support P.E. credits for club sports.
Any other sensible proposal/suggestion from other students: I am willing to take the time and listen to you, in case you have a sensible proposal or suggestion on hand.

Avery Morrow

CSA voters,

In 2007, I successfully ran a write-in campaign for a CSA candidate who received more votes than one of the officially eligible candidates (see the CLAP, March 2, 2007). In 2008 I spent my winter as a Northfield precinct captain for a presidential campaign. Now I intend to bring open government to the CSA by conducting my own campaign.

The CSA does not have any official power to do anything other than hand out money. Currently the CSA hands resolutions and decrees to the administration, which is necessary on some issues that involve all undergraduates, but the CSA elections have notably low turnout–roughly 40%–and sometimes resemble popularity contests. If the opinion of Carleton students is needed, committees should be open to all students and formed on a strictly ad-hoc basis, and for issues affecting everyone a plebiscite should be held. If elected I will do my best to shut down all non-financial CSA committees and replace them with clubs, which anyone, CSA senators included, can voluntarily join as suits their interests.

I am betting most CSA senatorial candidates this term are running on a platform of fiscal responsibility, and I am no exception. I deeply appreciate what Carleton clubs and events do to make the campus a livelier and more interesting place, but we cannot afford to hand out money without good evidence that it is needed. As a Senator, speaking generally, I would move club and event funding away from private projects which could easily be replaced with students’ personal funds, and towards clubs that benefit Carleton or Northfield at large and cannot be easily funded with private money. Of course, I will aim to examine each funding request on a case by case basis, as I believe this to be the most important focus of the CSA. We do not need blanket rules on these situations.

Heather Yang

As an Asian, non-citizen female of questionable sexual and political orientation, I am in a prime position to represent all voices of campus community, especially those of the marginalized or usually unheard. I am not afraid to ask the tough questions and turn a critical eye on the inner workings of Carleton life in order to fulfil the Senate’s mission statement “ to improve the life of Carleton Students by providing the organization necessary to express student opinions and ideas, and to take action to attain our goals”. The position of “Senator” will extend my current toolset to effect change for a positive difference in the Carleton community, focusing on a future filled with sustainable, socially responsible, student body decisions.

Although my freshman status has not allowed for any previous CSA experience, my inquisitive and outgoing nature have let me see a holistic view of Carleton life; As well as being an active member of several campus clubs, I have latently supported Pangaea, Phase II, the GSC, IFSA, in amongst working two campus jobs, volunteering off campus, co-directing for the Vagina Monologues, voice lessons and modern dance class.

Combined with this understanding of Carleton life, my previous experience in advocacy has lent me skills of clear communication, approachability and methodical analysis of proposals in their benefits and consequences to the community. With all that Carleton has given to me, I feel that it is my responsibility to give back by serving the student body with what I do best – advocating the needs of those around me. I aspire to improve our environment by focusing on these three main issues:

Transparency, Engagement and Democracy: Democracy can not exist without YOUR involvement. Currently little is known about the Senate and its resolutions, especially amongst the freshman year. Without this essential knowledge, change cannot be acted upon if the issues are not identified. Through implementation of publicity campaigns and a diversification of ways issues can be raised, I will make the process more approachable so that all members of the community can have their say.
Sustainable Growth and Social Responsibility: With control over a budget nearing $400,000, the CSA has incredible potential to invest OUR money wisely to create a positive difference. I will do my utmost to ensure that the money spent will have criteria to pass through so that every dollar is spent with social responsibility. I will personally see to the complete divestment of Carleton funds in any firms related to the ongoing conflict in Sudan and increase general liaising with the Responsible Investment Committee.
Diversity – The foundation for the best Liberal Arts Education: Homogeneity of thought and culture are two elements that hinder a liberal arts education. In our campus climate, diversity can be reflected in the retention rates of minority students as well as inter-racial dialogue and cultural exchange. I hold the eradication of institutionalized racism in all forms to the utmost importance and will dedicate myself to this end.

Current Carleton Commitments & Pertinent Previous Experience:

Carleton Engineers Without Borders group
LEEP leadership program
Chicas Latinas (volunteering with youth in Faribault)
Psychology journal club
Carleton representative to Global Engineers Without Borders Conference, March 2009.
Student representative & faculty liaison for Pearson Biodiesel Project, 2006-2007.
Student representative on faculty Environmental Committee, senior year 2006.
Humanitarian Group Leader and humanitarian affairs staff liaison, senior year 2006.
Delegate to national ACCAN conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, senior year 2006.
Youth delegate for NASA initiative “Digital Earth” World Forum on Sustainability, senior year 2006.

Presidential Candidate

Vice-Presidential Candidates

Treasurer Candidate

Senate Candidates

CSA President

McKay Duer

CSA Vice-President

Jinai Bharucha

I believe that the role of the Vice President is two-fold:

In the past year as a senator, I have worked with other senators and students to:

As a member of the Budget Committee, I have:

This year, as your Vice-President, I promise to:

Robert Stephens

Treasurer

Sarah Duane

CSA Senator

Samir Bhala

Background and Experience:

Platform:

Eric Hitimana

Issac Hodes

Khant Khant Kyaw

Moshe Lavi

Student Government:

Other positions:

In Carleton

The following are issues I will promote if elected:

Avery Morrow

Heather Yang

Current Carleton Commitments & Pertinent Previous Experience: