Spring 2009 Election Platforms
Spring 2009 Platforms!
Senator/College Council Liaisons
Chase Kimball '10
My name is Chase Kimball and I am committed to Carleton. I believe the liberal arts have the power to ignite creativity and understanding in the minds of curious souls, and Carleton College is by far my favorite liberal arts institution. At Carleton I have gained insights into the world around me, I have built everlasting friendships with others, and I have come to know myself on a deeper level. I am running for the CSA Senator/College Council Liaison position because Carleton matters to me as an institution with a mission I believe in. As I serve on the CSA Senate I will bring an informed and compassionate voice to the conversation, just as I have done in the past. In my service on the College Council I will build on the relationships I have already established with school administrators to build consensus and work to preserve and further the integrity of Carleton College. Please vote for Chase Kimball for CSA Senator/College Council Liaison.
Platform:
In times of economic uncertainty it is critically important that competent and dedicated individuals be serving on the College Council, which helps shape the policy of the school. In terms of competence, I benefit from a rigorous training in economics; I also enjoy a slightly longer institutional memory than most (I first came to Carleton back in 2004). In terms of dedication, if elected I pledge my complete devotion to the job. Those who know me can attest that I take these responsibilities seriously. I will work hard, and I will work well with others, in helping to steer the school through troubled waters.
Experience:
I have served for a year as a CSA Senator. In that time:
-I served on the Campus Climate working group. I held informal discussions with a variety of Carleton students about the results of the Campus Climate survey and I helped to coordinate formal follow-up meetings about the survey.
-I served on the New Dean Search Committee that assisted in hiring Julie Thorton as the sophomore class dean.
-I brought Adirondack chairs to the Bald Spot. I conceived of the idea, I secured the funds, I went to Menards, and I assembled the chairs and benches myself by hand.
I have worked as a Chaplain's Associate, helping to coordinate religious events for various faith communities at Carleton.
I have also developed many leadership skills from my experiences in theater and church. I have served as:
-Quorum President, looking after the temporal and spiritual welfare of the members of the men's organization of my congregation here in Minnesota. (2008-2009)
-District Leader, overseeing the work of several official church representatives in various cities throughout the Netherlands. (2005-2007)
-General Director of a student-produced high school comedy review, overseeing the creative work of over 100 other students. (2003)
-Senior Patrol Leader and Venture Crew President, back from my Boy Scout days. (2002)
More about me:
-I will graduate in 2010 with a degree in Economics.
-I am an active member of the Carleton theater community. You may have seen me this year in "The Revolution Presents: The Sky over Nacogdoches" (which I also helped direct) or in Lenny Dee, Carleton's delightful sketch comedy troupe. You may also remember a fun audience-favorite film I made for last year's DVDfest (http://dvdfest.org/gallery/2008/low/kimballc).
-I am currently studying abroad on the Beijing Political Economy Seminar, which is why I am not running in person. (Check out my travel blog at cekimball.blogspot.com)
Finally, if you really want some insight into my love of Carleton, you can watch me rave about Carleton on Carleton's Admissions Website (http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/people/kimballc).
Nimo Ali '11
My name is Nimo Ali, I am a second year International Relations major. I am running for College Council because I would like to be part of a committee that has the power to change policy and discuss topics other than the curriculum and educational policy. I feel that through college council I could gain a better understanding of how Carleton works big picture wise and seek institutional changes that would have lasting positive effects on the Carleton community.
Experience:
I have served as a Senator at Large for a year in multiple committees. I worked on the Freshman Experience Task Force and Committee to make the transition to college as painless and inclusive as possible to make Carleton welcoming for the entire incoming freshman class regardless of background. I also came to school early in the fall to observe and critique NSW to improve it further for next year’s class. I served on Budget committee and gained not only a better understanding of the many clubs and student organizations but an appreciation for the diversity in activities offered and programs run by our fellow students. I have also been on the Student Document Retention Task force to improve the retaining and handling of the health, academic, and disciplinary files of the students. Other than the committees I served on, I have worked with fellow senators to put forth resolutions and open dialogue on reaching our goals of improving the Carleton Climate. I have been an active senator from interviewing candidates for the Director of Campus Activities to holding office hours for students while still serving on my committees.
Issues:
1. Improving the discrimination and harassment policy
2. Improving support systems for students to improve the Carleton climate and student experiences
3. Being financially responsible—improving the budget to cut things that aren’t needed to allow for students to still maintain excellence services from the school
4. Transparency, improving dialogue between students, faculty and staff
I believe I have the necessary experience to be a College Council Senator liaison having been a senator and a budget committee member. I have the knowledge needed to be an effective member of the committee in bringing issues that are outside curriculum and education policy being the president of the Carleton Islamic Association and being a on the board of AFRISA. I am already familiar with the issues of budget and allocation, as well as navigating through are present policies to get to needed changes. I also understand that the voices of students are vital in maintaining and improving the level of excellence Carleton seeks to give in our four years here.
Senator/ Education and Curriculum Committee Liaison
Gabe Davis '11
LEADERSHIP: For the past year I have been assisting with logistical and financial planning for the Carleton Forensics Society which required me to gain extensive knowledge of CSA budgetary and operating procedures as well as the organizational skills required to plan travel, registration, etc., for an active academic team with no staff or faculty leaders. I was recently elected President of CFS for the 09-10 school year, a testament to my leadership success. I’ve also been involved in the Housing Selection Advisory Committee, which oversees and executes Room Draw. I hope to combine my leadership experience with my fresh, outsider’s perspective on the way business is done in the Senate.
PHILOSOPHY: Carleton is at a crossroads in its curriculum—graduation requirements, the writing portfolio, and the creations of the Environmental Studies major are just a few of the important issues presently under discussion. It is unfortunately the student’s voice that is most often left out of these discussions. This is because student opinions are the hardest to gauge. As I’ve learned through my work in HSAC, even student organizations like CSA are often not viewed as legitimate representations of student opinions in campus-wide discussions. My philosophy is that now, more than ever, it is important to have someone in the ECC Liaison role who will truly make an effort to understand what students want in their curriculum and why. After all, at the end of the day, curriculum should be about serving students’ academic needs.
ISSUES: Here are some issues that are important to me, and that I will be excited to work on if elected to become ECC liaison. I also realize that one person cannot possibly be aware of all of the issues affecting students, and so I hope that if I am elected students will bring their issues to me so that I can advocate for those as well.
Writing Portfolio. In the Winter elections, students voted that they would not support leaving the Writing Portfolio as it was today. The ECC must determine what changes would best fit student needs, if the portfolio is to be kept at all. In particular, I would support greater writing support in intro and WR classes (although I oppose a required composition class).
Academic minors. I believe we should start a dialogue between students, administration, and faculty on the issue of whether minors are feasible at Carleton (especially as interdisciplinary majors begin to take off and concentrations become increasingly redundant).
Carleton’s inner policy workings, I think, are often pretty mysterious to most students. That shouldn’t be the case. I’m running to try to figure out how and why these decisions are made and to be a voice for students in this process. I thank you for your vote and look forward to working with all of you.
Senator/Intercampus Liaison
Mouhamadou Diagne '12
I was put on Carleton College's campus by the Posse Foundation to be a leader. Being a liaison between Carleton College and St. Olaf appeals to me very much. Because I am gregarious and am involved in various activities on campus, including BSA, AFRISA, IFSA, the Chapel, and MOC, I will be a strong candidate for this job. I would love to help strengthen our relationship with our sister school St. Olaf and improve the overall atmosphere on campus by holding this senate position. I hope to organize various social events which will enforce interactions between students on Carleton's and St. Olaf's campuses, such as speed-dating events or the like. I also hope to organize events with the help of the various organizations that I am involved in to have events involving us to go to St. Olaf and interacting with the students.
I am very excited and motived to have this job and if you elect me, I will ensure that these things will happen.
Thank You very Much and God bless you all.
Mouhamadou Diagne
Senator/ Admission and Financial Aid Committee Liaison
Charlie Liu '11
Dear CSA,
I’m Charlie Liu, a sophomore Econ Major from Shanghai China, and I’m writing to apply for Senator/Admission and Financial Aid Liaison.
Hope this platform would show you more information about me as an applicant. I have been working as a student employee in Admissions Office throughout my freshman year, and working closely with Student Financial Office on financial aid stuffs. During that year, I worked in close contact with staff in Admissions Office on filing application folders, stuffing mails, arranging prospective students visits, and getting in contact with President Office, Business Office, Facility Office, International Student Office, Printing and Mailing Office, etc.
So I think my first year experience of working in Admissions Office would definitely contribute to my liaison work. In the fall, I was promoted to take charge of the Stuffing Room in Admissions Office, which proved my capability of working satisfactorily and efficiently.
When I was applying for Cambridge Seminar in Econ Dept., my supervisor promised to write me a recommendation letter. I think it is also because of my good work that she approved my request for recommendation. Also, as a Starr Scholar, I’m receiving a scholarship of around $4 4 ,000 every year. I think this gives me a unique perspective and advantage when working as the Financial Aid liaison, in terms of helping prospective students who want to apply for financial aid and assisting the office to sort out qualified students for financial aid.
Furthermore, my leadership activities in high school all prepared me for such a liaison position. So I think I would do great with this job. In fall and winter terms of my sophomore year, I was student-at-large in Committee of Student Life, and starting from this spring term I have been student-at-large in CSA Budget Committee. I think my experiences in these two committees would qualify me for applying for the Senator position.
In addition, I have some tentative plans for my liaison work. One thing I’m very proud of the Admissions Office in the enrollment process is the campus visit system. I would like to assist the Admissions Office to improve the already excellent campus visit program, so that prospies would have more colorful activities to participate on campus. Besides, I would like to provide student workers in Admissions Office and Financial Aid Office with more opportunities to communicate about their individual works so that the filing and stuffing work in Admissions would be more efficient.
Last, I still feel pretty sad about the low amount of endowment and scholarship funds we receive from alumni and parents. So I would like to connect the Career Center and Alumni Office as well in order to raise the endowment amount. With more endowment and scholarship , the job of Financial Aid Office would be much easier, and Carleton would gain better reputation in lower income families.
Thank you for trusting me, giving me this opportunity to apply for the work, and speaking out my ideas of working. I’ll do my best if elected.
Sincerely,
Charlie Liu
Senator/Committee on Student Life Liaison
Peter Ladner '10
I served previously on Senate my freshman and sophomore year and, in this position, I sat on the Committee on Student Life. In this capacity, I worked primarily on plans for the new dorms, as well as the beginning stages of the Wellness Center Review. This past year I was a student at large representative to the College Council where we discussed topics pertaining to the results of the Climate Survey, the College Operating Budget, and our Summer Programs at Carleton. I am a strong supporter of student-led groups on campus, and believe that the Senate is the best forum for student-led initiatives at Carleton. I look forward to serving on Senate again as CSL Liasion, and hope that you will consider me when you cast your vote.
Senator/Community, Equity and Diversity Initiative Liaison
Noé Hernández '11
FOR Senator/Community, Equity and Diversity Initiative
Why?
I will bring a fresh perspective to CSA and actively work to bridge the Community, Equity and Diversity Initiative (CEDI) and CSA. My membership and established involvement in CEDI will help me communicate efficiently between the two groups. I can start working on the first day with both groups since my involvement with CEDI already exists.
Choose me for:
1) Experience: I am an active member in LASO and MOC. I am also part of the Community, Equity and Diversity Initiative group and will be working specifically for one of the task forces: Learning Environment – Outside the Classroom.
2) Leadership: In being an active member in different groups and also a tutor/grader/lab assistant in physics, I think I have learned a lot of leadership skills and know how to accomplish tasks efficiently.
Goals:
1) Perspective: Through my involvement in MOC, LASO and OIL, I think I will bring a perspective which will help. Knowing what the problems are, as shown in the Campus Climate, and actually going about changing them is my main goal. Also, addressing the Sexual Harassment on campus is something that CEDI will be addressing and a something I am truly concerned about.
2) Voice: I will represent everyone’s voice and, to the best of my ability, I will try to make the changes done known not only to CSA but to everyone at Carleton.
3) Vision: To look at the Campus Climate issues found in the Campus Climate survey and address them. I would love to be someone in CSA whom people feel comfortable talking to.
4) Change: Making sure this does not have to happen: “I had to reason and explain the importance of a crucial cultural event to the CSA.” (Campus Climate Survey)
Vote Noé!
Senator/Environmental Advisory Committee Liaison
Kai Knutson '11
The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) is a standing College committee dedicated to upholding the Environmental Statement of Principles at Carleton College, ensuring that these visions and ideals are incorporated into all aspects of College function. As EAC Liaison I will promote these values while offering pragmatic means toward greater sustainability at Carleton.
In my time at Carleton I have worked as a Resident Assistant, served on the Housing Selection & Advisory Committee, and have participated in numerous student organizations. Working as an RA for three terms has prepared me to collaborate with students and staff on a broad array of issues and work in conjunction with campus offices and organizations. Serving on the Housing Selection & Advisory Committee has given me insight into the workings of a committee that generates policy affecting the student body and given me the opportunity to discuss and craft initiatives as well as organize events and meetings. Participating as a member of Engineers Without Borders this year has presented me the opportunity to consider sustainability with a hands-on approach as well as given me the experience of writing a proposal to the Sustainability Revolving Fund—one to build a biodiesel reactor reduce consumption of fossil fuels at Carleton.
Transportation: Whether for an interview or just a day away from Carleton, students ought to have access to transportation even when the shuttle schedule is incompatible or they are unable to borrow a car from others. As EAC Liaison I will explore the possibility of bringing a transportation service to Carleton such as HourCar or ZipCar, car sharing services that allow for access to vehicles on a per-trip basis. Allowing students access to such a service has additional benefits in the form of reduced carbon emissions. Both HourCar and Zipcar offer a number of hybrid vehicles with fuel economy superior to the majority of vehicles on campus. Students who only use their cars occasionally may no longer see the need to have their cars on-campus as they can have access to transportation when they need through this service without having to pay to register and park their vehicle. The potential benefits of this initiative include greater access to transportation for the student body as a whole as well as cutting overall carbon emissions by potentially reducing the number of cars on campus.
Sustainability Revolving Fund (SRF): The SRF provides students with a unique opportunity to draw on substantial funding to realize innovative projects. Yet, both the purpose and the procedure of allocating funds are widely subject to misconception. As EAC Liaison I will clarify the policy of the SRF such that students understand the process and are encouraged to propose projects in which they are invested. Only by committed involvement of students willing to practice unconventional thought and action will we move toward sustainability.
Sustainability Assistants (STAs): This was the second year of the Sustainability Assistant program, a group of student leaders responsible for working on and raising awareness of issues of sustainability on campus. The EAC is responsible in part for overseeing the STA positions and coordinating their involvement. As EAC Liaison I will propose greater involvement of the STAs in New Student Week and in dorm outreach with the goal of wider use for composting and recycling programs, practice of energy saving behaviors, and awareness of broad issues of sustainability.
Senator-At-Large
Kelsey Sloan '10
Hey Carleton, My name is Kelsey Sloan and I have been representing you on CSA Senate for the past year, working hard to improve the areas of campus that really matter to Carleton students. I am a junior and have experience in many groups on campus, bringing important perspective and providing me the ability to represent you all however I can. I have experience on Senate and know how it is run. I know what needs to be improved to make Carleton better. I’ve spent two terms working closely with other groups on campus including the club sports committee and the Career Center in order to improve these two important areas of campus for everyone.
VOTE for me. Here’s what I will work on for YOU:
Club sports: I will continue the discussion with the administration on club sports credit and improved access to training and the benefits varsity athletes have. I am a varsity athlete and a club athlete and I have the perspective necessary for improving what we get as club sports.
Career Center: I will continue to work closely with the Career Center to be exactly what all years need in the job search. I have been part of the Career Center Task Force in the past two terms, working to get people interested and improve the great new ideas the Center has for the future.
Dining: This has been a major topic of discussion in the past and I will continue to hear the voices of the campus on what Bon Appetit can do to keep us happy. Many other topics come up throughout the year and my own experience on Senate and with various clubs on campus will help me to work for what you, the students, need.
Vote Kelsey Sloan!!!
David Heifetz '11
This Spring I have had the privilege to serve as a Senator on the CSA. I have learned a lot about the school and how it works and I’ve been able to get a sense of how we can improve the college. A lot of people don’t know much about CSA but my service this spring has taught me how much CSA really handles and has given me a great sense of its power and potential. If utilized correctly, CSA can be a terrific vehicle for empowering the student body. It is an important tool for giving students a powerful voice in the school. I would love to have the privilege of re-election so that I can continue to do my best to represent students’ interests and push for necessary and desired reforms.
Like many of my peers, I love this school; but, also like many of my peers, I see many ways in which the college can improve. One of my main objectives as a Senator has been and will continue to be to push for more transparency and accountability in decisions that the college makes. An example of where the college I believe could have and should have done better is with its decision to limit Northfield Option. When a major decision affects students so much like this new housing policy, students need to be taken far more into account. In this case, students were not involved or engaged enough.
As a Senator, I have and will continue to push for a more open college. As your Senator, I have focused on finding ways to bring the student body together more and to help the CSA reach its constituents, you, more effectively. As great as Carleton students are, there are nonetheless communal divides that hold the student body back from reaching its potential as a cohesive group; the campus climate survey results have underscored this fact. Currently, we are exploring ways to foster intra-community dialogue so that Carleton can be the inclusive place I know it can be. When it comes to reaching the student body, CSA can surely improve. There is great potential in the CSA, but we cannot reach it if those it represents are not involved, informed, empowered, and thus adequately represented. I was astonished last term when I started attending CSA meetings how much it deals with, how much of the college it has a say over. However, we cannot represent students’ interests if we do not know what they are. While much of our representative ability comes from just living in student life, we can do a better job of engaging students in some truly important debates and questions. Doing so will help senators understand their constituents better as well as give the student body that much more of a powerful voice.
All of these issues work together. The only way to instill better accountability and transparency in the college’s decisions is by having a powerful student voice. However, that voice must be unified and well informed. This past term I have had the pleasure of working to help reach this potential, yet of course the work remains largely unfinished. Please allow me the opportunity to continue working to improve your lives and the college as a whole.
Rebecca Gourevitch '12
WHY?
Because every single Carleton student has an important, valid and interesting opinion and by listening and compromising with you we can all reach solutions to real issues that everyone can be satisfied with.
Experience
· 1 Term Senator at Large
· 2 Terms Committee on Student Life
· 3 Terms Admissions and Financial Aid Committee
· New Student Week Task Force
· Day of Service Task Force
· 3 Years High School Student Government
Issues I Support
· Continuing to improve Carleton’s anti-discrimination policy
· Improving transportation around Northfield and to the Twin Cities
· Making the dining halls better suit the needs of the students
· Not reducing the pre-matriculation credit cap to 18 credits
· Fiscal responsibility—more funding to organizations that need it But most importantly…
· Making the senate a more public and accessible voice to the Carleton community so that we can effectively communicate your opinions to faculty, staff and other students in order to tackle tough issues and reach effective solutions.
Ted Longabaugh '11
My name is Ted Longabaugh, I’m a sophomore from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In high school, I was a leader in various clubs, teams, and productions. For my first two years here at Carleton, I have been privileged to be part of many groups on campus and have interacted with students of all years. As a member of the football and lacrosse teams, I know about hard work, dedication, teamwork and how to balance a busy college schedule. I look forward to bringing all of these skills to the CSA senate. I realize the importance of the club sports program and how many people enjoy it, and will support it in all possible ways if elected to the CSA senate. I also appreciate intramural sports. In addition to athletics, I have worked a number of jobs, from dining worker to maintenance assistant to office job at the Rec Center, and have learned a lot about the different aspects of the college. I look forward to expanding my Carleton experience beyond sports and into CSA, contributing my ideas and support of student activities. My time at Carleton has been outstanding thanks to such groups and the people associated with them. I would love the opportunity to give back to these and other student programs with my support as a CSA senator.
Marc Boyce '11
“You Know My Name”
I’m Marc Boyce. Ever heard of me? I’m a sophomore History major from the suburbs of Chicago. I’m a twin, a member of Carleton’s national champion Quiz Bowl team, study Chinese as a language, and find walking in the Arb to be one of the most relaxing activities ever. Still not ringing any bells? That’s ok. Take a look at what I can offer Carleton if elected, and vote May 17-20th.
1) Varied Background: Though I’ve only been at Carleton for six terms, I’ve had the opportunity to fix bikes in Yellow Bike Club, design a LENS article, take all the social dance classes, compete at Quiz Bowl nationals, celebrate Chinese New Year at Parish House, and go abroad. Through my activities I’ve been given great insight into all the different experiences that Carleton offers, how these experiences can be improved, and what it means to be a Carleton student.
2) Experience: For four years I was my class representative for the Principal’s Advisory Council in high school. Like a senator, my job was to relay the wants and needs of my fellow students to the administration and help create solutions everyone could agree on. During my tenure the school refurbished the library and cafeteria with student input, added more parking while improving draconian parking regulations, and weathered the storm through a number of trying times.
3) Work Ethic: I’m a hard, diligent worker. It takes me an hour to sketch a cross-section for Geology because I want it to be just right, and I never quit until I get the job done. This will carry over to my behavior as a senator. I can assure you that if elected I will put just as much resolve into keeping Carleton’s high standards while finding acceptable solutions to any problems. I’ll fight for what I believe in, but more importantly I’ll work towards finding compromises everyone can agree with.
4) Issues:
· Diversity: I fully support increasing the diversity of Carleton to better reflect the realities of our country. If we’re supposed to be the leaders of the future and change the world, shouldn’t we have the experience of meeting people from different backgrounds and learning from them?
· Togetherness/Involvement: In concert with diversity, I believe it is important for all members of Carleton society to get to know and learn from one another. We’re a special group of people who can accomplish anything if we put our minds to it. As it stands I don’t think many people really get a chance to meet a wide selection of fellow students, staff, or faculty. Summer reading and new student week groups are not enough. I want to devise activities that allow greater exchange between members of the Carleton community and increase participation in the government and decision-making of our school. We took a step in the wrong direction by getting rid of pre-frosh trips, and if elected I would strongly push for allowing pre-frosh trips again or finding a replacement activity that provides the same sense of camaraderie.
· The Cave: I think it would greatly add to the atmosphere and awesomeness of our school to say we have a pub on campus, so I support allowing the Cave to serve fully alcoholic beverages.
· MPIRG: I think our relationship with MPIRG needs to be fixed before we continue subscribing to their program. We need to stop giving them a privileged status on campus and make the organization accountable. I’d use my power as senator to help change this system.
· CSA Website Upgrade: It’s hard to be a part of government when you can’t access it easily. Let’s change that. · Music: We do a great job already getting bands for school. But is it too much to get Third Eye Blind? Having one big act a year would be a fantastic shared experience and good opportunity for total campus involvement.
· Creative Events: I’ve noticed in my time at Carleton that most terms end up playing out the same way and that it’s hard to distinguish between terms based on activities alone. I enjoy going to Improv and Ebony shows as much as the next guy, but after being here for over a year I feel like I know what to expect. If elected I’d push for a “creativity fund” that would allow students with original ideas for activities to try them out and start new traditions at Carleton.
· New Outlook: I’d love the chance to add a new viewpoint to our student senate and bring new ideas and energy to the decision making process. CSA seems to recycle the same bunch of ideas and candidates over and over. Isn’t it time to shake things up a bit?
· I’m always open to new ideas or questions. If you want to get in touch with me email boycem@carleton.edu .
Now that you know who I am, Vote Marc Boyce May 17-20th.
Samir Bhala '12
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 both as a student with disabilities and as a student of color. Appointed last term as an interim Senator, I have struggled to protect student interests from substantial change concerning social events such as Mai Fete, Rotblatt, and Spring Concert germane to the alcohol policy. Alongside Cat McMurtry, I lobbied Bon Appétit management, face-to-face, to revise its loathed policy as to allowing backpacks inside the dining hall. I also stood up in Senate to maintain the readership program which provides us with the daily New York Times, while suggesting an implementation of a paper-recycling program to ensure that students need not wake at 6 am in order to secure a copy of Paul Krugman’s latest op-ed. Finally, I suggested to Evan Rowe that his Task Force regarding the prospects of the Cave include a suggestion to plan future Karaoke nights. Because of my hardships through which I endured from my short life, 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, in an effort to maintain, if not improve, the character and culture of what makes Carleton College great. My experience in public service is 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. 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. I would be honored to continue my service as your representative to the Carleton Student Association Senate. Thank you.
PLATFORM:
Increase Student Input: I would, as your CSA Senator, increase your input because the college exists to serve us. 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, students and faculty, alike, can learn from anyone. The most experienced professor can improve through feedback from the greenest of students. I think constant feedback helps both the student and the professor alter their strategies and help both attain the goals for which we, the members of the Carleton Community, strive. To that end, I will lobby the ECC, or Education and Curriculum Committee, to mandate professorial evaluations at least once a term. I hope to use Cat McMurtry’s template for implementing this faculty review. I feel this plan can be implemented elsewhere, such as 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 solar power cells. With some ingenuity and strategizing, the campus can prove Kermit wrong. Allow Better Hours at Facilities: Does anyone else work on papers late at night at the CMC? How about at the Library? If you’d like 24-hour library access during finals, I am your man. 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. If something interests you, and you want money for it, send me an email. 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 do hope you all support me on this amazing journey. Thank you.
College Council Students-at-Large
Jon Fraser '10
I’m a junior International Relations major running for College Council on a platform of competence, responsibility and transparency. In light of the financial crisis and Carleton’s ensuing budget crunch, active student representation on the Council is more important than ever. The administration is understandably trying to cut costs; it is our responsibility to protect the services we value most. An excellent example is the Wellness Center—remember the electronic surveys from the fall?
Next year, College Council will be deciding how to act on them, what to cut and what to keep, and as your representative on the Council, I promise I will make your concerns part of the debate. In addition to the Wellness Center, my other big personal concern is mapping the college’s governance structure and generally making the decision-making process more accessible and transparent to all Carleton students. How many of you have ever been to a CSA Budget Meeting? Most of the college’s resources go to the students most familiar with the system, and it seems like there are a number of simple steps we can take to lower the bar. For instance, by creating a visual map of college governance, when you want to bring a speaker to campus, you’ll know where to start. When you have an idea or complaint, you’ll know who to talk to. If you want to get involved in reforming the sexual assault policy, you’ll know who to email. As a member of forensic and Model UN teams for almost ten years, I am familiar and comfortable with formal debate and I can promise to be a vocal, approachable representative of your interests and concerns throughout the coming year.
Paul Ellebrecht '10
Student opinion is just as important as the opinion of faculty, administrators, and alumni. We encounter problems everyday and our opinions are critical in order to make effective decisions on college policies. As a member of College Council and the student at large on the ECC I have tried to make sure that student voices are heard.
1.) I believe that it is important for student opinions to be incorporated into college decision making. - As part of the ECC I helped incorporate student opinion by working to host a meeting with the faculty design teams and through the creation of a moodle site. - Students should have better access to the Board of Trustees. Although this is something that the CSA has been working toward, it is necessary to continue to push this issue in order to make sure that student concerns are heard at the highest levels.
2.) I believe that the CSA budget should be used to benefit students. - The money for the CSA budget comes exclusively from the students. Because of this, the CSA budget should be used to fund activities that benefit and are supported by the student body. - There are many student organizations that are an enormous benefit to the college as well as Carleton students. In these cases, the college should take a more active role in supporting those programs. If you have any questions, please email me, ellebrep. I would be happy to talk about suggestions that you would like to see implemented on campus.
Other info about me:
- Junior POSC/IR major
-Currently on the POSC Beijing Seminar
-Three year student at large on Budget Committee
-Two year student at large on ECC
-One year student at large on College Council
Please vote Paul Ellebrecht for College Council Student at large.