College Council Liaison

Thomas Hiura ’17

We were all able to come to Carleton because of the outstanding accomplishments we could each stand behind prior to joining this community, and I’m betting that we each chose Carleton because we wanted to accomplish much more. There is no shortage of creative, passionate, principled, collaborative, and positive energy on this campus, and it has become apparent to me in my two terms on CSA Senate that this body of students is both a reflection of that energy and a catalyst for its effective channeling into meaningful action.

As College Council Liaison Senator, I would once again embrace my role as an enthusiastic member of CSA Senate and excitedly take on a new role as one of five students on Stevie P’s College Council for general non-academic policy. Central to both of these roles is the ability to make difficult decisions in a pragmatic and fair-minded way that is considerate of and communicative with the voices of all Carleton students, including those whose voices have not historically rung so loudly. I am equipped to do this because:

  1. I am passionate about highlighting a diverse set of voices and ideas, and have done so through my Humans of Carleton Facebook page, RA programs, involvement with TRiO, and co-founding of Mind the Gap.
  2. I float, socially. I’m sure I’m not offending any friends of mine by saying that I have no particular social circle whatsoever. Every day I wake up (metaphorically speaking; some nights I don’t sleep) excited to connect with new Carls. If I haven’t met you yet, please feel free to say hi.
  3. I have the confidence and public speaking ability needed to be a strong advocate in meetings, along with the discernment to know when I ought to make space for others to be heard. I have a strong voice and a working knowledge of the practical formalities of Senate.
  4. I plan to communicate the goals of Senate and College Council more effectively to you, the students. This doesn’t have to be difficult – during my two terms on Senate, I led the utilization of the Facebook page to introduce Senators and demystify their goals. There is currently no physical roster/poster of who is actually on Senate anywhere in Sayles. If elected, I will make sure that’s fixed.
  5. I bring enthusiasm and engagement to every CSA Senate meeting I’m in. At the end of each meeting, the CSA Prez entertains a motion to adjourn. Traditionally, everyone votes for adjournment, and I vote against it every time. This is kind of a joke, but a lot of truth is said in jest; while the majority of Senators tend to want to get back home to do work on Monday nights after long meetings, I always want to be in that room talking about the issues that you’ve elected us to discuss. Senate meetings are a highlight of my week because I take my privilege as a representative very seriously.

I’ve been involved in a lot of things at Carleton, and in the next two years I’m trying to focus my energy into just a few activities, with CSA Senate as a huge priority. My band Gross Domestic Prada is even breaking up. Now I play in a band called 1023MB, but we haven’t had any gigs yet. I put my root beer in a square glass… it became beer. It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally. Those jokes are to show my appreciation for your having read this far. It really does mean a lot. Peace be with you.

Robert Kaylor ’16

Hello Carleton Student Association,

My name is Robert Kaylor. I am junior Political Science/IR major, with a concentration in Political Economy. I have been involved in Senate for 7 terms here   at Carleton, and Budget Committee for 5 of those terms. During my time as a senator, I put a printer in Goodhue, helped change the 12 meal plan to a 15 meal plan (shout out to Hannah Nayowith), and helped restructure the way laundry works for interest houses (meaning CSA received more money to help student orgs).

College Council Liaison Position:

This position is probably one of the most bureaucratic on Senate, and requires a base level of knowledge about College policy and institutional culture for the senator to be truly effective. My positions on Senate (and Budget Committee), plus my work-study position in SAO, and involvement with the Community Board on Sexual Misconduct as well as the Student Employee Advisory Committee has given me extensive experience with the administration. I understand the limits of the College, but also know the areas where it has a lot more room to give. I am not afraid to ask hard questions about the College’s plans, and will use my Senate position to keep the student body as informed as I can.

Goals for future terms:

This year was a hard year for me. I learned a lot about Carleton’s community standards, and also learned to think before I speak. I understand a lot more about Carleton’s community and the problems it faces. I grew a lot as a person, and had some very in-depth (and ongoing) discussions with people who helped me see that even at Carleton, societal problems are present. The recent events of this term only served to highlight the need for greater awareness and education.

One of my goals for the next year will be to create a Community Standards Committee, which will be comprised of students, faculty, and staff. Currently, all community concern forms are handled by the Dean’s office, and then given to the appropriate committees. However, no committee exists to deal with concerns that aren’t academic, sexual, or health related. Although I do not think the administration has the responsibility to unilaterally decide what Carleton’s community standards are, I think a committee that is comprised of the people who make up our community can.

Some smaller goals include:

  • Continuing to work with Budget Committee to create fairer funding guidelines, as well taking a hard look at the distribution of our money
  • Asking the College to provide continuous updates about the Strategic Plan, and advocating   for greater student input on those projects (since we are the ones who have to use the buildings) 
  • Working with some of the smaller offices on campus to make sure students are getting the appropriate help they need. I have heard from numerous students that certain offices are chronically understaffed, and I would like to use my position to bring those issues to light

Final Remarks:

I know some of you may not agree with some of my past actions, but I want to stress that I have used those experiences to grow as a person. This, coupled with my experience in Senate will help me better articulate what the student body wants from the administration. Thank you for your time.

Matthew Elfstrand ’17

Dear Carleton Students,

My name is Matthew Elfstrand and I am History Major with a Women’s and Gender Studies Concentration expecting to graduate in Spring 2017. I believe I have demonstrated my passion for the construction and sustainment of the Carleton community and its connection with the world at large during my first two years at Carleton.

Qualifications

I have a diverse range of experiences in CSA committees and student organizations:

  • Dining Board in Fall 2014-Spring 2015
  • Convocation Committee in Fall 2014-Spring 2015
  • Community Board on Sexual Misconduct starting Spring 2015
  • Governance Committee starting Spring 2015 
  • Leader of student organization Sexuality and Gender Activism during 2014-2015 academic year. 

Employment Experiences/Future Experiences on Campus

  • 2013-2014-Sayles Café Assistant
  • 2014-2015-Student Financial Services Office Assistant
  • 2015-2016 (next year)-Gender and Sexuality Center Associate 

Goals

I aim to promote dialogue among students on issues that matter to them. I also want to strengthen the working relationship and community spirit that exists between Carleton students, faculty, staff, and administration.

I will also work to promote conversations about how Carleton College as an institution as well as the decisions it makes are connected to the world such as divestment from fossil fuels.

As a CSA College Council Liaison, I will approach every issue with care and curiosity. I hope not only to appropriately react to events on campus but also to initiate projects to better our community.

Thank you for reading and please vote!

Environmental Advisory Committee Liaison

Brent Murcia ’16

Hello! My name is Brent Murcia, and I would love to be your Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) Liaison Senator for 2015-2016. Here’s a bit about me and about what I hope to bring to this position.

I am currently serving as 2016 Representative on CSA Senate for this Spring Term, and I am also the Secretary of the EAC; so I have significant experience that would help me do well in this role. I would love to bring that experience to the table to help make Carleton a better, brighter, greener place!

Environmental issues are a huge piece of my life at Carleton, from school (I’m an ENTS major) to my campus job (I work in the Sustainability Office). I’ve served as one of the leaders of both SOPE (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment) and DC/CJC (Divest Carleton / Climate Justice Coalition) since my sophomore year. During my time in these roles, I’ve gotten to do some pretty exciting things, like work on last year’s Northfield Climate Summit and help organize dozens of students to travel to New York and DC to participate in environmental rallies. This summer, I will be staying on campus as the Carleton Farm Intern, growing some of your food!

Some things that I would like to work on as EAC Liaison:

  1. Improve communication with students about current college initiatives such as the Climate Action Plan, and increase avenues for student input and suggestions.
  2. Bring our Climate Action Plan up to date with current science; make Carleton carbon neutral much sooner than 2050.
  3. Advocate for Carleton’s support of community initiatives in Northfield, such as the proposed community solar garden.
  4. Support the fossil fuel divestment campaign on campus and advocate for increased administration engagement with student activists on a variety of issues.
  5. As with any Senate position, work to make CSA Senate more inclusive, more productive, and more responsive to all of the students on this campus who we’re here to represent.

Thanks so much for reading and for voting in elections! Please contact me if you have any questions.

ResLife Liaison

Abha Laddha ’17

Hello Carleton!

I am Abha Laddha, a sophomore Computer Science-International Relations double major, and would love to represent Residential Life in the Senate.

The Residential Life liaison is one of the newer positions in the Senate, and adds a unique dimension to Senate’s discussions and decisions. As Carleton is a residential campus, campus housing and community are huge aspects of our experience here. I think some of the important conversations that we need have and share with the Carleton community are:

  • More open discussions on Carleton’s alcohol, drug, and medical amnesty policies. I understand that work is being done in all three fields but strongly believe that there is more to be done, more voices to be heard, necessary conversations to be had and important decisions that need to be made.
  • More clarity and transparency on the workings of Residential Life. Particularly, Res Life’s policy on Room Draw and switching rooms during the terms or the academic year.
  • Work towards improving the facilities provided in the dorms. For example, better laundry machines, more vacuum cleaners and maybe irons in the future.
  • Work towards providing more Northfield options and houses on campus. The demand for such options is high but there are very limited options. Therefore, help provide adequate amounts of these spaces to students who may desire them.
  • Facilitate a two-way discussion: convey concerns of the student body to Res Life as well as communicate hurdles faced by the office to the students. Hence, help foster an environment where the needs of the students can be met by the office without hindering the efficient working of the office.

As a Resident Assistant for the past year, I have had an opportunity to work with the Residential Life staff and interact with them closely and meaningfully. I understand the needs of the office as well as recognize the issues that residents face. I think the amalgamation of the two is extremely valuable to this position. During my time as an RA, I served on the Residential Life Advisory Committee, which met with the Director and Assistant Director of Res Life on a regular basis to discuss changes students want to see and better comprehend the challenges of the office. If elected, I plan to continue meeting with Andrea Robinson and Amy Sillanpa on a regular basis to ensure consistent correspondence between the Senate and the Office.

In addition to my connection with ResLife, I have the skills and experience necessary for this position. I am a member of Carleton’s Sesquicentennial Planning Committee and Budget Committee, part of International Relations Council and Tamarind’s board. Therefore, I have leadership skills, knowledge about CSA Bylaws, and understanding of various student organizations and the intricacies of Residential Life.

I would love to contribute my knowledge, skills and time to help facilitate a positive relationship between CSA and ResLife and represent your voice on the CSA Senate.

Thank you for your consideration!

Yours truly,
Abha Laddha

Rowan Matney  ’16

Hello! My name is Rowan Matney and I’m a junior chemistry major running for Res Life Liaison.

I have significant experience working with Residential Life at Carleton. I have been an RA for the last two years and will be an RA next year as well. I have also served on the Residential Life Advisory committee this year, which provides a direct line of communication between RAs and the director of Res Life. Through all of this experience, I have developed strong working relationships with most of the professional staff and a sound knowledge of policy and practice.

If elected as Res Life Liaison to the CSA, I would:

  • work to make sure that Res Life continues to communicate clearly and effectively with students by passing on student feedback
  • collaborate with Res Life professional staff to create clearer channels for students to ask questions
  • continue to expand my knowledge of Res Life policy
  • maintain and grow the new relationship between Res Life and the CSA

I believe that my experience working for Res Life, my pre-existing rapport with Res Life staff, and my passion for making sure that students have the best residential experience possible make me a strong candidate for Res Life Liaison.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please email me at matneyr@carleton.edu.

Education and Curriculum Committee

Peter Sang ’17

I’m Peter Sang ’17, an Economics major and an international student from Burma. I’m interested in education policy and I hope to get involved in education reform process in Burma at some point in my life. I also have plans to teach once I graduate.

Qualifications

I’ve been in Senate as Sports and PEAR Liaison for two academic terms and I’m familiar with the inner workings of CSA Senate.  I also read ECC minutes beginning from January 2015 and familiar with the most recent discussions. If I get elected, I plan to read all the ECC minutes up to past two years so that I’m most prepared for the position. I’m also an RA, and being a resource for students is something I enjoy doing most. I can guarantee that I will make myself available for anyone who has concerns or questions about ECC or related issues.

Here are some of the ideas I have regarding ECC:

Making sure students aware of changes in upcoming class registration process

After reading past ECC meeting minutes, I found out that some changes have been made to registration. ECC has been discussing how to most efficiently convey this information to the students. I will work with other members of the committee to make sure that students know what they need to know regarding these changes.

More classes with Academic and Civic Engagement (ACE) components

I attended an event where Andrea Nixon, Director of Education Research at Carleton, presented the findings about student learning outcomes at Carleton. One of the recommendations the research group makes is to provide more opportunities for students to apply what they learn outside of the classroom. I think one of ways to achieve is to have more classes with ACE components. I want to start a conversation on how to implement this recommendation in ECC.

Raising visibility of programs like EthIC (Ethnic Inquiry at Carleton) and Intergroup Dialogue among student body

I recently found out about Windows on Good Life, a curriculum program led by EthIC (Ethical Inquiry At Carleton) and Intergroup Dialogue program which offers 4-credit class during fall term on facilitating peer-led conversations on diversity by learning issues about social power, identity and inequality. I wish I knew these programs exist earlier and hope to try making these classes more visible to student body.

Club Sports/PEAR Liaison

Yuchao Shang ’18

Hello My name is Yuchao Shang and I am running for the Sports Liaison in CSA. I am currently a freshman and I have involved a lot in sports at Carleton. I attend several sports clubs at Carleton and I played several IM sports such as Frisbee and broomball. I enjoyed a lot from those sports. I believe we should have a welcoming and enjoying sports scene at Carleton.

If I got elected as Sports Liaison, I will coordinate between clubs teams and CSA, convey and represent what clubs and teams need to the CSA. I will solve problems such as budgets and fields for clubs and teams.

Also, I will create a friendly environment for Carleton community to participate in sports. I will try to make IM sports more accessible to every student at Carleton community and more fun.

If you have any questions or want to talk with me, please feel free to contact me at shangy@carleton.edu, thank you very much!

ITS Liaison

JordiKai Watanabe-Inouye ‘1

I have a genuine love for Carls and Carleton. I think one of the major reasons why I choose to attend Carleton was because of its great blend of academic rigor, people, and environment. And CSA influences this blend. I would like to help mold Carleton. As the ITS Liaison, I would provide not only my own unique perspective but those of my peers as well. Ultimately this position would allow me to help improve student life on campus.

As a Liaison Senator I hope to participate in conversations regarding Carleton students and the community. I am willing to talk to my friends and other Carls about issues, and I’m willing to ask questions- find out what people think, how they feel, etc. I think having an amiable personality will help me achieve this.

Just a Couple Issues I hope to address as ITS Liaison:

  1. 1Printing
    1. Working at ITS, I know the reasons why it wouldn’t be feasible to make certain changes with our printing system. However also being a student I understand the struggles and frustrations of being unable to print, having the printer run out of paper, and so on. What I, as ITS Liaison, hope to address is how to make this system better. For instance one new change in printing is the yearly allocation of print funds versus termly. Did this change help? There are currently sixteen ITS run printers on campus. Are they facilitating the needs of the students…not as well as one would want is my response. So, let’s make it better!
  2. Wifi
    1. Wifi…the notorious IT problem on campus. How can ITS communicate better with students in terms of wifi? How can ITS make wifi suck a bit less? I am open to hearing Carls’ opinions, woes, and frustrations about their relationship eduroam.

Experience and Campus Involvement

I think this position is a perfect fit for me. Because not only do I have an advantage by working for ITS for two school years and over breaks (i.e. winter and spring) but also I have established connections within the department. For instance, I’m familiar with whom to talk to if an issue arises. Additionally I’m always looking for ways to stay informed about Carleton’s technology services. I’ve also recently obtained new positions within ITS such as Editor and Student Assistant Supervisor (SAS). My role as Editor is to sift through, edit, and unify ITS related wiki pages, and a few responsibilities I hold as SAS includes responding to & managing helpdesk tickets and mentoring new student workers.

Other campus activities, I am currently involved in include Carleton Association of Nature Outdoor Enthusiast (CANOE), Carleton Math Competition Board (CMC), Women’s Club Lacrosse, ITS, Carleton’s Climbing Gym. I’m CANOE’s WebSloth. This position entails keeping CANOE’s web presence on par and up to date. CMC is an event that a group of friends and I are trying to push forward for next spring. Our intention is to partner with CCCE and the Math Department to host a math competition for high schools. This would be a student-led, volunteer event; however the planning board would be a sort of club that coordinates with related groups on campus. I’m CMC’s Master of the Schedule.

Much Obliged,

JordiKai Watanabe-Inouye

TRiO Liaison

Vanessa Martinez ’18

Hey everyone!

My name is Vanessa Martinez, a member of the class of 2018, and I would love to serve on CSA Senate as the TRIO Liaison.

As a TRIO student, I believe I have developed a good relationship with the TRIO community and have the necessary knowledge to accurately represent it. I wholeheartedly believe and have experienced TRIO’s ability to foster a supportive community here at Carleton. For these reasons, I am committed to looking out for its best interest.

Furthermore, as a future TRIO Peer Leader for the upcoming school year, I will have the opportunity to develop an even closer relationship with the office and gain knowledge about where it needs support. I am a great candidate for developing a positive relationship between TRIO and CSA.

Aside from my connection to TRIO, I have the necessary skills needed for this position. I am willing to listen and speak up for the needs of the TRIO community and effectively communicate those needs to CSA.

Thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Vanessa

Sabrina Velasco  ’18

Hello!

My name is Sabrina Velasco and I am a first year potential Biology major. I am beyond excited to run for TRiO Liaison. My long term goal is to increase the voice of TRIO on campus.

TRiO encouraged me through troublesome times, like my college transition, which allowed me to form a close relationship with the staff and students in the program. Through this, I further gained knowledge of TRiO’s mission and sense of community that I wish to bring to the entire campus.

I have multiple skills that can benefit the CSA-TRiO connection. As a member of WHOA! Hip Hop Dance Co., I communicate my ideas to the group along with understanding the other member’s idea. In addition, I was the co-founder and co-president of a club in high school where I also informally served as a diplomat between the members and the board.

I would be thrilled to contribute my ideas and skills on how to improve the relationship between CSA and TRiO.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sabrina Velasco

Inter-Campus Liaison

Jerrilyn Goldberg ’18

Hi, I am a member of the class of 2018 from San Diego, California, and I want to contribute to stronger relations between Carleton and St. Olaf. As Inter-Campus Liaison, I will work with the Student Activities Office (here and at St. Olaf) and other groups to create more accessibility between campuses and more events planned with both student bodies in mind. Before Carleton, I worked in both my school and religious community to organize fun social events that strengthened social ties and gave my peers a chance to relax and spend quality time together. I would be honored to have another opportunity to do work I love for the community I adore.

Ideas:

  • “The Car-Ole” Upcoming events inter-campus newsletter
    • I want to create a newsletter that includes events occurring on both campuses to help students at both schools expand their social environments across campuses. The letter will have short run downs of the different events and a calendar.
  • Color Wars
    • This event would be a great opportunity for members of the same class to get to know each other in a friendly-competitive atmosphere. Some pieces of this tournament would include chalk wars, dance-offs, frisbee, soccer, and capture the flag.
  • Music Festival
    • A great opportunity for student bands on both campuses to show off their talent.
  • Discussion-based Events
    • Our community is awesome at conversation, and I would like to create spaces that expand our conversation to include St. Olaf students.
  • Dances

Experience:

  • Senior Class President
    • Lead a team of 10 peers in organizing three consecutive annual talent shows, prom, and other senior activities
    • Fundraised over $20,000 to diminish admissions costs to our events
    • Hosted movie nights, dodgeball tournaments, and other school-spirit boosting events
  • Social Action Vice President and Historian of Beth Israel Temple Youth Group
    • Organized a variety of social events including dances, movie nights, and scavenger hunts
    • Worked to incorporate social activism into events, i.e. beach clean-ups
  • Camp Counselor
    • Wrote and led group programs, such as a Toy Story themed scavenger hunt
    • Contributed to a fun and safe environment for campers ages 8-18
  • HOPE Center Advocacy Training
    • In the training, I had opportunities to interact with an awesome group of St. Olaf students and grow more familiar with their campus.

Please feel free to approach me (or email me:goldbergj@carleton.edu) with questions, concerns, ideas, jokes, stories, life-reflections, or anything else that crosses your mind.

Thanks for your consideration for the position of 2015-2016 Inter-Campus Liaison!

CEDI (Community Equity and Diversity Initiative) Liaison

Melanie Xu ’17

Hey Carls!

I’m Melanie Xu, a sophomore Women’s and Gender Studies major and the current OIIL Liaison in CSA Senate. I would love to be your new CEDI (Community, Equity, and Diversity Initiative) Liaison. Over the course of (almost) two years at Carleton, I have helped organize various events, community actions that seek to cultivate a culture of mutual understanding and peaceful dialogue and to foster a more inclusive and safe campus. I am very passionate about issues of equity and diversity on this camps and beyond, and would love to work on these issues in collaboration with students, staff, and faculty members in CEDI.

Experiences

  • OIIL Liaison of CSA Senate: communicated with both the Intercultural and International communities and senate body/budget committee to ensure that cultural events reflect on the communities’ needs; actively addressed/reflected on issues of diversity within the senate body
  • OIIL Peer Leader: Organized campus-wide events, including Chili Night, Boxes and Walls, Accepted Students Day dinner, etc.; mentored new students of color and international students
  • Board member/ facilitator of Queer, Questioning, Trans People of Color (QTPOC), a student organization that builds a community of students from diverse backgrounds and aims to actively increase the visibility of underrepresented people inside and outside of Carleton.
  • Future (2015-16) Intercultural/Leadership Program Assistant in the Student Activity Office

Goals I would keep in mind when working as the CEDI Liaison

  • Organize discussions/serve as a liaison between students and staff/faculty/administration regarding campus climate
  • Advocate for faculty diversity training
  • Organize a town hall meeting open to faculty, staff, and student to effectively address student concerns/needs in classroom/academic settings
  • Review resolutions and budget recommendations to create more programming space for events and activities pertinent to equity and diversity
  • Student voices in Senate: Making CSA Senate a more accessible and friendly place for students and senators of different identities. As a current senator, I have been repeatedly reminded of issues of inclusivity in senate. I would like to work on this through proposing bylaw changes, gathering student input, and increasing transparency in senate.

Tiffany Thet ’17

Hello Carls!

My name is Tiffany Thet and I am running for the position of Community, Equity and Diversity Initiative (CEDI) Liason. I am a sophomore International Relations major, concentrating in Education and Political Economy. I’m originally from Yangon, Myanmar but I’ve grown up in Bangladesh, Thailand and Italy throughout my travels.

Why do I want to run as CEDI Liason?

Over my time at Carleton College, I’ve become more acutely aware of the issues surrounding diversity and equity on campus and its impact on campus culture and life. I became involved with student run initiatives addressing hot button issues surrounding equity, race and gender but I know more needs to be done beyond these singular events in order to promote diversity and equity on campus. The CEDI Committee was created in order to improve campus community and promote equity and diversity on campus. It does so by assessing campus climate needs, providing feedback on diversity initiatives, collaborating with other groups and supporting work already happening across campus. I want to have the opportunity to be one of the students at the helm of these initiatives and have a vested interest in creating a more inclusive environment at Carleton for all.

What are my qualifications?

  • As a current OIIL Peer Leader, I have played an active role in leading diversity initiatives implemented by the office and have built up communication skills with mentees and other students across campus. I believe this has given me the experience necessary to understand and communicate the needs of students on campus as well as Intel on what works and what doesn’t in diversity and equity programs.
  • As a member of several cultural groups, including ASIA, I’ve had an opportunity to build up an understanding of the intersectional ties of diversity on Carleton’s campus. I’ve participated in running events such as Boxes and Walls, Lunar New Year, and International Festival, which gives me knowledge on how to run these events logistically and keeping in mind what impact they can have on campus.
  • I’ve also participated actively in activities involving the GSC, OIIL and Wellstone house as I have a vested interest in the issues these offices and groups attempt to raise awareness on.
  • As an international student, I understand the importance of building dialogue and understanding of cultural and racial diversity and how significant this can be to the experiences of students on campus.
  • I’ve become involved with student-run movements such as the Black Lives Matters Movement and am currently working on a student-run publication focused on talking about race at Carleton.
  • I have experience running workshops on diversity and global issues as a Global Citizen Student as part of the Global Issues Network in SEASAC (South East Asia Student Activity Conference).
  • My experience with the Model United Nations Debate team has given me the skills not only to speak publicly and argue my points effectively, but also how to delegate, network and collaborate with others.

What are my goals if I am elected?

  • Bridge the gap between student body, CSA and CEDI
  • Advocate for accessible and inclusive environment at Carleton
  • Promote and Support work and projects addressing diversity and equity needs on campus
  • Address and Raise Awareness of diversity and equity issues institutionally and on the ground
  • Create opportunities for dialogue and solutions towards diversity and equity issues on campus

GSC Liaison

Jimmy Donelson 3rd ’17

As the former senate liaison to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, I had an opportunity to understand the ins and outs of senate and the admissions and financial aid process, while advocating for improvements on behalf of the student body. One of my greatest realizations during that time was the lack of communication between the majority of Carleton’s student body and senate. I hope to continue working toward a more united, inclusive student association.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you for your consideration

OIIL Liaison

Walter Paul ’18

Hello All,

My name is Walter Paul. I am a freshman from Omaha, NE. I would love to serve the Carleton community as the OIIL Liaison for the 2015-2016 school year. On campus I am the Treasurer for The Black Student Alliance, an OIIL Peer Leader for 2015-2016, and a member of Carleton’s Model United Nations team, Club Soccer and Men of Carleton Organization. Additionally, I frequently attend various Chapel services and intercultural/international club meetings on campus. I genuinely believe Carleton is a great place. However, as the American philosopher, Miley Cyrus, once professed, “nobody’s perfect,” not even Carleton. There are still essential reforms needed inside this “Bubble,” (especially ones pertaining to Carleton’s international and intercultural life). It is the sole priority of Senate to make these reformations in order to safeguard the utmost comfort and security of its student constituency on campus. When elected I will ensure that this priority is upheld.

Why am I running?

My interest in this position stems from an indelible love for Carleton’s international and intercultural life. I have a deep connection with various intercultural and international students. Additionally, I will be closer to this office as an OIIL Peer Leader next year. This direct connection with the organization will allow me to offer the most effective and well-informed ideas of the organization.

Here is a list of my qualifications and experiences that are the most pertinent to my role as an OIIL Liaison:

  • National Speech and Debate Student of the Year (2014-2015) – As the National Student of the Year I am the voice and face of over 130,000+ high school participants of the Speech and Debate Association. My duties include writing seasonal publications on specific themes and topics chosen by the organizations Executive Board, interviewing students from across the country via email, and giving a speech at the National Speech and Debate Tournament this summer. Moreover, I am a channel through which the 130,000+ Speech and Debate students and the Executive Board can communicate.
  • Boys State Governor (2013-2014) –Boys State is a nationwide governmental conference hosted in each state. The conference gives high school juniors a opportunity to experience the procedures and processes of state government and run for political positions. As the elected governor of the 2013-2014 session, I attended yearly meetings and conferences, coordinated the following year’s conference and gave numerous speeches to donors. Much like an OIIL liaison and the National Speech and Debate Student of the Year I was the voice of the organization and it’s participants.
  • Quench and Connect Non-Profit Organization Student Ambassador – This is a non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA. The organization raises funds to build wells in Ugandan villages. I am responsible for the fundraising efforts of the organization in Omaha.

My Ideas and Priorities:

  • Increased school-wide participation in diversity events.
  • A more educated and conscious student body on issues of race, gender relations, and sexual assault.
  • Stronger and more proactive administrative action on prejudicial racial, gender, and sexual offenses on campus.
  • Increased discussions on diversity initiatives in Senate for the purpose of developing pragmatic solutions
  • Enhanced communication between CSA and the student body

Sebastian Tovar ’18

Hello fellow Carls!

My name is Sebastian Tovar and I’m part of the class of 2018. I want to major in International Relations and concentrate in Cross-cultural studies. I was originally born in Colombia, but I grew up in four different places including Houston, Texas. I am running for the OIIL (Office of International and Intercultural Life) Liaison position. As part of CSA, I hope to represent the international community and students of color, create more awareness for the issues that affect those communities, and bring about the changes that have to be made regarding the treatment of minorities on campus.

What qualifications do I have for this position?

  • As an Afro-Colombian, I am aware and have personally experienced society’s treatment towards: Blacks, Latinos, and Foreigners.
  • As a future OIIL Peer Leader, I have the leadership skills and the connections to the OIIL office needed to voice the opinions of both the International community and students of Color.
  • My previous life experiences in Colombia, Spain, China, and Houston give me the tools that allow me to understand the issues that affect a wide variety of people.
  • As a Posse Scholar, I went through training to not only expand my leadership skills but also to be able to present my opinion and support my position.

What goals do I hope to achieve in this position?

  • Give a voice to the International Students and the Students of Color in CSA.
  • Create more awareness of the problems that international students and students of color face every day on campus. Such as the lack of awareness towards micro-aggressions.
  • Build a bridge between the OIIL community and the rest of campus. Thorough campus events and campus wide discussions.
  • Cooperate with the rest of CSA to bring about the changes that have to be made in regards to the treatment of students of color and international student at Carleton.
  • Work with the OIIL office in order to effectively represent the interests of the OIIL Community.

CCCE Liaison

Peter Bruno ’17

Hello all.

My name is Peter Bruno, I am a sophomore Political Science/IR major and I would like to ask for your vote to be elected CCCE Liaison to CSA.

I was hired on as CCCE Fellow for Political Engagement and Activism in the spring of 2014 and have had an incredible experience ever since.  This position involves working closely with more than a dozen issue-based student organizations and community partners to foster collaboration and work effectively towards shared goals. From orchestrating a cit council candidate forum to blasting listserv inboxes about upcoming events, I have taken great pride in my work and feel a strong sense of connection with the CCCE.

As a CCCE Fellow, I listen regularly to the concerns and ideas of student by holding student org leader luncheons, attending various student org meetings, and responding to anyone who emails me or walks into the CCCE office. Many of these students have voiced legitimate concerns over the difficulties in applying for CSA funding, getting chartered, or inquiring for additional support. As a CCCE Liaison Senator, I would continue these same efforts of campus engagement to ensure that all student voices are echoed in CSA Senate meetings.

Outside of my work at the CCCE I have also recently been appointed to the CSA Governance Committee and to the Carleton Alumni Council. These opportunities have given me firsthand experience into the operations of CSA, the process of approving a student organization charter, and the larger scope of Carleton’s global network.

I believe that CSA should operate as efficiently as possible and become more accommodating and accessible to the Carls it aims to serve. Ambitious students, dedicated program directors, and passionate members of student organizations are the individuals that truly make Carleton the dynamic and active community that it is today. As a Liaison Senator I will work to ensure that all engaged students are provided with ample and sufficient resources in an appropriate and timely manner. Carleton students with practical ideas on how to better the community ought to be met with an open and supportive student government. I would like to be given the honor of providing such a government.

Thank you for your consideration and please vote!

Peter Bruno ‘17

AFAC Liaison

Abhimanyu Lele ’16

Hello, everybody. I’m a junior biology major from Bangalore, in south India. I have served as senate liaison to the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee for two terms now. During this time I have been an active member of senate, as well as voicing student concerns at AFAC. I am running for reelection because I wish to continue to pursue these goals.

Experience/qualifications

  • I have served in this position since my election in Spring 2014 (with the exception of a term abroad). As a member of AFAC, I have been involved with reviewing the new financial aid guidelines that Carleton created last year, and comparing our performance to our peer institutions, with the goal of increasing the financial aid budget, which has been partially achieved. In addition, the committee has worked on creating supplementary guidelines to ensure that we are making a serious effort to improve the socio-economic diversity of the student body.
  • As a student that depends heavily on financial aid, the policies that AFAC handles have a personal importance to me. In addition, thanks to my rather unusual situation of being an American citizen living abroad, navigating the financial aid process at Carleton has been a particularly complex process for me, and so I have very thorough understanding of the whole process.
  • I have been an RA for five terms, and am involved with a number of activist groups and sports clubs. This has given me the chance to meet a very large and diverse group of people, and let me get a sense of what the student body as a whole might want from the AFAC and CSA senate.
  • I have also served as a student-at-large to the Academic Standing Committee for two terms, which, in addition to my experience with Reslife, has given me a fair amount of experience with how the college administration works.

Proposals

  • As a CSA senator, I plan on supporting the growing effort to implement mandatory diversity training for faculty, an issue which I know to be important to a number of students.
  • As a member of AFAC, I will do my best to make sure the supplementary guidelines for financial aid awards are as robust as possible. I will continue to advocate for increasing our financial aid budget faster than our tuition, to make sure that we are not becoming more exclusive of middle- and low-income families.

In summary, I will continue to be a conscientious and responsible senate member, willing and able to respond to concerns of the student body. I will also ensure that student interest is not neglected on the AFAC.