Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Below are the platforms submitted for the upcoming Student Council elections. Online voting will start today and run until December 10th, with Sharples voting following on Dec. 11 and 12.
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Running for Student Events Advisor: Andrew Scott Taylor ’09
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Hello, my name is Andrew Scott Taylor, and I am asking for your vote for Student Events Advisor.
During my time at Swarthmore, itÕs safe to say that IÕve taken an active role in the social scene (especially during my pass-fail semester) and attended my share of events. As your SEA, I would be responsible for helping coordinate these events by acting as a liaison between SAC, student groups, and Student Council. Allow me to assure you that I have the qualities necessary to fulfill the position. The role of SEA demands a great deal of responsibility, cooperation, and experience. For the past semester, I have served as the treasurer of SAC. As a result, IÕve not only helped plan events such as the Fall Formal and Halloween Party but have also helped maintain the connection between SAC and SBC. My time with SAC has also exposed me to the varied interests of the student body and armed me with an open-mind which will allow me to better serve the diverse students of Swarthmore.
In serving as your SEA, I will not only help coordinate events, but I will also make the process of throwing events easier. In order to so, I will help update the SAC website, so the student body can have a clearer picture of how to propose events and solicit funding. I will also host student discussion forums to open up lines of communication between Student Council and the student body. In doing so, you all can have a more powerful voice in student government and make your opinions heard.
I have also worked extensively with several student groups on campus to help plan and organize events. Over the past three semesters, I have served as a board member of the Kitao Gallery, a core member of Amnesty International, a choreographer for Terpsichore, co-president of QSA, and a Pub Night All-Star.
My only wish is that you vote for me so I may continue to bring new and innovative events to this campus that will benefit and enliven the entire student body.
Vote early, vote often, vote Andrew Scott Taylor!
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Running for Campus Life Representative: Randall Johnston ’09
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From the first day I stepped foot on campus, I have taken an interest in campus life almost to the point of inexplicability. This has included attending numerous events, putting aside the New York Times for The Phoenix, and engaging myself in as many discussions with studentsÑmany of whom I have not known. Sorry about that, but what else is one supposed to do in the Pasta Bar line? The truth of the matter is I love talking with people, anyone and everyone, about anything and everything. This is an important quality of the Campus Life Representative. I want to hear your concerns about campus life, and probably anything else you care to share with me. Although, I hear psych services provides the same.
You know you have opinions about campus life. I mean, come on, IÕve heard you complaining. I fancy myself an approachable person and will be a receptive advocate of these opinions. As Campus Life Representative, I will make myself available and open to thoughts and suggestions to better voice student concerns to the DeansÕ Advisory Council. Previously, I have had successful experience working with several different new administrations to create policies favorable to both students and faculty; I am prepared to do so again.
I am aware of many concerns and proposals surrounding campus life, but most importantly, I am eager and willing to become a sounding board to better support or challenge policies under consideration. In thanks for all the support this campus has given me in the past year and a half, I will strive to be the approachable, receptive, and competent Campus Life Representative you certainly deserve.
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Running for Appointments Chair: Sven David Udekwu ’09
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The position of Appointments chair is of the utmost importance, for it is the position that places students in the various committees that keep student life functioning smoothly. In the first portion of my time at Swarthmore, the position of Appointments chair was going through a tenuous period, but in the past few semesters things have been running smoothly. As appointments chair I would look to keep this stability going, and make sure the appointments were made fairly and punctually. In this way, I hope to expand upon the positive turn of this office. It would also be important to make sure that people were aware of committee vacancies, and also the duties of each of the committees. In this way more people would be encouraged to sign up for committees that reflect their interests, but that they simply never knew about before. With a greater number of people applying, I believe the appointments chair could do a more effective job of placing the right people in the places where they are most needed. Through this, the best suited people would be appointed to control group budgets, serve on the judiciary committee, and advise the dean. My goal as appointments chair would be to draw from our exceptional student body those people who would work best with each committee, and in doing so benefit us all.
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Running for Secretary: Meredith Firetog ’10
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Hello. My name is Meredith Firetog and I am interested in running for the position of Secretary on Student Council. The obligations of Secretary include taking minutes at Student Council meetings and posting them online (after theyÕre approved by Council). I am confident in my ability to accomplish such tasks efficiently and provide students with an easy and enjoyable read into student council meetings. Moreover, I hope to make these notes accessible to all the members of the Swarthmore community by making them available in Parrish and/or online.
In addition to completing my tasks as Secretary, I hope to assist Council in its current and future initiatives. My interactions with Council, thus far, have been through the appointments process and through news reports and student columns in the Phoenix. IÕve learned that Student Council has accomplished a lot in the past year: the class recommendation book, bagged dinners at Tarble, and most impressively with the most recent referendum proposing an extra break in the spring semester. If elected, I hope to work with its members in continuing their work to revise dining service policies (i.e. changes to the required 20-meal plan for Freshman and more nutritional meals at Sharples) and I hope to work with administrators and members of council to improve its openness and accountability to other members of the Swarthmore community.
