Appointments Chair, Jacqueline Bailey-Ross

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.

My name is Jacqueline Helene Bailey-Ross, and I am running for Appointments Chair. The Swarthmore Community has continued to impress me ever since I first stepped on campus three months ago. One of the reasons I believe Swarthmore is so amazing is due to the dedicated work of its Student Council. The student government has the unique position on campus as the pinnacle of the student voice, a body that has been able to, most of the time, represent their student constituents.

Yet, this does not mean Swarthmore or Student Council is, or necessarily will be, free from imperfections. In the coming year, Swarthmore must have an Appointment Chair who is judicious and prudent enough to appoint open-minded and passionate Swatties who take their responsibilities seriously. The Appointments Chair, head of the Appointments Committee, is responsible for appointments to the Social Affairs Committee, Student Budget Committee, and Movie Committee to name only a few. I am your judicious and prudent candidate.

Although I have never been on Student Council before, and am new here at Swarthmore, I do have experience in critical leadership positions. My senior year of high school I was the first student to sit on the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Academy, the first student to sit in on any committee for the Board since its founding. The development committee’s main purpose was to raise funds for the 212 million dollar endeavor to buy a new campus, and reach out to the entire Episcopal community including alumni, current parents, and prospects. I kept the student body updated each time the committee reached a goal and kept them aware of the building process. As a student on the committee I also worked with the alumni office to develop new ways to reach out to young alumni and publicized alumni events. I am also on the SASS exec board as corresponding secretary and the co-founder of Coalition for a Free Haiti. I work very well with others, which has been reinforced through my experience as an ESL teacher in Chester, a researcher at the Franklin Institute, and English teacher in Guayas, Ecuador.

While on the development committee I was also required to form a student committee whose main goal was to educate the student body on the importance of the annual fund and raise funds for the annual gift which would be donated to a teacher or department of the class’s choice. This position has given me vital experience that I will use as your Appointments Chair.

Though I am a freshman, I am certain that I am qualified for this position. My passion and excitement is my motivation for this endeavor. Vote Jacqueline Bailey-Ross as Appointments Chair. Thank you.

Jacqueline H. Bailey-Ross