Manifesto Promises SGA Accessibility Is Rodriguez Present and Accounted For?

Author: Charlie Goulding

Last spring, the "Rodriguez Manifesto" made it quite clear: Should Sam Rodriguez '04 be elected Student Government Association (SGA) president, the SGA would be more accessible to students. Rodriguez's platform was manifold, but his highly personable demeanor pervaded the entire campaign and defined his appeal. Indeed, one month into his tenure as president, "accessibility" must now serve as a key gauge in evaluating the Rodriguez administration.

"The SGA has definitely been more accessible this year," said Austin Krissoff '06. "I asked Sam to check on the bell-ringing that goes on at 3 a.m. outside Hepburn and he said he's working on it."

Krissoff is one of the many students to take advantage of the SGA table set up outside Ross Dining Hall, a station manned by Rodriguez himself three nights a week so that students can voice concerns or make suggestions.

The SGA table is the centerpiece of the "accessibility" promise made by Rodriguez last year. Aside from private appointments, the efficacy of the SGA table is the only objective criteria by which to judge Rodriguez's promise.

"The table has been very successful thus far," said Andrew Pugsley '04.5, Rodriguez's chief of staff. "We have meaningful conversations with students very frequently while the table is set-up."

Among the most common topics brought up at the SGA tables: late-night bell-ringing outside Mead Chapel, suggestions for improving laundry facilities on campus and concerns about the new location of Public Safety.

"Overall, the types of things students come to me with at the SGA table are of a more mundane nature," noted Rodriguez, who added that students with more personal, complex concerns often feel more comfortable making a private appointment with him during his office hours, which occur weekly from 5-7 p.m. in the Crest Room .

Unlike Krissoff, many students have yet to take advantage of the resource. "I wasn't aware that there was an SGA table," said James Brakeley '07, explaining that adjusting to Middlebury College makes things hectic at the beginning of the term.

Brakeley continued, "I'm sure as time goes on the SGA will become more visible to me," a sentiment echoed by much of the first-year class.

Despite the success of the SGA table, many students continue to perceive little change in the accessibility of their student government.

Most students who believe the SGA is no more visible than last year live outside Ross commons or in the other dining halls. "I haven't really noticed any change this year, maybe because I usually don't eat in Ross," said Gifford resident Alison Thaung '06.

Rodriguez has yet to branch out to other dining halls with the SGA table, making him significantly less visible within certain sectors of the community.

Of course, the SGA table is only the first stage in a process by which a student suggestion will hopefully manifest itself in a tangible change on campus.

As Pugsley noted, the SGA will only achieve personnel "homeostasis" when class senators are elected on Friday, October 3. Until then, most concerns remain stored in the SGA logbook - a careful account of each table session maintained by Rodriguez, who plans to give ample attention to them when the SGA solidifies.

Until then, Rodriguez points to the importance of the SGA table in creating a general ambiance of approachability. "I think students appreciate our presence here and it gives them the impetus to approach me in general," he commented.

Looking ahead, Rodriguez must reach out to first-years and non-Ross residents if the SGA table is to truly serve all students. "It's too early to make any sort of judgment, but the SGA table is going to play a key role in what I consider to be the 'big project' - to improve student life," Rodriguez stated.