Grille plays host to debates

Author: By Erin McCormick

Middlebury students vying for the positions of Student Government Association (SGA) president as well as student co-chair of the Community Council (SCCOCC) debated school-wide policy and procedure in the Grille Tuesday night. In preparation for the upcoming election, candidates shared their individual platforms and addressed concerns from the community at large.

Three current SGA senators, Wonnacott Commons Senator Eli Berman '07.5, Junior Half-Year Senator Dan Saper '06 and Cook Commons Senator Elizabeth Schaumberg '06 are all contending for the position of SGA president, while Jon Sherr '08 and current SCCOCC J.S. Woodward '06 are both looking to lead Community Council for the 2005-2006 school year.

The evening debate began with broad topics addressed to all candidates from the moderator of the event, Inter-House Council Senator Mike Vilarello '05. Other questions, also posed for all candidates, were later submitted by audience members.

Student voice, involvement and apathy, as well as social life on campus were primary focuses of the debate. Other questions were also raised concerning how each candidate could affect the individual lives of students on campus, how each candidate's platform would come to fruition even if he or she is not elected and the characteristics distinguishing each candidate from a standard opponent.

Each candidate spoke directly to their goals for their respective organization if elected. Berman focused his remarks on the power that the student body possesses. "I look around this room and see power," he said. "I see bright, smart, intelligent people - this translates into power. Our student government has the potential to harness and direct this power to make things better."

Berman also said he would "fight for everything we [as students] deserve," like wireless internet, more laundry machines in better locations and the right of students to be heard by the administration.

He said since students are not largely attracted to SGA, it is the responsibility of the president to go "door by door and cafeteria by cafeteria" in order to listen to student concerns and feelings in an attempt to implement change.

Saper focused his comments on the collaboration of different groups on campus as well as between students and the administration. "People get things done by working together," he said. "We need to collaborate, branch out and bridge gaps between groups." Saper also promised to establish weekly office hours in order to work with the leaders of student organizations more individually.

Schaumberg focused her remarks on working with the commons system, social houses and student organizations to put more student initiatives into practice. "Student orgs represent a significant portion of the student body," she said. "SGA should collaborate more with them in order to voice more student opinions."

She also strongly advocates the return of the MiddCard system in order to help students more easily and conveniently purchase books and supplies.

She also, if elected, hopes to implement a campus bulletin board and a message board system to increase dialogue between the SGA and the study body.

In the SCCOCC race, incumbent Woodward, whose platform largely concerns environmental issues on campus, focused on his experience in working with students, administration and faculty in past years to foster change within the community. If reelected, Woodward promised that students will "see change as you did this year." He pointed to the "What's Going On?" posters around campus as an example of last year's fulfilled campaign promises.

Woodward said he has viable ideas for next year. He further commented that he knows how much time and effort is required to work with the Community Council. "I will commit so that the student voice doesn't drown in complacency," he told the students and community members gathered at the Grille.

Sherr, who has no experience with the SGA, wants to "come from the outside and try to bring a new voice" to the institution. "Happy to label [himself] as an idealist," he hopes to let the administration know that the student body is strong and has a voice.

He believes that "everyone can lead if given a chance. Too often we see the same people leading. You can bring new outlooks to old programs and continue to make improvements to make student action better."

Sherr's platform is focused on communication and the student voice. If elected, he wants to make all SGA and Community Council minutes, bills and proposals available online, so students are able to "get involved in the issues that really interest them. We need some open database that doesn't take a lot of effort to look into to make sure apathy isn't a problem on campus," he added.

He also said he will talk with any student, whether on the phone, through e-mail, over coffee or even at a party in order to learn about student opinion on campus. "If you want to talk," said Sherr, "I'll listen."

Elections for SGA president and SCCOCC will be conducted online on April 25 and 26.