SGA election preview 2005 SGA President

Author: — Interviews by Rachel Greenhaus

Dan Saper '06

What are the hot-button issues in your campaign?

I have a lot of issues that are important to me, but the biggest ones are moving universal wireless internet up on the administration's agenda, diminishing the role of the commons in housing selection in order to encourage and not penalize inter-campus friendships and giving athletes physical education credit for each season that they play a sport.

Also, I'd like to see the return of MiddCards and installing washers and dryers in Painter or Starr. I'd also like to see more art displayed throughout campus buildings, which was brought up by J.S. Woodward as part of his SCCOCC platform, which is one I fully endorse.

Bringing more outside bands and speakers to campus is also important to me. In general, I would like to see increased interaction links between campus groups, such as the SGA and MCAB, College Democrats and College Republicans, and so on. Such collaboration is a great way both to bridge organizational gaps and to focus finances and energy on a few larger, likeminded goals.

What would you say the keyword for your campaign is? Do you have a slogan?

One of my posters says "Dan Saper is Joe Midd" and there's one that says "He is left wing, he is right wing, Dan Saper is your wingman," but that's really just a casual implication of my overall campaign, which, if I had to give it a slogan, would probably be "Keep Middlebury Connected."

What personality traits do you have that would make you a good president?

I'm creative. I'm determined to get things done. I'd also say I'm good at dealing with diverse groups and I realize that the position of SGA president entails dealing with a wide variety of individuals and organizations and it's important to be flexible and receptive to different ideas.

I'd also say I'm outgoing, which is good for branching out into different social networks, and I enjoy hearing what other students have to say about how Middlebury can be improved.

How could the SGA be improved?

If I had to pick something, I'd say that too often bills are over-analyzed and over-debated. When this happens, people tend to lose focus and too few ideas make it all the way through. Efficiency is something the SGA can improve upon.

Ideally, what should the SGA's role be at Middlebury College?

The SGA is the most important conduit between the administration and the student body. Without the SGA, I think the administration would have a very difficult time recognizing the wants and needs of the students, and the students would have a difficult time getting their thoughts and opinions heard by administrators. This sense of connectedness is something that can always be better.

How do you plan on making/keeping the student body involved in the student government process?

I think a weekly e-mail recap of a few highlights from SGA meetings, debates and discussions will help keep people abreast of its initiatives. I also think surveys are a great way to find out what students are really thinking and feeling. We need to be asking opinions both before and after legislation is considered.



Eli Berman '07.5

What are your hot-button issues?

My campaign is based on the idea that there are two types of student government. The first type promotes better student life and positive attitudes. The second is just another club which doesn't take action. I thoroughly embrace the first type of student government. SGA should actively cause positive change. Middlebury is full of bright, amazing, intelligent people. This easily translates into power - power to make our campus community a better place.

Our power can be seen with the recent "Proctor Push." With my bill "Fighting for the Commons System," I included the entire student body, pursuing something that mattered to us. The result was that the administration listened and reopened Proctor on Sundays.

As for specific issues, I'll fight for a wireless network. I'll continue to fight for more laundry machines (I introduced the idea to the Senate earlier this year and have been pushing it forward since October). I'll fight for more social/activity space, an endowed fund for environmental grants and raising the profile of the organic garden.

What would you say the keyword for your campaign is? Do you have a slogan? What is your campaign strategy?

My slogan is "Amplifying Student Voice." My message - I pledge, as president, that each and every student voice will be heard in making each and every decision. I've been meeting with clubs, talking to anyone who'll listen and listening to anyone who'll talk. I'm looking forward to going door-to-door next week and meeting as many people as possible.

What personality traits do you have that would make you a good president? I'm sincere, and I'm a listener. I respect people but I'm not afraid to disagree with them. Most importantly, I have integrity. I'm not a politician. I'm running for president because I know that I can make Middlebury better, and I can include as many voices as possible. It's imperative that people know that my campaign is about issues but, even more importantly, it's about how issues are confronted. I can't guarantee a wireless network next year - no candidate can. What I can guarantee is that the voice of the student body and student government will be heard on that issue and others as never before.

How could the SGA be improved?

I would undoubtedly classify my SGA experience as positive. But I think there's a lot more that can and should be done. Not enough people are involved, both in the SGA and with SGA.

Ideally, what should the SGA's role be at Middlebury College?

The SGA has the ability to take raw student power and harness it into making our college life better. Ideally, students, together with the administration should be the decision makers and implementers. Of course, the administration is doing a great job - life here at Midd is good. But it could be better, and it'll only get better when everyone gets involved.

How do you plan on making/keeping the student body involved in the student government process?

I'm the right person for the job because I'm the kind of person who reaches out to people. I plan on going to club meetings throughout the year. I'll have SGA open hours in which students can see me or call me and voice their concerns. And if students won't come to us, then we'll gladly go to them. I'll go dorm-to-dorm, dining hall-to-dining hall, making the SGA's presence known.

Elizabeth Schaumberg '06

What are your hot-button issues? What about your campaign would excite the student body?

My primary issue is the commons system and making the long-term plan work better for students while they're here. If the SGA and commons work together, more student ideas and initiatives will be available and SGA can better represent the full range of student opinion on issues. One of my other issues is bringing back the MiddCard or something like it. I thought it was one of the great selling points of the College and when it ended, it hurt many students who needed the system for things like books and supplies.

I'd like to see us continue the break shuttles as well as adding trips to Burlington on the weekends. I also think there should be more venues for presentation of student and faculty work. I'd like to enhance the environmental programs on campus to promote the school's already outstanding "green" identity. SGA should also focus on some more academic issues like longer library hours.

What would you say the keyword for your campaign is? Do you have a slogan? What is your campaign strategy?

A lot of it could be boiled down to "making the commons system work for you." My campaign strate
gy includes the usual posters as well as meeting with student groups. I'm trying to talk to as many people as possible.

What personality traits do you have that would make you a good president?

First and foremost I have a lot of experience. I have a unique combination of experience with student organizations, SGA and the commons system. Increasing the communication and collaboration between these groups is important for strong representation and positive student life. I think I have a combination of both functional changes that can be made in student government and a detailed list of agenda items and things I specifically want to work on. I have a lot of perseverance, so I would make a good leader, advocating for the student body to the administration.

How could the SGA be improved?

SGA representation of the full diversity of student opinion could be improved to a great degree.

Ideally, what should the SGA's role be at Middlebury College?

To figure out the issues that students care about, to address those issues and to ensure students a voice in the solutions before making recommendations to the administration.

Also, a lot more initiatives should come out of the student body. For instance, we heard from students that they would like the library open later and we pushed for it to be open 24 hours during exams.

How do you plan on making/keeping the student body involved in the student government process?

I would make sure that I'm going to the student organizations and to the commons to hear their opinions. I would also make sure that the senators are going to their constituents to talk to them through e-mail, polls or person-to-person. I think it would also be good to have some sort of board in dining halls and other central locations on campus to let people know what the SGA is addressing each week to give people an opportunity to make their opinions known, to keep them educated and to encourage them to voice their opinions.