Nardini and Hoest sweep SGA election

Author: Michelle Constant

Max Nardini '08 and Eric Hoest '08 were elected President of the Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Co-Chair of the Community Council (SCCOCC), respectively, for the 2007-2008 academic year after online polls closed on April 27.

According to Nardini, the current Wonnacott Commons Senator, he is looking forward to continuing to work in SGA in a new position.

"I'm very excited for next year," said Nardini. "It's a really great opportunity to be a presence on campus and effect change. I plan on finishing out strongly as the Wonnacott Senator this year and hope that my work will flow into next year," said Nardini.

Because his election race was uncontested, Nardini believed there was a tendency for students to write off the election by choosing not to vote, a significant problem Nardini hopes to counter for next year's elections.

In an effort to make the SGA Cabinet more efficient, Nardini said he plans to reorganize it by changing its operational structure. Nardini will begin his job as SGA President-elect this spring by appointing a number of positions to the cabinet, including Press Secretary and Director of Institutional Diversity. He encouraged all students to apply for the jobs in hopes of attracting representatives from all four classes with a variety of viewpoints.

"Most people want to get involved in the community somehow," said Nardini. "It's a matter of getting the opportunity out there and publicizing it well. SGA is more than a one-man job, [and] I look forward to working with talented and engaged members of the College community."

Nardini also said that he looks forward to working with Eric Hoest next year in fostering a stronger relationship between the Community Council and the SGA, a sentiment that Hoest echoed.

"I am very excited I was elected for SCCOCC," said Hoest. "I plan to meet with Max to present a united front in approaching problems next year and coming at them together."

Hoest plans to work the remainder of the school year and this summer to get applications for Community Council ready for the first day of the upcoming fall semester. He will hold interviews with applicants in hopes of assembling a Council with a wide spread of opinions.

"I want people on Community Council who are willing to stand up for their opinions," said Hoest.

Hoest will also spend the summer making plans to tackle the issues that will be raised for discussion next fall.

Hoest said he intends to set the agenda before the weekly meetings next year, so that people can be included on issues they think are important by either attending those meetings or sending representatives.

"I hope to have good discussions among everyone on the Council to address the problems of the College best," said Hoest.

Hoest also plans on holding monthly meetings with Middlebury town residents so that they, too, have opportunity to provide input.

"Community Council is about more than just the students," said Hoest. "The main thing is to make sure no one feels left out of Community Council decisions."

According to Hoest, in the past there was never a big push for Community Council to be visible. He ran for SCCOCC because he believes it is a great way to get all of the campus together - students, faculty, staff and administration.

Both Nardini and Hoest plan to meet with members of the administration this spring to get a head start on next school year and determine what policies need to be set in action.

Current SGA President Alex Stanton '07 expressed optimism regarding the election, as well as prospects for Nardini's and Hoest's future.

"I thought that all three candidates were great," wrote Stanton in an e-mail. "I know them all personally and thought they had a lot of good ideas. Max and Eric will do a fantastic job and will hopefully bring new energy to their organizations."