Beyond the Platform Your SGA candidates speak out about the future of the SGA Senate

Author: Thomas Brant and Joseph Bergan

This past week, an impressive number of students attended the information session for the SGA Senate race, spawning off an even more impressive 22 candidates. This week, The Middlebury Campus celebrates the increased participation in student government by sitting down with the candidates and capturing the essence of their campaigns - beyond the platforms and letters of intent, allowing them to tell their stories in their own words.

Junior Class Senate candidates

Bobby Joe Smith
The only athlete on the ballot for SGA Senate, Bobby Joe Smith '09 hopes to facilitate communication - a neccessity on the football field - in the Senate as well.
"I think the best thing I can do is create an effective medium for students to be heard," he said.
Smith is focusing on intellectual curiosity in addition to the weight room this fall.
"There should be moderated discussion sections after all-campus speakers - it's a good way to spark communication and debate."

Rashna Kharas
"There is a general dissatisfaction on campus and I want to make this dissatisfaction more vocal," said Rashna Kharas '09, a native of Bombay, India and one of four candidates for the junior class senator position.
Kharas may be a newcomer on the Middlebury political scene, but the sound of her voice is familiar to those who are close to her.
"I love to complain," she said. "It's what I've done for two years, and I thought this year that I might as well complain to people that can do something about it."

Sean Denny
Sean Denny '09 brings two years of experience and diverse interests to the hotly contested field in the junior class senate race.
"One area I would like to focus on is study abroad," he said. "The study abroad restrictions are intense - for example, if you are a science major, it's harder to go abroad. The College takes pride in language but at times it is restrictive."
Denny also hopes to expand the scope of student activism.
"There is a lot of activism on campus, but you never hear anything about micro lending, which some say is the solution to poverty," he said, "I would be interested in mobilizing groups on campus into microlending."

Katie Hylas
Katie Hylas '09 is tired of just solving problems by writing papers - she believes public speaking needs emphasis as well.
"I think that the public speaking initiative is very important - it's a part of the liberal arts experience that we haven't quite tapped into," she said.
But Hylas' campaign also has a lighter side, as she hopes to boost the College's seemingly stagnant party culture.
"My idea for social life is to figure out where the gaps in the party scene are and make some more happen," said Hylas.


Sophomore Class Senate candidates

Emily Stephens
Emily Stephens '10.5 hopes to return to the Senate this year to accomplish some unfinished business.
"Last year it was difficult to get stuff done because I was only in office for one semester," she said. With a goal of adding public speaking classes to the College curriculum, Stephens hopes to be a uniter.
"I think it's important as the only Feb senator to be accessible for both Febs and regs."

Nicolas Sohl
"I have a simple plan as the 'political' voice of the sophomore class," said Sohl. A sophomore from Long Beach, Calif., Sohl's plan is to "help students regain control of our social gatherings. The bureaucracy behind our social lives needs to be streamlined."
Besides his "strong connections with the sophomore class," Sohl feels that his role as a guise of outdoor adventure trips in California provides him with the leadership and people skills to be a successful senator.

Keith Grogg
A sophomore from Santa Fe, N.M., Grogg gives the following advice to the sophomore class. "You have ideas on what you would like to change. I for one want an escalator to my room on the fifth floor of Gifford and lobster in the dining halls," he said.
Though Grogg's goals may be out of this world, he is very down to earth about the way things get done in the Senate - "I'll only have the power to make a recommendation, but there are some things we can change. Think of me like an open slate - I can do whatever my constituents want."

Vrutika Mody
In her letter of intent, Vrutika Mody '10 explained that in her high school in Singapore, she became "addicted" to student government. In her first year at Middlebury, Mody fed her addiction and still is not satisfied.
"Now that I know how the SGA works, I have a better handle on it and this helps me listen to students," she said. She hopes to return this year with a focus on communication with students' needs.
"My room is full of study notes from students' thoughts."


First-Year Class
Senator elects

Anne Runkel
A first-year from Helena, Mt., Anne Runkel '11 is confident she can represent her class well.
"I can listen to people and adapt quickly - it's the one thing that helps a freshman to be a good representative," said Runkel. Focusing on social life issues, Runkel hopes to untie the diverse Middlebury student body.
"I'm sure everyone has an opinion as to what could be different, and I think I can bring these ideas together," she said.

David Peduto
David Peduto believes he has a special affinity for political life.
"I was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, so I have a special connection with him," he said.
While other candidates focus on campus life, Peduto's campaign has a decidedly international focus.
"I would like to see a 'call for peace' - this would have everyone on the College learn how to say 'peace' in another language and say it together at one time, hopefully breaking a world record," said Peduto.


Brainerd Senate Candidates

Chester Harvey
Chester Harvey '09 hails from central Vermont and this year is focusing his campaign on straight talk and inclusion.
"We need to break the senators out of the 'club' and get them to talk to students," he said.
Though not surrendering to the beauracracy, Harvey will not aim for goals that seem outlandish.
"We need to accept that the SGA doesn't have that much influence over the administration so we need to focus on student issues," he said.

Andrew Fuller
Andrew Fuller '11 has just arrived to Middlebury from sunny Miami Beach, Fla. Although he is new to the College, it appears that his room in Stewart has already inspired him to represent his commons on the SGA Senate. He is not afraid to get involved in the furious political storm that is the SGA elections.
"I think that when people talk to you, you have to be able to get those concerns across to the administration," he said.
Fuller many not have that much experience at the College, but it seems that he already knows the duty of an SGA senator.


Wonnacott Senate candidates

Nichole Wyndham
Nichole Wyndham '11 faces off against another first-year, Ashley Quisol '11 in this year's Wonnacott Senate race. As neither candidate can boast college-level political experience, Wyndham is playing up her real estate as a potential political tool.
"Because I've lived in Gifford, I've tried talking to upper classmen and seeing what their wants are," she said.

Ashley Quisol
One of the many first-years in the senate race, the senate campaign of Ashley Quisol '11 is focusing on the political basics. "I just want to have a conversation with people, that's what's important to me," she said.
Quisol cited her creative problem solving skills as one of her greatest attributes.
"I try to find solutions - one kid came up to me and asked for an ice machine in Battell and I told him I would buy him some ice trays," she said.


Cook Senator-elect
Jonathan Kay
He may be just a first-year, but Kay already understands one of t
he most important paradoxes in politics "It's hard to find a balance between your views and the views of the people who elected you," Kay said. His solution? "I think I can balance the two and that my beliefs probably represent a majority of my constituents' beliefs already," he said. Some of Kay's pet projects include ice machines in the dorms and MOO trips for everyone.


Atwater Senate candidate

Lance Sun
As a native of New York City, Lance Sun '11 is not afraid of meeting new people.
"I love talking to people and listening to their ideas," he said.
As an Atwater Senator, Sun would strive to create weekly meetings, "where Atwater students can come in and express their views - an open door policy," he explained.


IHC representative
Scott Kessler
This year, physics major Scott Kessler '08 will turn his attention from halting climate change to advocating social house policy on campus.
"At the current rate, the College is not giving much leniency to social houses," said Kessler. "I want to offer more variety in the social house offerings," he added.
Though Kessler sees his year in office as an uphill climb, there is no doubt that his supporters will be numerous. "I represent anyone who's been to the social house parties," he said.


Editor's Note
The following candidates either declined comment or were unable for comment at press time:
Annie Weinberg
Ashwin Gargeya
Walter B. Schiffer
Derek Sakamoto
Kuni Suzuki