News

Prospective senators state positions on issues

The following statements are from candidates for the 13 at-large seats on Student Senate. They have been edited to conserve space. Students may select six candidates. OCMR boxes and ID numbers must be included for the vote to count. Students can vote via alpha, or ballots are available in dining halls and co-ops.

Nicole Johnston

Yes, I have the leadership skills, experience, and qualifications for this position. But let's get to the point. Oberlin flaunts the diversity of its student body. This diversity is here, but we need to WORK IT! Students from all backgrounds should be able to take advantage of other's experiences through mutual interaction. I want to help foster this environment. Ideally, everyone's ideas should be heard and represented within student senate. To promote this, I want to come to you. I'm willing to make myself available to learn what you think. I'll come sit in on various discussions and events to develop an understanding of YOUR ideas and viewpoints.

I hope to serve as a representative of the student body by involvement with you, not just as a trustee of ideas.

Andreas Pape

The administration both seeks and, at times, avoids student input; I hope, if I get re-elected, to continue working with the College administration when its views coincide with those of students, and against it when they don't. Next year, I hope to further increase the time Trustees have with students, encourage departments - Financial Aid, Registrar - to treat students in good faith; with a sense of trust, rather than suspicion. However, more than anything else, increasing student options and respect in the whole campus (faculty, staff, administration, each other) has and will continue to drive my actions as a senator.
Andreas Pape, a serious candidate.

David Heafitz

What the hell does the Student Senate do anyway, they're just a bunch of freaks who have nothing better to do than sit around and pretend to advocate issues while being puppy dogs for the administration. To many of you this statement may represent your actual feelings about what Senate does for our campus, but I have come to realize that this couldn't be farther from the truth. Ok, well, we can be freaks and may seem like puppy dogs some of the time, but on the whole Senate is a very effective representative organization. In the two years that I have been involved with the Senate I have witnessed a lot of accomplishments and contributed to some as well. Before my leave of absence I was on Senate for a semester and recently returned this semester. My contribution has been mostly in the area of security, most recently acting as the student representative on the search committee for a new director. I want to continue to contribute to Senate in order to create the best possible environment for students. We pay 28 grand a year, why not elect a couple of senators to assure it goes to the right place. I want to be one of those senators.

Dan Orr

Hello to all. I have recently awoken from a drunken stupor to take the field-sobriety test that is Oberlin politics. In my first year at Oberlin, it hardly seemed that anything was wrong with the place. Sure, nowhere on earth is perfect, but I saw Oberlin as a center for open, honest discourse and inquiry. In the past few months, there has been an incredible amount of change on campus.

It never was a question that students at Oberlin would have influence on policies and changes regarding the future of the college. Now it seems this student influence is slipping, and soon it will be too late to repair the damages. Other changes that are even more instrumental to the daily lives of students are under analysis and debate. The judicial process is about to change, in order to make Oberlin's policy more in line with that of other colleges and universities. Oberlin is NOT like other colleges and universities, indeed, that is why many of us chose Oberlin in the first place. Why should Oberlin follow the models of others?

As far as the type of qualifications one would find on a resume, I don't got 'em. If you need to know who I am, I'm the guy with the beard and the wool hat that stands outside Mudd puffin' a cig. Say hello sometime, and we'll chat.

Alex D. Freuman

Having been here for three years, I have seen Oberlin go through many issues ranging from political unrest to concerns about Campus Dining Services. Often, I've had to deal with such issues of a smaller degree since I became an RC two years ago. Now I'm interested in tackling problems on a larger scale. I am knowledgeable about how this campus is run, being a member of several organizations and having a few on-campus jobs. I mean, hey, all I want is to make Oberlin a better place to be.

Joshua Kaye

My name is Joshua Kaye, I'll be a college junior in the fall, and I'm announcing my candidacy for Student Senate. I've served on the Senate this past semester as Academic Affairs anchor and have a perfect attendance record. I see my charge as a senator this way: to protect student interests and to enable student power and participation. I believe Oberlin should be progressive, innovative and responsive to student concerns.

Furthermore and especially, the specter of in loco parentis has been trying to rear its ugly head at Oberlin. I feel that it is the role of Senate to take a strong negative stance on this issue. I believe that students have a stake in administrative decisions and should have a say in administrative decisions, and that students have inviolable rights and, yes, even privileges. If you want to be heard, and if you want a watchdog in your Senate looking out for you, vote for me.

Erica Wagner

As far as important information regarding my candidacy is concerned, there isn't much to say. I have been involved with Senate since my election about two months ago. My interest in remaining a part of this organization is fairly simple, to be involved and informed regarding the institution I am part of, and to demystify the administrative structure and decision making processes enough so that I am able to act effectively within it to help make changes, to better support the student body and to clarify their position within the institution. I have been involved because I personally do not find that my position here is clear to me, or likewise how decisions are being made for me and other Oberlin College students. Therefore, I find it important to adopt a position that allows me to clarify the place of the student body at Oberlin both for myself and others.

Claire Koczak

This year students have demonstrated concern for issues like Security, drugs, alcohol and multiculturalism; we have set an agenda for change. Student Senate must listen to voices of progress and address these issues. It is of the utmost importance that the faculty and staff hear from the students.

When I adopt a project I commt to it; I never stop halfway. As a Resident oordinator, I've listened to and provided forums for students and their varied concerns. My character, paired with my experience in student service, has prepared me for an active and productive term as a student senator.

Speak-outs, discussions and challenges to the existing structure at Oberlin are an invaluable aspect of our college life. Student Senate should be a part of this activism. The agenda has been set and the issues have been voiced. The time to pursue them is now.

Ted Carleton

Hello, my name is Ted Carleton and I am a meager frosh running for senate. You may have seen my posters around celebrating moral depravity and what-not, but I want to assure you that those ARE NOT THE ONLY ISSUES I stand for. I do not, however, wish to suggest that I do not support such issues as RIGHTS and PRIVELEGES for those who SMOKE, and maintenance of the current DRUG POLICY, for I feel strongly about these issues. Those are issues that have most directly affected me this past year. I also am interested in working to establish a stronger Expository Writing Program. Mainly, though, I understand that the Senate has somewhat of a reputation for not doing much. I simply want to assure that those who do vote for me can rely on my desire to work and my devotion to dealing with issues that the student body feels most pressing. If you are a HEDONIST, a MISCREANT, someone who is attracted to DEVIANT BEHAVIOR; if you feel threatened by Dean Cole's proposed CHANGES TO THE DRUG POLICY or her BLATANT DISREGARD FOR COLLEGE JUDICIAL POLICY ... I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT> > > >I WILL DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES & ...

Chuckie Kamm

Hey KIDS! What's up? How are you feeling?
My name's CHUCKIE KAMM and I'm running for student senate.
You may ask "why?" - here's my reply:
OBERLIN NEEDS SOME CHANGES (you agree?).
I will make them happen.
Walking around today in front of Mudd I talked to a couple people, asking them to voice their concerns. Answers varied, but my answer stays the same.

The strategy is STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!

Nancy Dye doesn't have to listen to me (one voice) bitching about soy milk in CDS, smoking lounges in Dascomb, drug-use regulated by CHOICE ONLY, racial mixing on campus and some SENSE in the administration's head so that they'll listen before they ARREST (strength to you James!!). But 3,000 voices are too loud to drown out.

Yes I am talking POWER through UNITY. And don't forget I'VE GOT YOUR BACK.
So vote for me CHUCKIE KAMM for Student Senate.

Dan Persky

Hi all,
My name is Dan Persky and I have been one of your Student Senators for the last two years. Since I don't know everyone, here's a little bio on me. I am from Chicago (with a nice, sweet accent) and a sophomore in the College (have absolutely no musical talent) and a Politics major. In addition to Student Senate, I am also active with Amnesty International and various other campus groups. However, I think you would rather hear about what I will do for you, if reelected. I plan on continuing the fight for more student representation on committees and in hiring decisions. I also will work towards ensuring that any overhauls of the drug policy and Regs book are fair toward students and that students are an integral part of any of these changes. I also support a 14-meal-plan and, of course, will always be available to listen to your concerns and fight for your causes. So, in short, please vote for me as your Student Senator!

Sam Krasnow

I'm Sam Krasnow, a sophomore who is seeking re-election after two months of Senate experience. Democracy has been dubbed "the worst form of government, except all others." Like democracy, at times Oberlin's elaborate web of committees can stymie progressive action. I aim to use patience and perseverance to work within our system and achieve results that benefit the student body. Today, Oberlin students enjoy power and positions that weren't afforded to students of previous generations. Through my participation as a Senator I hope to seize this opportunity in order to express student concerns and increase the quality of our community.

Jay O'Neil

Hello. My name is Jay O'Neil and I am running for the Student Senate. In the past three years I have witnessed a slow and steady slide to the right on the part of the administration. I am concerned about the well being of Oberlin college right now, as well as in the future. In the past few years the student body has been manipulated and molded into a more conservative organization. I have watched as key elements of the Oberlin identity have been eliminated, usurped and perverted until the spirit that makes our college unique has become unrecognizable. Traditions such as the bike derby and need- blind admissions have been subverted. Policies regarding drugs, alcohol, smoking, student health and the judicial board have become unrecognizable and random. And a philosophy of blaming the students for the college's problems has been instituted. Too often students hear the cry that they are apathetic. This is not true. They are leaderless. Our student body is as political as ever. However, to keep this true, leadership needs to be provided to prevent the subtle conservative change. I feel I am qualified and eager to take on the challenge of the administration and to defend our college from sinking into bland anonymity.

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