News

Student Senate candidates statements

Jennifer Trieshmann
As students at Oberlin, we all have a very tangible reason to be aware of, and take part in the decisions that will affect us academically, financially and socially throughout our years here. School policy, hirings and cutbacks affect us all. However, not everyone has time or energy required in order to be part of the policy making/revising process. Therefore, the best thing you can do is vote for someone who will listen to your opinions, who will be vocal at meetings and VOTE. My name is Jennifer Trieshmann and if elected I will do all of the above with diligence, dedication and concern for the diverse interests of the student body. I have served on Hall Council and am currently serving on Judicial and Community Boards. I feel that I have the resolve, the dedication and experience necessary for Student Senate and I would be very grateful for your support. Thanks.

Whitney Smith
Hi, My name is Whitney Smith and I am running for Student Senate. I am a sophomore and considering a major in Law and Society. I spent my first year at Oberlin thinking about the interaction between the College, the administration and the students. Coming back this fall with a year of experience, I am going to do more than just think about how I would like our school to be. Mahatma Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." In order to make beneficial changes in the way our college works, I must first make the changes in the way I work. By running for Student Senate, it is my hope to raise the voices of the other students on campus. Let me represent you. Let me bring your concerns, questions, grievances to the place where change begins: the Senate. In this election, your vote is your voice. Vote for Whitney Smith for Student Senate. Thank you.

Nicholas Baumgartner
I am in my third year of the double degree program, with majors in Piano and German. My interests in Student Senate lie primarily in helping to bridge the apparent communications rift between students and the administration. I firmly believe that we students and the administration can cooperate to achieve common goals, with regard, for example, to racial or political issues on campus. As a Conservatory student, I am also particularly interested in nurturing the symbiosis between the College and the Conservatory and the common goals between therein. As a member of the Senate, I pledge to fully represent the student body to the administration and the rest of the Senate.

Velia Lopez
Hola! Mi nombre es Velia Lopez, I am a first year student; residing at Third World House. I am running for STUDENT SENATE and would appreciate YOUR VOTE.

I am a determined and honest woman. What I start I finish, and giving up is not an option. Extra-curricular activities have always been part of my lifestyle. In high school, I was a member of the Student Congress, Student Council, and I took part in a Student Task Force Committee. It worked to stop the administration from closing my high school. I have the experience necessary to represent the student body. I want to:

1. Support Marginalized Student Concerns
2. Improve Communication between Student and the Administration
3. Represent People of Color
4. Ameliorate Communication Among the Students

If you want the JOB DONE RIGHT, VOTE: VELIA LOPEZ for STUDENT SENATE.

Elias Holman
My name is Elias Holman and I have chosen to run for Student Senate because I believe I can accurately represent the views of a large part of the school population. I have organizational and leadership experience from coordinating the Students Against Political Corruption group as part of OPIRG. I am also a resident of the Spanish House and working towards an African-American Studies Major so I am aware of many important cultural issues. I will make sure that every group has a voice.

Maria Garcia
As a first year student, I am not aware of those issues that affect the student body and the political standards of Oberlin. Therefore, I am running for STUDENT SENATE to become aware of these issues. I believe it is important for students to be exposed with political standards of the school; so they could fight for their beliefs and for the good of the student body. I also believe that I would be a great representative for the people of color. I would appreciate your vote. VOTE FOR MARIA GARCIA!!!!VOTE FOR MARIA GARCIA!!!!VOTE FOR MARIA!!!

Russel Menyhart
We have shit to do and a college to look at with a critical eye and continue improving... I am extremely interested in delving into the process of running our school, and thus fulfilling some of our desires which have not been attained, such as better communication between students and administration, regarding finances.

I am a freshman, undecided major, definite enthusiasm. I admit to being unsure of the role of a Senator, but I guess that is what we are here to decide and develop. "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Nathaniel Stankard
I believe in magma - that the student body is a vast array of talent and power which can be channeled into various initiatives. There are no particular interests that I advocate. I am tabula rasa, a blank slate that can readily be accessible and malleable to the desires of the students. Accessibility and flexibility are crucial. A channel is in me to provide an intelligent, objective, and politically astute path for focusing that molten rock. I can smell the sulfur and feel the heat. The question becomes: how will the magma erupt?

James Quinn
I am running for Student Senate because I love this school and I know that we have to work to improve especially those institutions we love. My major goal would be to keep the communications open between students and administration; I would eat at different places so I could talk to you about where the school was going and let you know what we were up to. I would definitely be sensitive to the concerns of many groups on campus, and my agenda would be as inclusive as possible.

I do have my personal concerns, though; as a transfer student and an individual major, I have a strong perspective on what is special about Oberlin. I would support measures, such as allowing for written evaluations as well as grades on request, that would nurture our distinctiveness. I am also concerned to see that the Women's Studies program reestablishes itself on a stable footing.

Thanks for reading these statements. Vote for James Quinn, a thoughtful voice on the Senate. Velia Lopez looks like a good choice, too.

Samantha Morse
Thomas Jefferson is dead. John Candy is dead. Karl Marx is dead. Elvis (let's face it) is dead. All of our great leaders are dead - except me. It is time to begin a new chapter, start a new revolution and deal with all of Oberlin's imperfections. Vote for Samantha Morse. She's cooler than Link magazine.

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