Student Senate Fall '99 Candidate Statements

The following are Senate Candidate statements for the current election.

Mary-Jo Bates (moj)

At the beginning of this semester, I mentioned in my candidate statement that as a newly transferred student who had been involved in student government before, I had previous experience to share and wanted to have some new experiences here at Oberlin. This semester in Senate has taught me many things, the largest of which was that a senate can work. Since I have been the internal secretary, I have not yet run an Advisory Council, but I have helped other senators on theirs and kept secretarial stuff together. Next year, I plan to put together a more organized Ad council on off-campus concerns to advocate for people who choose to live off campus for economic or personal reasons and still hope to serve as the secretary. And Aaron endorses me as secretary too! On the matter of endorsements, while I am very active in several organizations around campus, I feel that endorsements mean special interests, and while I bring my positionality to the senate plenary session, in representing students, it is my job to go beyond my personal passions.

Kate Davoli

You're reading this? Maybe you want to know a little about Kate Davoli before you vote. So here's the top 6 reasons why you should elect me:

1. EXPERIENCE. I am currently a senator and have learned much about the power structure of this college. I know who to talk to about your concerns and the best ways to present issues to those people.

2. RESPONSIBILITY. I have never once missed my required office hours so you know you can always come in to talk to me.

3. ENDORSEMENT. I have been officially endorsed by the LGBTU.

4. WORK-STUDY. My payment won't come out of the Student Activities Fee.

5. COMMITMENT. I refuse to resign office once elected. You elect me, you got me for the whole term.

6. GIANT SWORD. Oh yeah, and I carry around this giant intimidating sword sometimes. It's pretty cool.'nough said.

Jane Glynn

I didn't seek endorsements. Why? No endorsements=no playing favorites. While I have my own viewpoints, I'm not running for Senate only to promote them; I want to represent all students. I decided not to ask for endorsements because I felt they sent the wrong message. My personal interest is in (all) students' rights: I'm the president of ACLU-OC (American Civil Liberties Union-OC), and I am working to change sections of the Rules and Regs to clarify the administration's responsibilities of upholding and respecting students' rights. I want to increase the communication and understanding between the administration and students, and I want to promote student concerns in a responsible and politically savvy manner. I ask for your vote because I am committed to Oberlin and its students, and I have a sincere desire to make this a better place for all of us. Plus I promise to stay the whole semester.

Erika Hansen

There have been two areas that have concerned me the most during my two years as a Student Senator: student rights and student input into the Oberlin bureaucracy. My first priority has always been to ensure that student voices are taken seriously. It is for this reason that I hope to continue my position on Student Senate so that I may encourage students to become informed and respected by the college governance system (i.e. not perceived as reckless individuals who need to be monitored closely). In the past, I have written legislation that imposed more stringent guidelines upon the Student Senate attendance policies, and have headed the undertaking to manifest a Course Evaluation Guidebook that will aid students in choosing satisfactory courses. In the future, I hope to continue to empower students by informing them of their rights and standing up to the authoritative bodies which choose to ignore them.

Bradford Hayami

I am interested in being a member of the student senate for a number of reasons. I am concerned with the growing conservatism and apathy exhibited by our student body. In all honesty, I haven't been as active as I should be, and I feel that this is the time and place for me to change that. Specifically, I am interested in working towards a more unified student body that can demonstrate the strength and solidarity necessary for change. We have been blessed with a student body full of a board array of unique and intelligent ideas. Its time to bring those ideas together and work towards greater political strength as students. Oberlin is our school, and we need to take a step forward and seize that power. I would love to play a part in that movement. Vote for me and I promise to work towards a better Oberlin.

Kristen Keniray

i hesitate to write a formal statement because i feel as though the process in which my voice is being brought to the student body is inherently flawed. the nature of the events of the past few days have been such that i feel a true representation of the student body cannot be met. there is literature posted, as well as an article in the review addressing these issues. this being said, i feel that as a senator, i would like to prevent such flawed processes in the future, and i am confident that i can at least begin to do so. as a white, working-class dyke, i do not claim to represent every student at oberlin, but as a bonner cholar and a member of third world house and third world co-op, i feel that i have had much involvement with marginalized communities on campus, and i would like to work towards these voices being heard.

Aaron Leavy

Less than two months ago I asked students to vote for me, stating a desire to increase student voice in student governance. Along with several senators I'm working to make senate more accessible. As Communications Coordinator I'm updating the senate webpage, making it more informative.

But we as senators must also turn our focus outward, back to the students. We should be a resource for students. I want to make senate more open and receptive to student input. Senate must then take that information and amplify those voices so that students are heard. But beyond being receptive we should focus on real action, like lowering book prices and building a better relationship between the town and College. Things are getting better, but there is work to be done.

John Partridge

Hello, I have been very active in numerous student organizations, the Coalition Against the War on Iraq to name just one. I would like to continue this activity via Senate for the following reasons. First, I have had a lot of diverse experiences, including the Marines, which I think will allow me to better contribute to Senate.

Second, I think that there are many problems with Senate, ones that I am sick of complaining about and would like to change them. For example, I am dissatisfied with the election process, Senate announced the nomination deadline 48 prior, then nominated candidates were given 48 hours to write statements and obtain endorsements. Six hours later, the elections began. This is not sufficient time to mobilize student support and participation. I will work to actively represent all students and make a positive contribution by taking action in Senate. Thank you for your time and support.

Yakup Mete Sener

Every day when I wake up, I laugh hysterically at Student Senate. I find it really funny that senators are paid $1200 to do ABSOLUT NOTHING. If elected, I will refuse any payment so that your money is not wasted and can be put to better use. I will donate my salary to the student organizations which really need it. I may even do something good as a senator. I promise to attend all meetings and fight for your right to party, and more. On a serious note, a little about myself: I am a sophomore economics major from Istanbul, Turkey. Anyway, who's better for Senate than an ABSOLUT TURK?

Jonah Schmiechen

I have noticed two currents in this school. An apathy that nothing will or can be done by students or anger that nothing is being done. These are interconnected and come from two sources. We live on a divided campus. There is a lack of trust, not among individuals, but among various groups on campus. We also have, or think we have, little power on campus. As long as these two conditions exist, student initiatives will remain small and largely ineffective. Once elected, I will work to start a dialogue between the various elements on campus, I will work to raise students level of perception on what can be accomplished under the current system and to broaden our powers. The student senate should not be the focal point of student power, but the focal point of the many student activities that are occurring and should be occurring in the future.

Katherine Shorb

i feel that in writing a statement, i cannot overlook the fact that my venue for communicating this has been fundamentally flawed. there have been many reasons why i feel that this election is not complete or representative, but i will leave it to the posted literature and the review to inform the student body on the situation. despite this, there is still a need for me to run in that i feel my recognition of this process flaw will enable me prevent it and other flaws in the future, and i plan to do so. i am a transgender (drag ball king 1999), half-asian-american dyke that feels as though my voice on this campus has historically not been heard. as a member of third world co-op and as a queer student working to relaunch zami, i would like to support other members of my communities by being an agent in which their voices can be heard.

Micah Thorner

I've been on senate for two years now. I am currently an officer, and deal with students, faculty, and administrators daily because of my position. I stayed on senate through the wave of resignations, got stuff done, and realize I have a lot of stuff still to do. I won't give up, even when things get tough. I'm not going to give you a list of endorsements because I think people take you more seriously if you don't represent special interests. I'd rather use a rational, logical process to arrive at decisions concerning the students here at Oberlin. I know the rules, the Constitution, even the faculty members and administrators to talk to when I need to get something done. I've worked on projects from getting more health coverage for club sport athletes to making sure money isn't taken out of the budget for student organizations that shouldn't be to pay for things like senate paychecks. I strongly believe in student rights, and feel like they are often taken advantage of. That's why I've chosen to remain on several important committees (Judicial Board, Housing and Dining, Student Life, and several others) ever since I was a freshman. I will continue to work hard and try to help you if reelected.

Manu Vimalassery

Experience: New Music Committee student representative, '96-'97

Con Council President, '97-'98

SASA co-chair, '98

Con Council Secretary, '98-'99

AAA co-historian, '99

I'd like to help ensure that Oberlin becomes a truly progressive and supportive institution for people from marginalized backgrounds. I'd like to see progressive social politics become a part of everyday practice at Oberlin, not just a poorly manufactured marketing ploy. I think this is the only way that we can be true to our rich historical legacy.