CSA Candidate Platforms

Hello! My name is Ben Krebsbach. 

I am a Junior Political Science Major, Public Policy and American Studies Minor from Appleton, WI! You may know me best for the three years I have spent serving you “food” in Burton Dining Hall. I am also a resident of the Wellstone House of Organizing and Activism (WHOA), and I have represented the CCCE on the CSA Senate! 

Ultimately, the position of CSA President is one that determines the priorities of the CSA Senate and helps shape how Carleton responds to the current political moment. It is someone the President, Dean of Students, and Board of Trustees are required to meet with and hear. That means the CSA President should not be afraid to challenge the administration on its decisions and unapologetically push for students’ rights. They are supposed to be the independent voice of the student body! But to do so effectively, they must actually listen to students and be as ambitious as they are. I hope I can be that person! 

1. Continue Pushing for Divestment from Military Contractors 

In 2024, the CSA Senate passed a resolution calling for divestment from “military institutions invested in the Israeli military.” In two years, they have not done so! Carleton continues to hold public equity investments in companies like Woodward, which produces missile components used in the genocide of Palestinians, the offensive war in Iran, and aggression in Venezuela. Our school should have no part in that, and I would voice this opinion to the Board of Trustees in every meeting with them! Divestment is legally complex. The Board is bound by its fiduciary duty to protect the institution’s financial interests, but it can legally justify prudent investment decisions that align with the university’s mission. And part of that mission is to foster global collaboration and support our peer institutions around the world. Our investment in Woodward does the opposite, with every university in Gaza now destroyed and schools bombed every few days in Iran and Lebanon. The barrier is not legal but political, and the Board of Trustees lacks the will to act! 

As President, I would: 

● Meet with the Chief Investment Officer, President, and Board of Trustees to specifically discuss divestment from all military contractors. 

● Work with the Carleton Responsible Investment Committee (CRIC) to ensure all of Carleton’s investments are regularly evaluated for their involvement in violations of human rights domestically and abroad.

● Advocate for maximum transparency by publicly disclosing detailed information on Carleton’s public equity holdings and private investments to the fullest extent legally possible. 

● Push fervently for our school to set an example for other schools, now more than ever — divesting from violence, standing firmly for peace, and confronting antisemitism and Islamophobia on our own campus! 

2. More Democratic and Participatory Budgeting 

Most students do not really know where the money from their CSA Activity Fee goes — that’s an issue when it keeps increasing every year! To make students feel more included in the budgeting of their money, $10,000 of the CSA’s capital reserves should go toward projects and social causes students propose directly every year! The CSA Senate allocates $15,000 annually to these reserves for emergencies and capital projects, but often this money goes unspent. I was proud to help write one of the only resolutions passed this year, started by two CCCE Fellows, to donate $2,500 of this money to the Community Action Center during the government shutdown to support their food shelf. This resolution would not have been created without the initiative of the students who started it, and I would provide more opportunities for ideas like this to be seriously discussed, passed, and implemented by the CSA Senate. Carleton students love to complain (and that’s good!), but they should be given the resources to solve their complaints as well! 

As President, I would: 

● Dedicate at least $10,000 of the CSA’s capital reserves to ambitious, student-driven initiatives. 

● Organize town halls and participatory budgeting sessions where students can propose, develop, and vote on projects to spend their money on — such as new campus infrastructure, better dining hall options, or social issues they care about!

● Actively encourage and support student-led resolutions on a variety of issues. 

3. Make CSA Executive Salaries Optional 

In Spring 2025, the CSA Senate voted to allocate $20,000 to CSA Executive salaries, paying their full 10 work-study hours per week. This amount is similar to what the CSA allocates to Carleton’s 10-15 most-funded clubs. In truth, I don’t want your money! I also don’t want to give up my work-study hours! CSA Executive positions should be open to anyone, not just those willing to sacrifice all other employment they have on campus. I would push to amend the CSA Constitution to make pay optional! This would both free up money (that could go towards participatory budgeting!) and allow people to serve as President, Vice President, and Treasurer

without having to give up their other student employment. As stupid as it may sound, I really want to stay a student manager in the dining hall! 

As President, I would: 

● Push to amend the CSA Constitution to make executive pay optional. 

● Formally decline my salary to continue working in the dining hall, if the Constitutional amendment passes. 

4. Better Communication from Security on Parties 

College students are allowed to party! Students deserve to know what the rules around student gatherings are and whether security will enforce them consistently. Additionally, security should not leave students in the dark! The way security handled the CANOE situation was unacceptable, and their lack of communication has eroded trust in the community. When students don’t trust security services, they are less likely to contact them when they actually need help. More than any other office on campus, security must be transparent, consistent, and communicative with students! 

As President, I would: 

● Push for the reinstatement of weekly campus security updates. 

● Work with security to clearly define and publicly communicate rules around student gatherings and their enforcement. 

5. Meal Plans and Break Food Insecurity 

The mandatory 7-meal plan continues to restrict students living in houses and those with dietary restrictions. Community cooking and shared dinners are an important component of many house communities, especially for students who follow kosher or halal diets. After working nearly 200 shifts in the dining hall, I know firsthand that the food is not for everyone. The administration 

knows this, but refuses to change anything! 

In addition, I lived through the hellish, 100-degree Myers summer housing last year, and I will strongly advocate for better living conditions for summer residents, including access to kitchens and air conditioning. At the same time, the student-led, CSA-funded efforts to address food insecurity were a major success, and I was proud to vote to continue funding them this year! 

As President, I would: 

● Advocate for reducing the mandatory meal plan and allowing certain students to live fully off-board, particularly those in Northfield Option housing, campus houses, or with dietary restrictions.

● Ensure the college better accommodates kosher and halal dietary needs, which Bon Appétit cannot consistently provide. 

● Continue to strongly support ongoing efforts to address food insecurity and improve living conditions over breaks. 

● Push the administration to contribute more funding to summer food insecurity programs, rather than funding it through the CSA. 

6. Ensure ICE Continues to Have No Place on Campus 

Even as Operation Metro Surge winds down, I would ensure Carleton continues to be vigilant and provide all necessary protective services to keep our most vulnerable students, faculty, and staff safe! 

As President, I would: 

● Make sure that all college decisions prioritize the safety and well-being of international and undocumented students, faculty, and staff. 

● Maintain and strengthen campus safety services for vulnerable students, including security rides, walking escorts, and reliable ICE alert systems. 

● Ensure the college continues to provide temporary on-campus housing for Bon Appétit staff who need it. 

● Push the college to communicate promptly and transparently with students about any campus safety risks or changes to policies related to ICE. 

7. More Transparency Regarding Student Wages 

All student workers deserve raises! As Carleton looks to reconfigure its wage system in the coming years, I would ensure students are at the center of these discussions to make sure any changes benefit all students. Last term, certain rumors started by college officials circulated about the possibility of decreases in some students’ wages. While these rumors were ultimately dispelled, the administration has hopefully internalized that even uttering the words “wage cuts” will evoke a student response! 

As President, I would: 

● Ensure student workers continue to receive at least a $0.25/hour annual wage increase.

● Push for greater transparency from the administration around wage decisions to prevent future confusion and rumors. 

● Keep student workers meaningfully involved in discussions about transitioning to a tiered wage system to ensure any changes reflect the will of the students. 

● Seek explicit assurances that any tiered wage system would only raise wages for certain workers and never reduce existing pay.

8. Title IX Reform 

Title IX at Carleton has a bad reputation! After the college’s negligence led to serious abuses of power and inappropriate behavior toward first-years during this year’s New Student Week, a petition was circulated that demanded change! The Title IX office had fallen many years behind in reporting accurate sexual misconduct statistics, and many students reported a pervasive culture that discouraged students from engaging with the Formal Complaint Resolution Process. Moreover, the former interim Title IX Coordinator worked for a law firm that previously defended Carleton against lawsuits alleging the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. This conflict of interest further undermined student trust in the office! However, Carleton has a new Title IX Coordinator now, and they have shown a willingness to listen and respond to student concerns. 

As President, I would: 

● Meet regularly with the new Coordinator to continue rebuilding trust between the community and the Title IX office. 

● Ensure systems are put in place to prevent individuals found responsible for sexual misconduct in a formal Title IX complaint process from becoming RAs or Peer Leaders on campus. 

● Guarantee that Title IX annual reports are published on time to provide accurate statistics about sexual misconduct on campus. 

● Improve communication about the differences between Title IX complaints and other reporting options (like CCFs), and what they can do. 

● Push for an independent, third-party audit of the Title IX office if concerns persist, to ensure students are not discouraged from pursuing formal complaints. 

9. Protect Student Speech on Campus and In The Community 

College campuses feel alive because they are filled with posters, anonymous art, stickers, and chalk murals. This year, Carleton is considering new postering and chalking rules that would restrict this kind of speech. In addition to speech on-campus, Carleton officials should not overstep their authority to police students’ political speech off-campus, nor should they collaborate with law enforcement to do so. 

As President, I would: 

● Oppose any attempts to place excessive burdens on student artistic and political speech through complicated postering and chalking rules. 

● Oppose efforts by Carleton officials to interfere with students’ off-campus speech and political protest.

10. Always Accessible 

Perhaps most importantly, the CSA President should be someone who is always reachable and responsive to student needs. You really want berries in the dining hall? We could do that! My ambition is as great as yours. Whether it is providing year-round assistance to clubs over funding concerns or addressing broader campus issues, I am committed to being an independent voice of the student body who is not afraid to disagree with the administration when necessary, while still maintaining a constructive and productive relationship. While this is no small task, I think I can do that work! 

Ashton, here. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you may be familiar with one story of a guy who used to play the accordion while riding a bike some two to three years ago…or maybe the undertaker during last year’s Schiller Funeral. And if not…maybe that one guy with (literally) one too many feathers in his hat(s). If any of these are familiar, they were in fact yours truly. I had the honour of serving as your Inter-Campus Liaison for the 2024-2025 academic year. During my time in office, I organized and led CSA’s first and second ever delegations to St. Olaf’s student body organization. In these meetings, we established a precedent for consistent, in-person, inter-campus dialogue that, in some capacity, continues to this day. While Mia and I’s project for an inter-campus bikeshare program was not able to be realized due to budgetary constraints, it familiarized me with both the high threshold for success a lot of our projects need to succeed, and that despite that high threshold, they are nonetheless realistic. 

I chose not to run again in the following year, as I planned to go on OCS in the fall, and knew my winter term was going to be higher stakes than what would allow me to contribute what CSA needed. Nevertheless, Carleton and its community are undergoing far bigger challenges than our administration seems willing to admit or respond to. The status quo does not need to be a given, and it is the responsibility of any potential CSA President to utilize every means at their disposal to ensure that the alternative is one that is consultative of the entire student body. If this is a principle you find yourself agreeing with, I would be more than honoured to serve that role. 

CONTENTIONS: What we stand for 

In no particular order, we would like to offer the following foci underlining the politics and policies that we hope to bring to CSA. If you have any questions, feel free to voice them: 

§1.Developing an ICE policy that commits Admin to a reliable student and employee defense strategy 

The safety of our most vulnerable is reflective of the safety of us all, and the efforts taken by the administration to ensure that must be predictable, well-known, and effective. The best way to ensure this is the case is by opening dialogue between admin, CSA, Carleton’s 

undocumented students, and international students, and providing the funds necessary to make student interests achievable. Incorporating the voices of undocumented employees of the college and its chartered partners (e.g. Bon Appétit) would be an ideal means to ensure Carleton becomes and remains a refuge from whatever the federal government attempts to throw its way. 

This would entail a number of efforts CSA is equipped to coordinate, some of which include the following: 

– Continuing and assisting with the college’s subsidization of legal assistance for those who find themselves at risk. 

– Conceiving a formal training program for Security Services to systematize any potential response to the presence of federal officers on campus. 

– Adopting an official policy of non-disclosure as to the whereabouts of undocumented students 

– Identifying locations that threatened students can find refuge in case of emergency, whose access would be restricted to those students and physical security personnel. 

– Arranging a network of students who would be able to transport and accompany students to in-town locations, or assist them in procuring groceries, possibly with CSA compensation. 

§2.Reassessment of Cultural Org Funding 

We reject a number of the concessions made during 2025-2026’s Budget Allocations, as well as major shifts made in CSA’s student organization funding policy. In particular, we oppose, and seek to reverse the restrictions imposed on how cultural organizations are permitted to use their funds, and believe it should be left to greater discretion of those orgs themselves. 

§3.Co-participatory and transparent policy planning between CSA and SAO 

In connection with §2, we are disappointed by SAO’s policy not to allot funding to sports clubs, which in effect, puts sport-oriented student organizations that have not existed for longer then two years in a funding-less limbo, as it is only after such a period that organizations are eligible to be considered for funding under PEAR. With CSA’s unfortunate loss of Nathan Riel-Elness, SAO’s former liaison to the Senate, we should anticipate needing to actively advocate for the Senate’s inclusion in SAO’s policy choices, as well as a dialogue that makes clear to students SAOs reasonings and intentions behind major proposals and changes it desires to implement. 

§4.Challenging the “Chalking and Postering Policy” and defending student free speech 

We find the administration-dictated Chalking and Postering Policy to constitute a low-priority and targeted attack on the free speech and artistic expression of the student body, and find many of its points to be purposefully broad, abstract, vague, and/or unenforceable. If it is to be assumed that this initiative was one conceived at the behest of the Board of Trustees, we find it pertinent to ensure that they are aware of these observations. It can be assumed that with each effort taken to quell student speech, novel methods of expression that may be less tolerable may be utilized in response. 

§5.Reinstigating pressure on the administration’s Palestine policy (or lack thereof) 

Our upperclassmen are no doubt keenly aware of the administration’s disappointing and inappropriate responses to efforts taken to encourage its divestment from companies connected to the genocide in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. The goal is, of course, hoping that through exhaustion and escalating punitive action, that students will cease their efforts to encourage the administration in the ways that are the only effective means at their hands. We believe that efforts like these, not limited to those such as in §4, are antagonistic, unreasonable, and require persistent advocacy on CSA’s behalf to encourage action that, as evidenced by other campuses, is in fact realistic. 

§6.Addressing over-break food insecurity and challenging Carleton’s mandatory 7-meal minimum 

Having lived on-campus for multiple Spring and Summer Breaks, I am all too familiar with the uninhabitability (and danger) of Myers summer housing, and we applaud the administration’s proposal to relocate summer break housing to the townhouses. Nevertheless, the problem of food insecurity remains, and the administration’s previous attempts to prevent autonomous campus organizations from working to remedy it is disappointing, if not masochistic. We believe that there are multiple solutions, and multiple people who are able, equipped, and battle-tested to serve in positions dedicated to ensuring the accessibility of food for students living on campus during break, including but not limited to the Office of the Chaplain, and Inter-faith Social Action (IFSA). We also believe that restricting and condemning access to the Community Food Shelf is a cynical overevaluation of the potential footprint of students upon Northfield resources. We believe CSA is able, both through the power of the purse, and sheer will, to continue working to find methods to ensure student access to resources for free and/or accessible food over breaks. 

We also desire to continue pressure on admin to reverse its policy enforcing a mandatory 7-meal minimum per students, which disadvantages low-income students, and those that prefer the economy of providing food for themselves. 

§7.Resisting attempts to decrease any student wage minimums, and advocating for increases 

There has been much talk, misinformation, and confusion surrounding the administration’s efforts to change student wages into a two-tiered system. Regardless thereof, we formally advocate for any increases to any students wages, and support the proposal for a tiered wage system dependent upon the intensity of labour that a particular job entails, such as postal workers, Arb workers, and others. Accordingly, we reject any theoretical attempts by the administration to decrease wages of comparatively lower-intensity jobs to compensate for a potential increase. 

§8.Formalizing Admin-to-Student communication expectations, accessibility, and preservation 

Much of the difficulty concerning the Admin-to-Student relationship can be rectified by formalizing expectations for communication between representatives of both parties. These expectations should involve major decisions that affect students to be communicated in a specific manner with accompanying reasoning, and preserved for posterity and reference, accessible in a permanently accessible location, similarly to CSA’s minutes and resolutions. 

§9.Budgetary planning that is extraparliamentarily-relevant and democratic 

We accordingly advocate for the minutes of Budget Committee meetings to documented and made publicly available for student commentary, to which committee members are beholden to respond. Public polling or referendum could be introduced to provide referencable statistics on what organizations or projects campus would be least interested in seeing defunded. This does not necessarily need to dictate budgetary allocation accordingly, but making the process one done in dialogue with the student body as a whole is the most effective way to ensure the least amount of dissatisfaction therewith that would be attributable to perceived biases and self-interest. Additionally, the potential introduction of a Prioritized Recipient of Funding designation that would be voted by referendum and/or by the Senate, could be suggested as an option to formally list organizations the student body deems most important as warranting last consideration for any potential defunding. One such organization could be the Carletonian, as the campus’ only student newspaper of record. 

§10. Formalizing and expanding the intercampus relationship 

Despite the efforts made during my time as Inter-Campus Liaison, I believe that there is significantly more that can be done to expand the relationship between Carleton and St. Olaf (and possibly Macalester). One of the ideas that we, and many students from both campuses have wanted to get off the ground is a system to make accessible and visible the events that campus organizations at each college have made open to the public. Many of Carleton’s student organizations, such as the Black Students’ Alliance (BSA), African and Carribean Association (ACA), and Jewish Students of Carleton (JSC), often collaborate with their cross-campus equivalents. There is reason to believe that many more students would do as well if there were a formal system to be made aware of happenings at each campus, and the resources each one offers to students of the other. One example of the latter would involve potentially streamlining the process of taking colleges at the other campus — possibly (and preferably) as an option on Workday. With the former, this would involve coordinating the Communications Officer, SAO, ITS, its Webmaster, and the ITS Liaison, to conceive of a calendar that would be accessible via the CSA website to showcase public events happening at each campus. This could potentially be displayed on one dedicated TV in Sayles as well, such as the one that previously hung over the trashcans nearest to the CCCE and the staircase to Upper Sayles. 

§11. Expanding the portfolio of the OAR Liaison to incorporate relevant student orgs and faculty at large 

We believe that the OAR Liaison position should be re-realized as a general Campus Accessibility Ombudsperson, whose portfolio includes coordinating with student organizations that declare themselves to be primarily concerned with accessibility-relevant affairs, such as Carleton Disability Alliance and the Association of Neurodivergent Students. This should be a formal relationship that involves potentially occasionally participating in the meetings of these groups at their permission, and conveying their concerns and interests to the Senate and OAR. Failure to do so at an agreed-upon frequency should result in dismissal from the Senate. 

Additionally this Ombudsperson should be in contact with faculty and staff who identify as disabled in order to incorporate awareness of their needs and concerns to Senate and OAR. 

§12. Expanding the portfolio of the OHP Liaison to incorporate SHAC 

We support the expansion of the portfolio of the OHP Liaison to include coordinating with SHAC to convey concerns of Senate thereto, and information for senate therefrom. 

§13. Working with the DOS and Title IX offices to consequentialize CCF history 

Each of us either have friends who have been subject to harassment on campus or worse, with some of us having experienced the same ourselves. In every single of the unfortunately many instances we can remember, no consequences have been faced by the perpetrators, and a number of them have been allowed to assume positions of authority, such as Peer Leaderships or RA roles. For some of these, we know that this is despite much dialogue with the Title IX and Dean of Students offices, and numerous eyewitness CCFs. We believe that this should not be the case any longer, and CCFs, alongside other forms of reporting should result in students like them from being allowed to assume positions that have the potential to allow them to continue harm. 

§14. Introduction of a second Communications Officer to the CSA Senate 

If we want a Senate that is intimately engaged with the student body, raising the capacity by which we can keep the student body informed about what we are and what we do is an undeniably-important first step. Of course, this should be done without stretching our Communications Officer thin, and so as a result, we recommend adding a second seat, that similar to class representatives, will coordinate with one another to ensure that, 

beyond the senate newsletter, our physical presence (such as the Sayles billboard,which was reintroduced at my request) is maintained. Additionally, a two-person team will be able to take up management of projects such as the Inter-campus Student Org Event Calendar proposed in §10, particularly in collaboration with the Inter-Campus Liaison and SAO’s liaison to the Senate. 

§15. Introduction of an Ethics Officer to the CSA Senate 

Enforcement is a problem that has been all too well discussed by senators, the Carletonian, and student orgs alike, yet we ironically see little being done accordingly. We suggest introducing an Ethics Officer as an elected role in the CSA Senate, whose portfolio entails ensuring consistent adherence to the bylaws, identifying and warning violators thereof, such as perennial absentees, and making the Senate aware of ethical concerns around campus that warrant CSA’s attention and/or response. 

§16. Introduction of a Steward to the CSA Senate 

In conversations I have held with current and former CSA presidents, one difficulty that each has voiced is acclimating to the expectations upon being elected. As most presidents serve during their senior years, which often sees them inundated with many demands unrelated to CSA (such as comps), outgoing or lame-duck executives are often unable to assist their incoming counterparts with familiarizing themselves with the expectations of their newfound job. (Not to mention that, technically, it is not their responsibility per the bylaws.) In order to ensure a seamless transition, we suggest the creation of the Steward position, which would be elected near the end of the Winter Term prior to all other elections in the following Spring, and would leave their office at the end of either the Fall Term or some time during the next Winter Term. The goal for this position is for its occupant to become familiar with the activities of the executives in one year and then help guide their replacement in how things such as the CSA-SAO relationship operates, the expectations and abilities of the president and treasurer, and ways that other executives have managed novel situations. 

§17. Reform of the CSA Electoral Statutes 

We believe that future CSA Senatorial elections should prohibit candidates who run unopposed from associating themselves with other candidates (such as on a joint ticket), as well as receiving or announcing endorsements from other candidates. 

OUTGOING ENDORSEMENTS 

Due to either the absence of time or conflicts of interest, some of our colleagues and friends interested in pursuing senatorial positions were unable to join our common electoral platform. Consequently, we do not vocally claim to have received their endorsement. Nevertheless, we want to acknowledge a those candidates who we find to be of good character, and whose policy proposals are agreeable with us in such a way to warrant an endorsement. They are as follows: 

1. Benedict Le — Vice President 

2. Duncan MacArthur — Class of 2027 Representative 

3. Juju Xiaaj — Class of 2027 Representative 

4. Michelle Sokovikova — Class of 2029 Representative 

5. Adam Paul — Liaison to the Chapel 

6. Yahvi Agarwal — ResLife Liaison 

We wish them luck and success in their endeavors! 

Thank you for taking the time to read our platform! My email — macklina@carleton.edu — is open for any questions, requests, or thoughts you would like to convey in confidence.

TL;DR: 

• Advocacy: Increase student wages, improve meal plan flexibility, and represent and advocate for student concerns
• Student life improvements: Better food options, more menstrual products, Sayles charging station, and improved transportation (including subsidized travel & a carpool network)
• Equity & support: Address food insecurity, create a textbook library, and co-organize a clothing drive
• Community & engagement: Host real town halls, expand of community service projects, and improve CSA transparency
• Efficiency: Restructure Senate roles to make CSA more effective

My name is Talia Raich (she/her), and I am extremely excited to be running to be your 2026–2027 CSA President. Carleton and CSA mean so much to me, and I believe I have the drive, experience, and leadership abilities necessary to serve your interests. I am a Junior Political Science and International Relations major who lives in Farm House, serves on our CSA Executive Team, and competes on the Mock Trial Team as an expert witness. Additionally, you can find me running Spoon Assassins, gravel biking around Northfield, attempting to paint, or going on Arb walks to call my three sisters. At Carleton, I have created Sproncert announcements as an SAO Peer Leader, welcomed first years as a New Student Week Leader, and been in your inbox every Friday as the CSA Communications Officer. 

Why me?

Experience matters. At the bottom of this platform, you will find a summary of what I have accomplished in the eight terms that I’ve served on CSA. I have loved getting to work on different projects, create resolutions, talk to students at CSA office hours, advocate students’ interests to administration, and grow as a leader. My last four CSA terms have been on the Executive Team, and the work has been incredibly fulfilling. I know our bylaws and processes like the back of my hand, so I’ll be able to get started on plausible projects that you want right away. I am committed to understanding all students’ viewpoints through ongoing conversations and incorporating your thoughts into meetings with the administration.

What are my plans?

The foundation of this platform is rooted in ideas from students through surveys, the suggestion box, and conversations while tabling. I’ve also talked with staff, professors, current and past Senators, and yes, I’ve even tuned into YikYak to hear day-to-day gripes—I wish I were joking, but sometimes it works.

A common theme in many CSA platforms is a lack of follow-through. I’ve learned that most of the work is dealing with issues that pop up unexpectedly, and it’s the responses to these problems that are key. Unfortunately, I do not have a crystal ball, and I do not know exactly what problems will present themselves. But I do know that, whatever they are, I will respond promptly, take student suggestions seriously, and communicate my plans clearly back to you. 

ICE Response:

ICE’s presence on campus during Winter term was a matter that I took incredibly seriously. In response, I co-sponsored a resolution calling for all academic buildings to be locked while ICE remained a threat. In the future, I will continue to respond in that way to any issue that threatens students, and I will advocate for every student to the very best of my ability, whether that is through fundraisers or activism. Below, I will share the projects I am excited to work on with you. That being said, my administration will be dynamic—when emergencies (big and small) arise, I’ll focus my attention there. 

Advocacy for Increased Student Wages:

As inflation rises, student wages should keep up. I will advocate for a 50-cent increase in the next budget cycle, twice the current proposed 25-cent increase. I will work with George Perry and the College Budget Committee to make this happen. As noted in George’s platform, if students are against the tiered wage system, we will make sure it does not materialize. As the conduit between the administration and students, we will be sure to incorporate feedback from a wide range of campus groups and negotiate on the students’ behalf. 

Continued Advocacy for an Off-Board Option / 7 → 5–Meal Plan:

The shift from an off-board option to a mandatory 7-meal plan has been one of the most contested issues between students and administration. While an off-board option may not return, I will continue pushing for lower costs and more flexibility within existing meal plans, like fewer meal swipes and more dining dollars, guest swipes, and meal equivalencies. My main goal is to bring back the 5–meal plan by showing that students do not use all seven swipes allotted, making the plan unnecessary. Additionally, I will continue to bring student perspectives to administration clearly and persistently.

Food Improvement:

Bon App has been very receptive to CSA feedback over the past year. I raised the idea of sauceless tofu strips in the dining hall, and the very next day, there they were (if you don’t like them, then it actually wasn’t me). We will continue gathering your input and strengthening collaboration to improve food quality and, yes, bring more fruit to the dining halls. I will also consistently advocate for accurate allergen and Halal signage. In terms of vending machines, we will continue to take your feedback and incorporate healthier options where requested.

Food Insecurity: 

Last year, CSA passed a resolution that funded the Interfaith Social Action’s (IFSA) plan to combat summer food insecurity. Next year, I will work to ensure that the Carleton Cupboard, shuttle, and summer food insecurity initiative receive enough funding to continue running. I will work closely with IFSA to make sure that their incredible programming gets adequate support. 

Sayles Charger Station:

Last term, I created a plan for a charger station in Sayles with cords for all computers and phones. This term, I will order the materials, and the charging station will be in upper Sayles for a trial period. Should it be successful, I will look to expand this initiative to other buildings. I am really excited about the prospect of not going up to random people asking if they have a charger (it happens more often than I would like to admit). 

Increased Menstrual Products:

Over the past few years, CSA and OHP have made progress in expanding access to menstrual products. I am committed to continuing this partnership and further expanding availability across campus. As of right now, there are only six locations across campus. Our goal is to have menstrual products available in at least one bathroom in every building on campus. I will also allocate enough of CSA’s funds so that the products are the ones students want—that means no more cardboard tampons.  

Transportation:

We all know the frustration of being 45 minutes outside of the Twin Cities without affordable, convenient transportation. I will work to subsidize the cost of Northfield Lines and ensure that getting to where we need to go is possible. From a CSA perspective, I will create a student carpooling network to improve access and reduce environmental impact. This network would consist of student drivers with cars who can share when they are going to the airport or the Cities, along with how much they will charge to cover (for gas and vehicle wear and tear). 

Textbook Library and Professional Clothing Drive:

I will create a working group to bring back the textbook library, allowing students to exchange books prior to the beginning of the term. Though this initiative may be slow to start, my aim is to get it off the ground for students in the years to come. Additionally, I will work with Caroline Zhou to create a professional clothing drive. For more details, read her platform!

Real Town Halls:

Although Senate meetings are open to the entire student body, they are not structured in a format that is conducive to feedback. As a representative body, I firmly believe that students from all corners of campus should have the opportunity to express their opinions. As such, I will introduce bi-termly town halls held in Olin with the Executive Team, snacks (of course), and an open forum where any concerns can be raised. Last year, I implemented weekly office hours in Sayles, which allowed me to hear from students that I do not typically interact with and understand more about their Carleton experience and the areas that need reform. This initiative would be a step to further the connection with all of you, and that’s my top priority as a student representative. 

Termly CSA Community Service:

Last term, CSA raised money for care packages in response to ICE, and the campus response was incredible. I believe that CSA should play a larger role in community service, and I will establish termly projects open to all students, such as expanding the textbook library, supporting Northfield schools, park clean-ups, writing to representatives, and fundraising efforts. I will also continue to organize Skip-a-Swipe initiatives with campus partners.

Increased Senate Efficiency:

While all Senate members work incredibly hard, the existing model makes it challenging to get things done in a timely manner. This coming fall, I will conduct interviews with senators to better understand their roles. From there, I will evaluate restructuring where needed, whether that means combining or streamlining positions and duties. Additionally, Class Representatives will take on more consistent responsibilities like tabling, events, and outreach. During Senate meetings, we break out into working groups to address various issues. I will work to improve the working group structure to make CSA more efficient and responsive.

If you have any questions, please email me at raicht@carleton.edu or come to our tabling hours every day from 11:00am–1:00pm this coming week to ask more questions. I have way more to say on each of these points and would love to talk with you!

Experience:

Barring an OCS break, I’ve been on CSA since Freshman fall. I served as College Council Liaison and student representative on the College Budget Committee for five terms, working directly with administration and advocating for students. I was also on the Governance Committee, where I helped approve new clubs. As Communications Officer, I’ve revamped outreach through a weekly newsletter (with some trial and error), social media, posters, a bulletin board, and weekly tabling. I also conducted a survey with over 400 responses through Spoon Assassins, which allowed us to give a large sample of student feedback to our campus partners. I co-sponsored a resolution calling for the locking of academic buildings due to the threat of ICE (before the administration responded, ICE was seen on campus, and buildings were locked), advocated against the mandatory meal plan, consulted on reforms to the Academic Standing Committee disciplinary process, launched Skip-a-Swipe, sponsored vigils after the ICE shootings, and organized fundraisers supporting local students.

All of these initiatives happened with the support of the Executive Team, advisors, Senators, and students. I think one of my greatest strengths is surrounding myself with people who are capable, resilient, and strong. As President, your feedback will be my mandate. I would love nothing more than to be your President so I can work with you, listen to you, and make our college experience more equitable, convenient, and amazing. Thank you for reading, engaging, and caring.

Talia <3

raicht@carleton.edu

My name is Benedict Le and I’m running to be your next CSA vice president! I’m running because my experiences as a Class of 2028 co-representative and a member of the CSA Budget committee and college-wide Community, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI) committee have informed me of issues that many of our students face when it comes to feeling supported and navigating our college culture and structures. I’m a leader that will sustain the activities of our student organizations, advocate for the demands and needs of my peers, and keep students excited about the work CSA is doing for them. Here’s my platform: 

Improving IDE Culture in CSA: 

In my time as class representative and a member of budget committee, I’ve understood that there is growing demand for CSA to support cultural organizations and the breadth of diverse activities across campus. As these demands grow and the flexibility of CSA’s resources becomes increasingly restrained, I believe that senators and members of the budget committee must be prepared to make decisions that are equitable for all corners of campus. My experience on the CEDI committee has taught me to engage with and solve problems such as this. I suggest that I use my responsibility of meeting with Vice President Zavala (who leads the Division of Inclusion, Equity, and Community) in order to facilitate discussions and programs that prepare our student governance to be more equitable and effective leaders. 

Academic Support for International Students: 

10% of our peers come from around the world, representing 51 countries. These different backgrounds include various schooling systems that influence the ways in which international students adapt to our campus and academics. I’ve seen peers of mine struggle with adapting to our American English education system without reliable sources of support. I firmly believe that if the college is to admit international students, it must be cognizant of the challenges these students may face in succeeding on campus. As the executive committee’s liaison to campus partner offices, I will work with the Division of IEC, International Student Life, the Office of Accessibility Resources, the Academic Support Center, and any other relevant campus entities to communicate and develop solutions that will help international students adapt and succeed at Carleton. 

Mentorship and Chartering Student Organizations: 

CSA charters over 200 student-led organizations. I look forward to supporting the many interests, identities, and hobbies of Carleton students beyond just the chartering of new organizations. In my experience on budget committees, I’ve seen many student organizations struggle from lack of experience or support as leadership changes within their groups. As your vice president, I hope to create a network of student leaders that are able to support one another through the processes of chartering, organizing events, fundraising, etc. I also will take the responsibility of offering my own support to student organizations to keep up with the guidelines of CSA, ensuring that we don’t lose the many opportunities that students need to connect with each other on campus. 

I am also cognizant that the decisions of the Governance Committee I’m leading have an impact on the Budget Committee’s ability to allocate fund. As vice president, I’ll work with the treasurer

in order to identify how we can prioritize the chartering of organizations that does not jeopardize the integrity of the other student activities CSA supports and enriches the opportunities for student involvement we have on campus. 

Senator Accountability and Support: 

Although the executive team helps organize and lead the student senate, it is the liaisons and class representatives who come through in expressing the concerns and needs of students. As a senator, when my colleagues and I have led efforts in CSA senate to organize events for my class and the broader campus community, we have often struggled in the planning and execution of such endeavors. I’m going to create and make sure senators have access to the resources and guidelines they need to successfully organize and execute their goals. Whether that be talking to SAO for support in organizing events or creating instruction manuals senators can access in their work, I’m going to take steps to ensure the CSA achieves what you elect them to do. 

Advocating for Students: 

I was a supporter of last year’s resolution supporting summer food insecurity and other resolutions that CSA has passed to improve student life. But that work isn’t done: as vice president, I’ll help create and improve initiatives that directly and tangibly improve students’ experiences. I’ll work with members of the executive team and the student senate to facilitate discussions with students impacted by our relevant initiatives that inform our meetings with college administrators. I’ll push for your demands and be transparent in communication— regardless of whether our efforts are successful or not. What Carls need is a vice president who helps lead a student government that is, even in the face of failure, continually emboldened to pursue constructive dialogue and action that helps students. 

Connect with me if you have any questions or concerns! I’m running to represent you, so I’m eager to continually evolve how my service works to reflect what the student body needs. I hope I can earn the honor of your vote from April 17-19th!

My name is Lena Stole (she/her), and I am excited to be running for CSA Vice President for the 2026-2027 Academic Year, along with my team, Talia Raich (President) and George Perry (Treasurer). 

My idol is Selina Meyer from Veep. That’s really all you need to know about me being VP. 

If you want someone who is aggressively proactive to fight for what you want, that’s me.

Some of you know me as Lena, and others as Lena – it’s a long story. I’m an Economics and Statistics double major (so practical) and a Public Policy Minor. On campus, I work in the Economics Department and the Quantitative Resource Center (QRC), and previously as a New Student Week leader and at the Office for Accessibility Resources (OAR). I am the Co-Captain of Carleton’s Mock Trial Team and the President of Krush Dance Crew. I know leadership. I will lead with confidence as a member of the CSA Executive Team and be able to assist fellow club leaders in my role as the head of the Governance Committee. 

I am going to keep my CSA ideas realistic. Something that is actually achievable and in the jurisdiction of the role, which I find has been lacking in previous years’ platforms: 

1. Reform the Student Clubs Website. Presence was replaced, but the promised new platform still isn’t fully functional –  club organization leaders have had to split tasks awkwardly between the Student Activities Website and Workday. I’ll fix that. Previously, org leaders could update logos and contact information and maintain records of org leadership and membership. Now, that’s split between the Student Activities Website and Workday. As head of the Governance Committee and working with the SAO and student organizations. I will streamline the process for updating the club website with new details, photos, and contact information, and communicate with clubs about membership rosters and WorkDay. Part of this is communicating with club leaders during club leader training and having a clear landing page with information on where to get and supply club information.

2. Support Leadership Transitions. As a new club leader, transitions after club elections can be challenging. The first point of contact between CSA and club leaders is club leader training, which takes place in early Fall. That means in the Spring, when new club leaders get positions, there is no point of contact for what club leader rules are and what they need to be responsible for. For my clubs, I was put in charge after allocations had happened. I was not given enough information about what our funding was, who completed it, or what we were allowed to do. I want proper guidelines for transitions in power and have both newly elected and outgoing leadership at Spring allocations. I also want to make more resources available for newly elected club leaders as they transition their visions into practice.

3. Continuous Bylaw Review. One of the first things I did when I became President of Krush Dance Crew was to revise the Krush Bylaws to ensure equitable opportunities for all our members. As VP, I am responsible for reviewing the CSA Bylaws and will carry the same vision to ensure accessibility, equity, and relevance. While there has been a recent review of the Bylaws, this process should be continuous, and it would be my responsibility to make sure that it reflects the student body.

Other candidates will promise you unrealistic ideas, but these are attainable and well within the VP’s jurisdiction. I will bring a strong, sensible, and reliable presence to CSA that other candidates cannot. I believe the VP’s role is to bring your ideas to life, not to pitch empty promises. If you have ideas you want to see from CSA, stop by Sayles during lunchtime this coming week to speak with my team and me. We would love to hear from you.

Carleton’s student organizations are where leadership actually happens – where people discover what they’re capable of and build something they’re proud of. As VP, it is my responsibility to ensure every club leader feels supported, informed, and set up to succeed, not left figuring it out alone. That’s the Carleton I’m running for.

Please reach out with any questions or feedback you have: stolel@carleton.edu.

Vote Raich, Stole, Perry for CSA 2026-2027. Experience, Unity, Drive.

My name is George Perry (he/him) and I am excited to be running for CSA Treasurer for the 2026-2027 Academic Year along with my team, Talia Raich (President) and Lena Stole (Vice President). I am running for Treasurer to help student organizations get the funding they deserve and allow our CSA money to go further. If you’ve ever done a budget request, then you’ve seen me on our CSA Budget Committee, and if not, then you’ve likely seen me covered in dirt on our student farm, getting absolutely flattened as the smallest player on the rugby pitch, or frantically trying to plan my sister’s wedding ceremony (I have two months please send ideas!). 

In the classroom, I am an Economics major and Educational Studies minor planning to go into teaching high school after graduation. I have been a committed member of the Budget Committee since my Freshman year and I know the financial guidelines like the back of my hand. I have worked closely with our last two treasurers, Jamie and Zaeda, and I have ideas to make our Committee stronger and more efficient to fund more events and continue to uplift the campus traditions we know and love.

In addition to my campaign, I am supporting Talia Raich for President and Lena Stole for Vice President. Talia and Lena are the most qualified for their positions and, as a unified team, I believe we can facilitate positive change for our student body.

What I’ll Deliver as Treasurer

• Continuing the Fight Against the Mandatory Meal Plan

In April 2024, the Carleton administration instituted a mandatory minimum meal plan for all students beyond the Class of ‘26. This does not help the student body; instead, the only winner from this policy is Bon Appetit and helping them achieve their bottom line. This meal plan will take away the option for any student that wants to live off-campus or in an interest house. The 7-Meal plan is still too expensive, and this policy hurts any student that is considering living off-campus or in an interest house. As Treasurer, I will continue starting conversations with administrators and members of the Board of Trustees. I am confident that through continued efforts we can lower the cost, lower the minimum to a 5-Meal plan, and create exceptions for interest houses with demonstrated “food self-suffiency”

• Giving Cultural Orgs a Seat at the Table

As our current Financial Guidelines work, some cultural orgs are left with an undeserved lack of funding. Defining cultural food is not a task that the Budget Committee is ready or able to take on. I would like to make Zaeda’s idea of reserving a seat on the Budget Committee for a member of the Cultural Programming Board a reality. As Treasurer, I will look to foster a culture of inclusivity and ensure that our cultural food roles serve their intended purpose: building up cultural orgs rather than holding them back.

• Protecting Student Wages

Along with chairing our CSA Budget Committee, the Treasurer sits on the college Budget Committee and can be part of the conversation regarding student wages. There is no excuse to not raise student wages in accordance with tuition increases. If students are in favor of a tier-based wage system (with the base level still being a raise – I will not stand for any student wages being cut!) I will bring that forward to the committee, if the tiered system is not what the student body is in favor of I will ensure that it does not go through. My goal as treasurer, regardless of whether a tiered wage system is wanted by the student body, is to raise the baseline student wage by 50¢. This is a realistic goal and as a member of the College Budget Committee I will fight to make this possible.

• Transitioning Sport Clubs to PEAR

This year, SAO announced that CSA would be unable to take on any more competitive sport clubs due to the financial strain of off-campus trips from clubs such as KARLS, NOVA, and Club Soccer teams. As a member of the Sport Club Executive Council, I have been working with Aaron Chaput on facilitating the transition of these clubs from PEAR to SAO in the next year. In prior attempts to take on new clubs, PEAR has been held up by uncertainty about additional funding. As Treasurer, I can work with both SAO and PEAR to ensure a swift and efficient transition. Completing this transition will free up CSA resources to fund new clubs and support new events.

• Investing in Transportation Solutions

Currently, there are not quick enough and cheap enough methods for students to get to important businesses like Aldi or the Twin Cities. As Treasurer I will listen to what the student body feels are the highest priorities for transportation and move funding towards those directions. I would be very amenable to a significant increase in the amount of funding that we as a school put towards these transportation initiatives, whether it be a significant discount on Northfield Lines tickets or vouchers towards Rideshare initiatives. For too long students have been asking for change regarding transportation with no substantial financial investment from CSA or the College.

• Making Budget Committee More Welcoming

Having been on both sides of the table for budget requests, I understand first-hand that our committee can currently be intimidating and scary for students. I will do everything in my power to promote a more welcoming environment. This may include bringing in snacks, mandating that committee members actively listen and participate, switching to a less intimidating room, and meeting with inexperienced club leaders before the committee to ensure they are fully prepared and not blindsided by the committee. My goal is to ensure that student organizations know that we are working with them to fund events, rather than the committee being an us vs. them environment.

• Clearer, More Accessible Budget Processes

I have heard that a lot of students don’t fully understand how the Budget Committee works and why some events get funded while others don’t. I will host office hours and always have an open email to answer any student questions. Additionally, whenever we are unable to host an event, I will clearly communicate to club leadership why we were unable to and how the request could be amended to make funding possible in the future. CSA and Budget Committee should be a resource for the students and being closed off or unreceptive to feedback makes this impossible to achieve.

• Ensuring Sustainable Changes to the Student Activity Fee

Budget Committee gets our funding directly from student tuition. At our current rate of yearly student activity increases of above 5%, we could be above $500 per student within two years. As Treasurer, I would like to maintain increases in the student activity fee that match inflation rates (2.5-3%). The money for these events is coming straight out of our pockets and more efficient funding is possible. It is our responsibility as a committee to ensure that we are spending your money wisely.

Why I’m Prepared to Serve as Treasurer

• Budget Committee

I have been a committed member of Budget Committee since my Freshman fall. The most important role of the treasurer is to lead the Budget Committee and experience is incredibly important in achieving this goal. With the Committee, I have played a key role in allocating over $1,000,000 in funding for student organizations, ensuring equitable and efficient funding across the board. I have learned closely from the previous treasurer’s, Jamie and Zaeda, and am confident that I can maintain their progress while continuing to create meaningful change.  The last treasurer elected who had not previously served on the committee lasted less than one term – I understand the work that will go into this role and I am eager to achieve my platform initiatives.

• Sport Club Executive Council Representative

Since my Sophomore year I have been the Men’s Club Rugby representative on the Sport Club Executive Council, taking on a greater leadership role in this past year. One of our main responsibilities is to create a budget for all club sport teams for upcoming years. Our careful planning has supported 22 sport-related clubs, facilitating our teams participation in competitions across the country, all while staying fiscally responsible. Additionally, PEAR and the CSA have been in ongoing talks about moving some clubs between the organizations, and as treasurer I would finally be able to make this ongoing dream a reality.

• Class 0f 2027 Representative

After my Freshman year, I served as the 2027 Class Representative. This role provided me with valuable CSA and advocacy experience. Through this role, I had valuable conversations with members of the Board of Trustees and members of Administration. While working with Budgets is the main role of the Treasurer, representing the student body and having these important conversations with administration will be important in advocating for our student body. 

• Farmstock Planning

For the past two years I have made the budget for the Spring Farmstock and helped with organizing this campus-wide event. Living in Farm House I have also been affected by the new mandatory meal-plan and will do anything in my power to craft a more lenient policy that the school will agree too. I hope that through compromise we can create fiscal policies that the student body can all get behind.

• KRLX Business Manager

Last year, I took on the role of KRLX Budget Manager, handling their Spring Allocations request and other financial responsibilities. I understand first-hand what the people on the other side of the table are going through during Budget Committee, and hope to use this experience to make the committee and funding more accessible to all student organizations.

George

perryg2@carleton.edu

If you have any questions, please email me at perryg2@carleton.edu or come to our tabling hours every day from 11:00am–1:00pm this coming week to ask more questions! I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Hello! My name is Jackson Eippert, and I am running to be your CSA communications officer. A little bit about me: I am currently a junior economics major with a minor in philosophy, I am the president of Carleton’s model UN team, and I have served as your ITS liaison on the CSA for the past two years. Over the course of my time on the CSA, I have gotten a good picture of what this organization does, how it functions, and what its main strengths and shortcomings are. If elected as your communications o>icer, I will spend my time and energies on two things: first, ensuring engaging, timely, and relevant communications from the CSA executive body, and second, using my position within the CSA to help bring about broader policy changes that I think would be beneficial to the student body and the functioning of the CSA.

Communications
I would continue the current practice of the CSA newsletter being the main point of contact between the student body and the CSA. I think it currently is quite e>ective at concisely conveying what the CSA is doing in any given week, as well as highlighting interesting clubs and upcoming activities. I would also continue working on the CSA’s Instagram page, as an additional means of disseminating information. Furthermore, a new initiative I would like to pursue is a revamping of the CSA’s website. Right now, the CSA distributes various materials to the student body, but I don’t feel that there is a great “one stop shop” in a single place where a student can get a good sense of what the CSA is working on and why without, for instance, having to parse through minutes documents or synthesize a full term’s worth of newsletters. I believe that one location where the canonical history of activity of the CSA lives would greatly enhance the ability of students to understand what their elected representatives are doing for them. Finally, I want to work towards figuring out how to get more students actively engaged and attending CSA events. Of course, all CSA meetings are open to the student body, but I think more can be done here to encourage students to take part. I think town halls are a good idea, and would like to continue working on them, and I am also interested in exploring the possibility of some sort of CSA social open to all students.

Internal CSA Priorities
I think one of the best ways to boost student engagement with CSA is just to make sure that the CSA is working on issues that students really care about, and which make a real impact on student life. That is why I am devoting some of my platform here to talking about what I want to see happening inside of the CSA. First, I think that much more relative importance, time, and e>ort needs to be spent on spring allocations within the CSA. In any given year, spring allocations tends to be the single most important thing the CSA does, and yet it often only takes up one or two senate meetings, with almost no scrutiny from the senate.
The budget committee’s recommendations are seldom sent back for further deliberation, and it passes in a single vote. I am not advocating discussion for its own sake, and I think part of the reason there is not much deliberation is that budget committee tends to do a good job, but I do think that the CSA needs to build up a culture of greater deliberation on the budget, both within itself and with the student body. How we allocate our ~$1 million budget matters to the people on this campus; it needs to matter to us too.
I would also push for working groups reforms; right now, working groups can often feel somewhat lacking in direction or purpose, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Spending more time figuring out what is important for us to be working on, and what is really achievable, and then communicating that to the student body and soliciting feedback, would lead to a much more effective system.

Conclusion
Serving on the CSA has been one of the great joys of my time at Carleton, and I am very much hoping I will be able to continue working for the student body in a new role as your communications o>icer. I believe that the positions I have outlined will contribute to a continually improving relationship between the CSA and student body. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please do not hesitate to reach out at eippertj@carleton.edu. Thanks for reading!

Hello my people,

With my last and remaining year here at Carleton I plan to complete one major project (in addition to continuing the other things I do on CSA).

That plan is to create and establish a bike share network on campus that is free of use, and can be student run. I used to have a bike on campus and now I don’t (yes, one of you stole it….). I am very encumbered by my lack of a bike and I dream of a world where no one must share in this experience.

Otherwise, I will continue on my mission to make the dining halls somewhat better (seeing as we all are now forced to eat there). Getting nutritional yeast was only the first step in this battle.

Thank you, hopefully you will vote for me!

– Duncan

Hi everyone!! My name is Caroline Zhou (She/her) and I’m a Junior Political Science/International Relations Major at Carleton from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. If you’re thinking this is classic Political Science major behavior, I will concede that I’ve always enjoyed working campaigns, but I would argue I’m actually more involved with the International Relations side of things. I’m running for the Class of 2027 Representative position because I love Carleton and its people, and I hope to be an active designer in a meaningful Senior year. 

While at Carleton, I work at the Language Center, dance at Semaphore Repertory Company, and live in the wonderful Culinary House where I make different desserts. This year I’ve been serving as the Visiting Students Representative at Pembroke College, Oxford, and have really enjoyed getting involved with student government, so I wanted a shot at getting to continue student government responsibilities next year. Having had this unique experience, I’m really looking forward to helping create the best Senior year possible and getting to reintegrate smoothly with the Carleton environment. This next year, I plan to work alongside my peers in CSA and Make Senior Year Count. 

Here is what I plan to accomplish next year: 

1. Senior-Specific Support 

The whole point of being the class representative during our Senior year is to provide support to Senior-specific ailments. This means primarily focusing on three key things: 

First, I plan to focus on supporting students during comps. This would involve offering mental health provisions during this time including mental health events and practice comps presentation events. Moreover, this would include highlighting the various funding initiatives that are available for comps for students to take advantage of. 

Second, I would coordinate with institutional partners for Senior week programming and post-graduate alumni contact. As I’ve previously worked as a Reunion Assistant and Class Host, I’m aware of what it means to retain the Carleton spirit beyond the mere four years we get here. This means I’ve quite literally helped table last year’s Senior dinner and am well-equipped to ensure that next year’s Senior week programming has plenty of student input. 

Third, I want to ensure all Seniors have access to resources involving graduation. This would include working with independent photographers on campus to ensure access to Senior photos and helping advocate for graduation attire funding. Everyone should have the opportunity to cherish their time here, without concerns surrounding affordability. 

2. Expanding Professional Accessibility 

As many of my classmates begin to think about their post-graduate plans, a few initiatives would assist in this tremendously: 

First, I hope to work on providing a Professional Clothing Drive in which students can exchange professional clothing meant for interviews, externships, and internships, based on the Carolina Closet initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill. This is a highlight of my platform, because I truly hope to expand accessibility for my fellow classmates. My sister, ten years my senior, was a part of TRIO while at Carleton and relied on Pell Grant funding to support her education. Part of why I came to Carleton was because of the path she created and I want to ensure that students like her are able to access hidden curriculums such as professional attire and formality scales. 

Second, I want to help ensure that no Senior feels left behind regarding post-graduate plans. This includes comprehensive check-ins for students concerned about the status of their post-graduate plans,

increasing Senior-alumni communication, and expanding awareness to students curious about alternative post-graduate plans, such as teaching abroad, non-profit volunteering, and community organizing. 

3. Advocating for Student’s Voices 

I know, as much as my peers do, that student voices are what make CSA matter. This means making myself available to you through office hours, meetings, and messages. My superpower is that I am extraordinarily responsive to emails, so please don’t be afraid to check out with any questions or concerns whenever they arise. 

Here are some things I’ve done in the past to demonstrate my commitment and ability to get things done: Currently I’m serving as… 

Visiting Students Representative @ Pembroke College Oxford: 

– Represented 35+ Students from a myriad of backgrounds, voting for measures such as free uniforms and reduced breakfast prices 

– Created a comprehensive guide to navigating academics, social life, and cross-cultural exchange as a Visiting Student 

– Hosted termly events for Visiting Students, including a Visiting Student Mixer that reached 60+ students and a Visiting Students Formal Dinner 

– Created an Alumni Group reaching up to 50+ Pembroke College VS Alumni 

Volunteer @ Jake Johnson for Congress (MN-1): 

– Helped write volunteer emails for onboarding 

– Created potential donor list of 400+ candidates 

– Mapped variance ratios across different MN elections 

(I was super excited to help out with this campaign because Minnesota has sincerely become my home these past couple of years and I really believe in working for the candidate, Jake Johnson, who is a math teacher at a Rochester public school.) 

Things I’ve been involved with in the past… 

– Alumni Relations Class Host for 25th Milestone Reunions (2024, 2025) 

– Semaphore Repertory Dance Company, Culinary House, Model United Nations, WOC+ – The Language Center 

– High School Student Body Secretary 

Thank you for taking the time to read my platform, I’m truly excited to earn your votes and I hope that we can work together for a great Senior year!

Theme song: 

Sexyback – Justin Timberlake 

Hey… I’m back… and without further ado… here is my platform! 

It carries a lot from last year, as it has been a privilege to continue to build upon what I’ve learned since the beginning, when I first started in the fall of our freshman year. I hope you all enjoy (as much as one enjoys a candidacy platform): 

I said it then, and I’ll say it now: “My greatest strength as your representative is my commitment to advocacy: creating as many opportunities as possible for the student body to speak and be heard.”

As an obnoxiously proud New Yorker, I have had the fortune of being exposed to a broad range of cultures, perspectives, and ideas, which has only been expanded during my time as the class of 2028 representative. 

A brief recap of what I did freshman year: 

On October 28th, Nicole and I took over Carleton’s official Instagram, and although this is not a Rep unique privilege, it was much easier for us to do so as the 2028 reps. While on Instagram, I posted a brief bio, a photo, and much love for my cat Jazz. Then, throughout the day, I updated the story, walking through everyday life as a first-term Carleton freshman. In no way did it change the world, but it was an opportunity Nicole and I took so that the Carleton community could have a window into OUR life (the Class of 2028) 

Now onto some of the tedium that comes with the position: voting on bills and advocating to the faculty. Here are a few of the policy changes and Q&As that Nicole and I have voted on/ participated in to help the Carleton community: 

● OPT(you can find information on OPT on Carleton’s website!) Support Resolution ● Food Insecurity Resolution (through the Carleton Cupboard, which you can also find on the school website) 

● Q&A with Alison Byerly 

● Q&A with Dean Livingston 

Now… some new additions during this past school year: 

During the fall term, I sat on the CEDI (Community, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee in Benedict’s stead. There, I was able to see more closely some of the interworkings of the campus and gain a firmer grasp on the range of issues, strengths, and decisions that keep Carleton as safe and inclusive as it is now. That time was invaluable and has enriched my view of the campus and reaffirmed my desire to protect the culture we have all helped cultivate. 

Boring things… inbound! 

In the Senate with Benedict, I have overseen and voted for: 

● Our campus lockdown policy in response to ICE 

● Our policies regarding postering on campus and free speech 

● Our Skip-a-Swipe fundraiser to help those in the broader community ● Q&A with Olaf Student Government 

● Q&A with Olaf student body (@Olaf)

As far as what I hope to do when re-elected… believe it or not, a lot of the same. Over the past 2 years, I’ve gotten a pretty good understanding of how often you all want to be bothered, given that we are pretty busy people, so I hope to focus on the essentials. 

● Big 

○ Continuing to vote on resolutions for the greater student body 

○ More advocacy for the class of 2028 during the Q&As 

○ Host student events 

■ Free canes, hot chocolate, free lemonade, free cookies, etc 

● Small 

○ Hosting CSA office hours 

■ in person check-in’s at Sayles 

○ Weekly email check-ins 

■ Just the song recs and general “we miss you ” messages 

To close off, there is this quote that I saw in a TikTok comment section that makes me think about running that I’d like to share with you all (that is, those of you who made it this far into the platform/email.) I don’t know where the quote is stolen from, and therefore who to attribute it to, but what is good writing if not stealing from something a little better? 

“If you knew you were 100 rejections away from achieving a goal, how excited would you be to keep trying?” 

I’m more than excited to keep trying, failing, succeeding, and learning with you all! Thank you for your time! 

Benicio Calderon for Class of 28 Representative or CEDI Liaison!

Hi, class of 2028! I’m Kaya Shin-Sherman (she/they). I’m the CSA’s current liaison to the Education and Curriculum Committee, I’m in a band (Foaly!), I’m a climbing team coach, and I’m doing Synchrony for the first time this term (Ke$hachrony and Magic Mike synchrony). I hope we’ve already met but if not I’m sure we’ll meet soon (I love making new friends)! 

TL;DR: With me as your class rep, weekly emails will update you on upcoming CSA guests/decisions and get your input before meetings; class events will include picnics w/ fruit, post-OCS welcome back; I’ll help reform CSA’s working group structure to be more effective. Vote Kaya for Class Rep! 

To the meat of the matter. In CSA this year, I’ve contributed to real change: I designed the CSA feedback portion of the Spoon Assassins signup form, which guided our working groups these past few months. I’ve also come to understand some of the limitations of CSA’s current structure, which has given me specific ideas on how to best leverage the class rep role for you and has inspired me to reform CSA to make it a more effective body to advocate for students. 

One of the primary points of contact between class reps and the class is the weekly email. Weekly emails from me as your co-rep will achieve two things in a concise and fun way: 1. Summarize the events of the upcoming week’s CSA meeting so you can provide input in advance in a Google Form. I’ll review and say the feedback we receive in our meeting the following week, for example when guest administrators come to hear student concerns or when we are deliberating on a campus-wide resolution. 

2. Summarize the events of the last CSA meeting so you can share comments/concerns for us to follow up on with relevant parties. 

CSA can advocate most effectively for student concerns when we collect concerns in one centralized place. To ensure coordination, I’ll encourage each class rep team to link their weekly emails to the same feedback form so we can understand feedback across student populations (and also filter by class year). Having closer communication with you enables us to fulfill your needs more effectively wherever possible. 

Carleton’s academic rigor makes stress routine; one of the coolest things about the class rep role is that it can be used to counteract that with fun events through: 1. The platform that enables logistical coordination of class-wide events 2. And access to a budget to fund food, supplies (craft supplies, bouncy house), etc at these events 

As a co-class rep, I want to use these resources for what you want. I’ll get your input on whether you would prefer a few big events or more frequent smaller events, and what specific events you want. For inspo, some of my current ideas include: events at the beginning of term to welcome students coming back from OCS, a picnic with FRUIT on the bald spot, CANOE trips exclusively for members of our class, volunteering at the farm, cozy tamales + movie night (tamales = yum, movie = fun). I want your ideas – the world is your oyster.

I’ll also take action on ideas for the whole student community: 

– Request that the library get more copies of the most common textbooks to decrease costs for students 

– Make a termly CSA Skip-A-Swipe fundraiser and invite the student body to vote on which cause to donate to 

I’ll be an active member of the CSA senate, where I’m committed to continuing to improve our structure. I’ll work with the exec team over the summer to: 

– Move CSA meetings to a more accessible location and explore the popularity of funding snacks to incentivize you to join our meetings 

– Reform our working group structure to increase accountability and efficiency, ensuring that we get more done for you 

As your class rep, I will proactively gather your feedback, act on it, and organize fun activities while working to ensure that CSA operates more effectively and efficiently. Vote Kaya for Class Rep!

Coming to Carleton was never a simple decision for my family or me. It wasn’t like an application that I could just submit and forget about. It was months of uncertainty, calculations, conversations with my family, and moments where I genuinely didn’t know if this would be possible at all. As a first-gen international student with no family contribution from Islamabad, Pakistan, and a Starr Scholar, my place here was shaped by systems of admissions and financial aid that often feel distant, complex, and at times inaccessible, not just to international but also to domestic students. My experience is the reason behind why I am running for Class of 2029 Representative and Liaison for the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. Because I know what it feels like to rely on these systems and to not fully understand them at the same time. 

And I know I’m not alone in that because there are still many students out there who are trying to navigate the turmoil of this everlasting storm, one step at a time. In my time at Carleton so far, I’ve seen how often students feel disconnected from the very offices that shape their ability to be here. Whether it’s confusion around financial aid, delays in emergency support, or simply not knowing where to ask questions, there exists a gap between students and these institutions. My goal is to help close that gap. I want to do this by doing more than just relaying information. I want to make sure that student experiences actively shape the conversations happening behind closed doors. 

My priorities are rooted in that: 

I first want to advocate for stronger global accessibility in admissions. International students currently represent a very small fraction of the student body (Less than five percent). Diversity cannot just be a value we claim! It has to be something we actively build. That means pushing for broader outreach, better representation, and a more intentional effort to bring in voices from across the world. 

I also want to work toward creating a more responsive emergency funding pathway. While Carleton already does have a supportive emergency funding system in place through the DOSO, It is also very important to acknowledge that financial emergencies don’t operate on institutional timelines, and students shouldn’t have to navigate multiple layers of bureaucracy to access urgent support. I hope to collaborate with Financial Aid to explore faster, more direct solutions.

I do also want to improve transparency and communication. Admissions and Financial Aid should not feel like distant, abstract systems. I want to foster clearer communication channels so students can better understand their options, their aid, and the decisions that affect them. 

One big thing surrounding my campaign is that I really want to begin a serious conversation around merit based scholarships. While Carleton has historically focused on need based aid, I believe it is worth exploring how merit recognition can also play a role in attracting and supporting a wider range of students. 

Beyond specific initiatives, I see this role as one rooted in listening, questioning, and connecting. I am someone who values having fruitful conversations with everyone, whether that’s sitting down with students to understand their concerns or bringing those concerns forward, even when they are uncomfortable to address. 

I do not claim to have all the answers right now. But I do know how to ask the right questions, and I am willing to keep asking them on behalf of all of you. 

If elected, I will approach this role with the same mindset that brought me here to learn from unique and amazing minds. This includes persistence, curiosity, and a commitment to making systems work better for the people who rely on them.

Hello class of 2029, my name is Amiri Doha, and I’m running to be your class representative. I’m a prospective Biology/Psychology major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I currently work in the dining hall and Arboretum as a student worker. I enjoy spending my free time playing with my band, skateboarding, running, and playing hacky sack in the mini bald spot. If elected as your class representative, here are some of the ideas I have for increasing our class’s impact at Carleton.

Increasing communication between students and executives:
As someone who hasn’t been in a position in CSA before, I, like many others in my class, wonder what they even do and what role they play on campus. Here at Carleton, there exists a lack of communication between the CSA board and the students themselves. Very few Carleton students are aware of the role CSA plays in club funding, class events, and alumni opportunities, all of which are vital contributors to the success of each student who participates in such things. As class rep, I will work tirelessly to break down this barrier between the CSA board and our class by addressing the issues and interests of our class to the board and bringing greater attention to issues that we as students may be facing, by engaging with our class directly through weekly office hours in Sayles, where any class of ‘29 student may come and ask questions about CSA activities and the board directly through me.

Facilitating more interactive and fun class activities:
One of the core responsibilities of class reps is to foster class camaraderie and engagement through campus-wide activities and events. Some of you may be familiar with the class winter Olympic games, which CSA hosted last term. Although a good idea on paper, the turnout at the event was less than ideal. If I were to be elected as your class rep, I would advocate for more engaging and fun activities and increase awareness about the events in general through emails and messages that actually reach the people.

Advocating for change in campus wellbeing:
One of the most hot topic issues I’ve encountered while conversing with the student body is the inconsistent prices of the vending machines. In Watson Hall, a bag of chips is only $1.75, whereas in Cassat and the rec center, it’s $2.25. While seemingly a small difference, this inconsistency proves to be quite the annoyance when you find yourself in a situation where Sayles is closed, and all you can eat is an overpriced bag of chips. As class rep I would get rid of this inconsistency and standardize vending machine prices once and for all.

Sincerley,
-Amiri Doha

Hi! My name is Paige, and I am so excited for the chance to run to be a Class Rep!

About me: 

I am hoping to be a Political Science Major and double minor in Public Policy and Spanish, and I love dipping my toes in a lot of different things, which has helped me meet so many cool people and learn about so many different things! You may see me around campus doing a lot of various 

things, but my main activities include being the Outreach Director for Voices of Equity, interning at City Hall, and various volunteering opportunities! 

Experience: 

I am currently on the governance committee for CSA, which has allowed me to gain a bit of insight into how CSA runs! 

Now, without further ado, here is my (hopefully kind of interesting) platform/plans: 

– Build a stronger relationship between CSA and the Community. 

– Many times when talking to others about CSA, people don’t know what it does and why it’s so important for our Carleton community. 

– Implement a clearer system for Club involvement, specifically volunteering and community engagement 

– Many people haven’t heard of a lot of some of the volunteering opportunities I have been able to participate in, such as Ruth’s House or Laura Baker fondation, in addition to new and uprising clubs such as Voices of Equity, because many times they either are only presented during club fair or get lost in the sea of campus announcements, on top of out student orgs website not being up to date. So many students don’t know about community engagement and clubs that would really suit their passions! 

– Advocate for better communications for first years! 

– While we aren’t first years anymore, some of that stuff was so confusing! Just because we’ll no longer have to go through the struggles of NSW or figuring out the dining hall on our own doesn’t mean we can’t help those who come after us! For example: 

– Who knew you could apply for a different job than the one you got 

assigned before you were on campus through the Carleton student job 

postings page? 

– What if your NSW leaders forgot to tell you about helpful apps like Carls and Useful? 

– Or even that meal equivalency was a thing, and you were just wasting your Shillers instead of getting 2 meal equivalencies per week? 

Thank you for reading!!!

Hi everyone!
My name is Maboron Sherif (she/her). I was born in Guinea, a country in West Africa, and I’ve been living in New Jersey since I was six years old. I’m so excited for the opportunity to run for the Carleton Student Association (CSA) as your Class of 2029 Class Representative!

I bring extensive leadership experience to this role. In high school, I served as a class representative for two years and was also the president of the National Honor Society. Here at Carleton, I currently serve as the First-Year Representative for the Black Student Association (BSA) and am a member of the Governance Committee of CSA. I also tutor at the local elementary school, where students know me as Ms. Maboron, and I’m involved in communities like the Office of Intercultural Life (OIL), Women of Color (WOC), and many others. Through these roles, I’ve built strong connections and learned how to engage meaningfully with the people around me.
If you know me, you know I love talking to people and meeting someone new every day. My friends always ask how I can just walk up and start a conversation, and honestly, it’s because I genuinely enjoy learning from others and building connections, whether it’s a quick five-minute chat or a long conversation.
But just as much as I love talking, I love listening.

The most important role of a Class Representative is to be a bridge connecting our class to CSA and making sure your voices are heard. I want to be someone you feel comfortable coming to with concerns, ideas, or even just thoughts about how we can improve campus life. My goal is to make sure every single person in the Class of 2029 feels seen, heard, and represented.
It’s crazy how fast this year has flown by. It feels like just yesterday we were at New Student Week, and now we’re about to be sophomores. We can’t even use the “we’re just freshmen” excuse anymore (not that I ever used it… of course).
With sophomore year comes more responsibility, more challenging classes, and more pressure. Because of that, I want to help create spaces where we can take a step back, breathe, and take care of our mental health. I don’t just want to represent you, I want to support you through the highs and the stressful moments too.

OVERALL GOALS

● Be a Strong Bridge Between Our Class and CSA
○ I will actively communicate your concerns, ideas, and feedback to the CSA executive board and work toward solutions that benefit both our class and the broader campus.
Even though certain Carleton College policies may be harder to change, I still plan to advocate and work together to fight for those changes at Carleton and turn them into actions.
○ I want to create spaces for you to share anonymous, informal ideas and feedback, allowing you to express yourself freely while ensuring your voice is heard.
● Host Engaging and Inclusive Events
○ I want to create fun, easy-going events where we can relax, connect, and build community, especially during stressful times. Our class is full of amazing people, and I want to help bring us closer together by creating more opportunities to interact and support one another.
○ This includes de-stress events during midterms and finals week, where you can take a break, grab snacks, and relax.
○ I also aim to host casual Class of ’29 events like game nights, speed friending, cultural potlucks, and many other fun activities.
● Prioritize Communication and Transparency
○ Whether it’s through office hours, messages, or casual conversations, I’ll make sure you’re always informed about what’s happening in CSA and what opportunities are available to you.
I understand this role comes with responsibility, and I’m ready to take it on. Together, as the Class of 2029, we can make our sophomore year and the rest of our time at Carleton even better!!
Thank you, and I hope to have your support!

Hello Everyone 🙂

My name is Michelle Sokovikova, and for those who don’t know me, it is lovely to meet you! I am a prospective Political Science major and double minor in Public Policy and French. I am the Vice President of Women of Color+, Secretary and Communications for ASIA (Asian Students In America), Freshmen Representative of QTBIPOC+, and a casual member of a few sports teams on campus. 

All this to say, I have met so many wonderful people on campus, and it has been an absolute pleasure to connect with everyone. I would love the opportunity to take it a step further and announce that I am running for the 2029 Class Representative position!

If elected, I plan to: 

• Build Real Communication Between CSA and the Student Body
  • Make representatives and point people known and accessible 
  • Create consistent ways for students to reach out and receive feedback
  • Talk A LOT 
• Amplify Student Voices (Both Organizations and Individuals)
  • Connect with all organizations regularly to understand their needs
  • Set up organization check-ins 
  • Reduce financial/social barriers to the best of my ability
• Strengthen Social Events and Programming
  • Focus on student-driven event ideas 
  • Collaborate with student organizations about bigger co-hosted events
  • Gather feedback after events to improve future programming
• Improve Campus Experience and Student Life
  • Advocate for small but meaningful changes that impact daily life
  • Work with campus offices to address common student frustrations
  • Focus on making the campus feel more inclusive and connected

And most importantly, I am committed to building a connection with every one of you. I want to be a point of contact that any student can speak to if they have a serious circumstance, a casual complaint, or a super fun event idea!

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope I can count on your vote 🙂

P.S It’s on my bucket list to know everyone in my year, so no matter the election results, please feel free to reach out and connect with me! I’ve included my meeting link and Instagram down below. 

Click me to meet with Michelle in person! 

Type me in for her Instagram: @mishacici

Through my time this past year as the Class of 2029 representative, I’ve worked directly with CSA and campus offices to organize events, improve everyday student experiences, and advocate for our class. I want to continue building on the progress we’ve already made and take it further 

Here are the things I have done and will continue to do: 

Communication 

Clear, consistent, and accessible communication is the foundation of effective representation. My goal is to continue to not only hear your voices, but also respond to them.

● Maintain and expand office hours to be weekly and at more accessible times

● Be available for scheduled meetings for a more personal atmosphere

● Continue and increase use of Google forms and social media for feedback

● Provide consistent updates on what CSA is doing and how it affects you 

Community and Events 

One of the most important parts of this role is creating opportunities for our class to connect!

● Build on successful events and planning new ones 

○ Bonfires, painting, free food 

● Create casual, recurring spaces to just hang out as a class 

○ Hosting weekly study sessions 

● Expand collaborations with student organizations and other class years

○ Winter Olympics 

○ Adopting a park! 

Advocacy and Action 

Over the past year, I’ve worked to address both larger concerns and smaller, everyday issues.

● Represent class concerns in weekly CSA meetings 

● Work with campus offices to improve student life (yes, including the dining hall) ● Continue addressing practical issues (like vending machines) 

● Ensure transparency about what can and cannot be changed and push where change is possible 

Adopt-a-Park Initiative 

My primary long-term initiative is establishing a lasting class tradition through community engagement 

● Adopting Ames Park under “Carleton Class of 2029” 

● 3 clean-up days per year (one in fall term, two in spring term) 

● A class picnic after each clean-up 

● Built in volunteer hours and class bonding 🙂 

Why this role matters to me

Being class representative has shown me that small, consistent efforts can significantly shape our day-to-day experience. I want to continue being someone who listens, follows through, and actively works to make our class more connected and supported. 

Thank you for reading and I hope I have your vote!

Coming to Carleton was never a simple decision for my family or me. It wasn’t like an application that I could just submit and forget about. It was months of uncertainty, calculations, conversations with my family, and moments where I genuinely didn’t know if this would be possible at all. As a first-gen international student with no family contribution from Islamabad, Pakistan, and a Starr Scholar, my place here was shaped by systems of admissions and financial aid that often feel distant, complex, and at times inaccessible, not just to international but also to domestic students. My experience is the reason behind why I am running for Class of 2029 Representative and Liaison for the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee. Because I know what it feels like to rely on these systems and to not fully understand them at the same time. 

And I know I’m not alone in that because there are still many students out there who are trying to navigate the turmoil of this everlasting storm, one step at a time. In my time at Carleton so far, I’ve seen how often students feel disconnected from the very offices that shape their ability to be here. Whether it’s confusion around financial aid, delays in emergency support, or simply not knowing where to ask questions, there exists a gap between students and these institutions. My goal is to help close that gap. I want to do this by doing more than just relaying information. I want to make sure that student experiences actively shape the conversations happening behind closed doors. 

My priorities are rooted in that: 

I first want to advocate for stronger global accessibility in admissions. International students currently represent a very small fraction of the student body (Less than five percent). Diversity cannot just be a value we claim! It has to be something we actively build. That means pushing for broader outreach, better representation, and a more intentional effort to bring in voices from across the world. 

I also want to work toward creating a more responsive emergency funding pathway. While Carleton already does have a supportive emergency funding system in place through the DOSO, It is also very important to acknowledge that financial emergencies don’t operate on institutional timelines, and students shouldn’t have to navigate multiple layers of bureaucracy to access urgent support. I hope to collaborate with Financial Aid to explore faster, more direct solutions.

I do also want to improve transparency and communication. Admissions and Financial Aid should not feel like distant, abstract systems. I want to foster clearer communication channels so students can better understand their options, their aid, and the decisions that affect them. 

One big thing surrounding my campaign is that I really want to begin a serious conversation around merit based scholarships. While Carleton has historically focused on need based aid, I believe it is worth exploring how merit recognition can also play a role in attracting and supporting a wider range of students. 

Beyond specific initiatives, I see this role as one rooted in listening, questioning, and connecting. I am someone who values having fruitful conversations with everyone, whether that’s sitting down with students to understand their concerns or bringing those concerns forward, even when they are uncomfortable to address. 

I do not claim to have all the answers right now. But I do know how to ask the right questions, and I am willing to keep asking them on behalf of all of you. 

If elected, I will approach this role with the same mindset that brought me here to learn from unique and amazing minds. This includes persistence, curiosity, and a commitment to making systems work better for the people who rely on them.

Hi everyone! I’m Lucy Chen, a first-year QuestBridge National College Match scholar and TRIO student. I was born and raised in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, but I recently moved to Shanghai, China.

Because of my background, I don’t exactly fit into the labels of being a “domestic” or
“international” student, which means I’ve experienced the complexities of admissions and financial aid from both sides. As a first-generation student, I’ve spent hours interpreting my own financial aid package, worrying about hidden details that could impact my enrollment. I’m sure I’m not the first student with this Hi everyone! I’m Lucy Chen, a first-year QuestBridge National College Match scholar and TRIO student. I was born and raised in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, but I recently moved to Shanghai, China.

In the upcoming school year, I will be working in admissions as an office assistant and tour guide, and I have already built relationships with admissions staff through QuestBridge. I also currently serve as the QuestBridge ’29 Representative and will be the events coordinator next year. I naturally bring student voices to the table, and I want to do so formally as your AFAC Liaison.

What I Want to Accomplish 

1. More transparency in financial aid packages 

Ensuring that financial aid packages are direct and not misleading is crucial for all Carleton students. Many students are not aware that some scholarships are considered taxable income and have to be filed when you’re completing your taxes. (Although most scholarships are not taxable income, they could be taxable if they count as incidental expenses or if they’re excess funds.) Hence, I will help students understand their financial aid and how it affects their taxes through the following possibilities: 1) hosting financial aid info sessions once a term, 2) offering one-on-one meetings for private concerns, 3) sending emails with infographics explaining financial aid packages, 4) explicitly indicating when scholarships may be taxable on NetPartner, and 5) providing any other support that you would want. 

2. Easier, more accessible admissions and financial aid processes for current and prospective students 

Whether you’re applying to Carleton or are already here, the admissions and financial aid systems should be clear rather than intimidating. I will work with AFAC to make sure both students and their families actually understand their aid letters and that all changes are communicated directly. This prevents potential anxiety and confusion for students and their families when they receive their letters. 

3. Stronger support for diverse students

That includes domestic students, international students, first-generation students, QuestBridge scholars, POSSE scholars, TRIO students, and everyone in between. I’ll work to ensure policies reflect the real needs of our full community. 

4. Advocate for first-generation, low-income students 

As a fellow first-generation, low-income student myself, I am driven to voice and address the needs of other students like me. I will ensure that the changes in the committee accurately reflect what underrepresented students need and are advantageous changes that will not harm their status as students relying on financial aid.

How I’ll Do the Job 

● Report back to CSA and the general student body about non-confidential information

● Send out clear updates whenever AFAC changes admissions or financial aid policies, if I’m permitted to do so 

● Reach out to groups with high stakes in these issues: FGLI students, TRIO students, QuestBridge scholars, FOCUS students, and more 

In our current socio-economic climate, where our financial aid could be threatened, we—especially first-generation, low-income students—need a voice to bring our concerns to officials’ attention, and I hope I can be your voice.

I had the privilege of serving as the CCCE Liaison this year, and I would be honored to continue in this role next year. In the Senate, I advocated not only for the interests of the CCCE Office but for students’ rights to political expression more broadly while ensuring the college continues to support the community that sustains it. Carleton is an integral part of the Northfield community, and the Northfield community is an integral part of Carleton! Recognizing this, many students are eager to get involved with Northfield and Rice County organizations and give back in meaningful ways. 

This year, it was especially powerful to see just how many students got involved in community support efforts in response to increased ICE activity — delivering groceries, helping with school drop-offs, and attending anti-ICE demonstrations to protect our most vulnerable community members. That kind of engagement reflects the best of what student leadership can be! Carleton should continue to support these efforts with adequate resources, and it should respect students’ rights to organize rather than restricting them through overly strict postering/chalking rules or policing what students do off campus. 

I am motivated by a fundamental belief that college students (and young people in general) are among the most consequential community organizers and activists, often setting the pace of progress for the rest of the country. They are informed, energized, and comparatively unconstrained by many of the responsibilities that limit others’ ability to act. As such, Carleton should continue to foster an active and robust civil society where students can freely express their political beliefs, mobilize collectively, and learn about the world together while actively shaping it. I hope to continue building that kind of environment for student engagement on the CSA Senate!

My experience working in the Chapel and on Budget Committee make me well equipped to serve as the Chaplain’s Office Liaison next year. I have worked as a Chaplain’s Associate for two and a half years, making me very familiar with the role the office plays in supporting and advocating for all Carleton students. In recent years, we have seen close collaborations between CSA and the Chapel, a tie that I will maintain as both groups continue to identify needs in our community at Carleton and in Northfield. Next year, I will continue working in the Chapel, allowing me to stay in close communication with the office and CSA. Since last year, I have also served on Budget Committee, getting the opportunity to more deeply understand the relationship between CSA and student groups. Having seen the background processes and dynamics that directly impact student life, I am confident that I will be able to navigate and advocate for the needs and priorities of students and student groups on campus.

I’m Dash, a junior Economics major from Seattle. I’m on the Track & Field team, a sports photographer for Carleton Athletics, and involved in the Consulting Club (President), Finance Association, and Responsible Investing Committee. 

I’m running for PEAR CSA Liaison because I care deeply about Carleton Athletics and building a stronger community across campus. In this role, I’d promote engaging athletic social media, support spirit events that bring athletes and non-athletes together, and encourage more collaboration between teams and student orgs. 

I want to represent student-athletes while helping better connect athletics with the broader Carleton community. Thanks you. 

Hi Carls~ 

My name is Olivia and I am reaching out to ask for your vote as I run for my third year representing you on the College Council. 

The College Council is an administrative body made up of Carleton administrators, staff, faculty, alumni, and trustees. My role is to act as a student representative on the council, which includes: 1. Problem solving. If I see a problem on campus or a friend has approached me with an issue, I communicate this issue to the council to explore solutions. 

2. Representing student interest. I raise questions about policies or decisions that may negatively affect students and advocate for outcomes that support the campus community. 

3. Answering questions. When Council members seek to understand how a decision might impact students, it’s my job to provide insight. 

My other roles as liaison include: 

1. Budget Committee. In addition to sitting in at college council meetings, it’s my responsibility to represent you at the college’s Budget Committee meetings. 

2. Dining improvements. In my time on the CSA, I have worked with other student senators on the Dining Hall Improvements Subcommittee, which addresses your most pressing concerns about the college’s dining options. 

As liaison, I have advocated for the needs of the student body and achieved a series of goals that I hope to expand upon next year. 

Importantly, I worked with the administration to extend the Sayles meal equivalency period in the afternoon so you don’t starve after your 5a. In addition, the Dining Hall Improvements Subcommittee has:

1. Introduced iced coffee into the dining halls 

2. Ensured that chocolate chip cookies are available nearly every day 

3. Introduced plain pasta at Burton 

4. Successfully advocated for a spice bar at Burton 

5. Removed the sauce from Burton tofu strips! 

In the future, I commit to a series of goals that address other salient issues across campus. 1. Fixing Carleton’s laundry mishaps. Why are there two functioning dryers for seven floors of Watson residents? Why are Evans dryers a fire hazard? Improving laundry equipment and efficiency is an achievable goal I plan to prioritize. 

2. Accessibility on campus. Students face a myriad of accessibility challenges, including unreliable elevators, frozen automatic door buttons in the winter, and ramps that are often the last to be shoveled. Advocating for better accessibility is essential to improving daily life for many students. 

3. Improved visibility on the budget-making process. What is the endowment? Why can’t we just take more money out of it? How is the comprehensive tuition fee formulated? Lots of students have questions about where their tuition money goes, and as a liaison, I hope to address these concerns through bridging the gap between students and the administrators who make decisions.

In addition to fulfilling my responsibilities as College Council Liaison, I hope to achieve a series of recommendations as a member of the CSA. 

1. Is this gluten free? Who knows! As a senator, I aim to bring awareness to the importance of food labeling at the dining hall for students with health-related or religious restrictions. 2. The Sayles meal equivalency. I hope to expand the options offered in the meal equivalency beyond the daily pantry option and clarify how the meal equivalency works through understandable language. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the decision-making process at Carleton and seeing tangible positive changes occur across campus. I appreciate your consideration and time and I hope to continue to represent you as College Council Liaison in the fall.

My name is Grant Witter, I’m a freshman prospective political science major from Plymouth, Minnesota and am running to represent the student body as one of your two College Council Liaisons. 

As the CSA Secretary, I was able to gain firsthand experience and knowledge of senate processes and administrative procedures. With a role on the executive board, I quickly learned the ins and outs of cooperating with students and faculty. As a College Council Liaison, such skills and connections are necessary for actual progress to be made. If elected, I will act as a megaphone for the student body and help bring student opinion to the forefront of the college administration’s agenda. 

As your representative I will be open to all suggestions and ideas for policies and reforms. With CSA as my main obligation, I will always be open to hearing from students. Some things I plan on emphasizing include: 

1) Improving the overall quality of the student dining experience, including advocating for students’ freedom to choose from a variety of dining options (including an attempt to bring back the off-board option) 

2) Increasing the amount of student recreation opportunities within dorm spaces, as well as inside communal areas like Sayles (think ping-pong tables, foosball, etc.) 3) Ensure accountability from administration and maintain an open line of communication between students and college leadership; no one, especially students, should be left in the dark on important decisions that affect their day-to-day lives 

As your College Council Liaison, I will bring not only experience, but also a desire to put students first. As a fellow student on the council, I will have just as much skin in the game as everyone else. I enjoy speaking with others and will always be open to recommendations and feedback. Thank you for your consideration.

Theme song: 

Sexyback – Justin Timberlake 

Hey… I’m back… and without further ado… here is my platform! 

It carries a lot from last year, as it has been a privilege to continue to build upon what I’ve learned since the beginning, when I first started in the fall of our freshman year. I hope you all enjoy (as much as one enjoys a candidacy platform): 

I said it then, and I’ll say it now: “My greatest strength as your representative is my commitment to advocacy: creating as many opportunities as possible for the student body to speak and be heard.”

As an obnoxiously proud New Yorker, I have had the fortune of being exposed to a broad range of cultures, perspectives, and ideas, which has only been expanded during my time as the class of 2028 representative. 

A brief recap of what I did freshman year: 

On October 28th, Nicole and I took over Carleton’s official Instagram, and although this is not a Rep unique privilege, it was much easier for us to do so as the 2028 reps. While on Instagram, I posted a brief bio, a photo, and much love for my cat Jazz. Then, throughout the day, I updated the story, walking through everyday life as a first-term Carleton freshman. In no way did it change the world, but it was an opportunity Nicole and I took so that the Carleton community could have a window into OUR life (the Class of 2028) 

Now onto some of the tedium that comes with the position: voting on bills and advocating to the faculty. Here are a few of the policy changes and Q&As that Nicole and I have voted on/ participated in to help the Carleton community: 

● OPT(you can find information on OPT on Carleton’s website!) Support Resolution ● Food Insecurity Resolution (through the Carleton Cupboard, which you can also find on the school website) 

● Q&A with Alison Byerly 

● Q&A with Dean Livingston 

Now… some new additions during this past school year: 

During the fall term, I sat on the CEDI (Community, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee in Benedict’s stead. There, I was able to see more closely some of the interworkings of the campus and gain a firmer grasp on the range of issues, strengths, and decisions that keep Carleton as safe and inclusive as it is now. That time was invaluable and has enriched my view of the campus and reaffirmed my desire to protect the culture we have all helped cultivate. 

Boring things… inbound! 

In the Senate with Benedict, I have overseen and voted for: 

● Our campus lockdown policy in response to ICE 

● Our policies regarding postering on campus and free speech 

● Our Skip-a-Swipe fundraiser to help those in the broader community ● Q&A with Olaf Student Government 

● Q&A with Olaf student body (@Olaf)

As far as what I hope to do when re-elected… believe it or not, a lot of the same. Over the past 2 years, I’ve gotten a pretty good understanding of how often you all want to be bothered, given that we are pretty busy people, so I hope to focus on the essentials. 

● Big 

○ Continuing to vote on resolutions for the greater student body 

○ More advocacy for the class of 2028 during the Q&As 

○ Host student events 

■ Free canes, hot chocolate, free lemonade, free cookies, etc 

● Small 

○ Hosting CSA office hours 

■ in person check-in’s at Sayles 

○ Weekly email check-ins 

■ Just the song recs and general “we miss you ” messages 

To close off, there is this quote that I saw in a TikTok comment section that makes me think about running that I’d like to share with you all (that is, those of you who made it this far into the platform/email.) I don’t know where the quote is stolen from, and therefore who to attribute it to, but what is good writing if not stealing from something a little better? 

“If you knew you were 100 rejections away from achieving a goal, how excited would you be to keep trying?” 

I’m more than excited to keep trying, failing, succeeding, and learning with you all! Thank you for your time! 

Benicio Calderon for Class of 28 Representative or CEDI Liaison!

Hello Everyone 🙂

My name is Michelle Sokovikova, and for those who don’t know me, it is lovely to meet you! I am a prospective Political Science major and double minor in Public Policy and French. I am the Vice President of Women of Color+, Secretary and Communications for ASIA (Asian Students In America), Freshmen Representative of QTBIPOC+, and a casual member of a few sports teams on campus. 

All this to say, I have met so many wonderful people on campus, and it has been an absolute pleasure to connect with everyone. I would love the opportunity to take it a step further and announce that I am running for the 2029 Class Representative position!

If elected, I plan to: 

• Build Real Communication Between CSA and the Student Body
  • Make representatives and point people known and accessible 
  • Create consistent ways for students to reach out and receive feedback
  • Talk A LOT 
• Amplify Student Voices (Both Organizations and Individuals)
  • Connect with all organizations regularly to understand their needs
  • Set up organization check-ins 
  • Reduce financial/social barriers to the best of my ability
• Strengthen Social Events and Programming
  • Focus on student-driven event ideas 
  • Collaborate with student organizations about bigger co-hosted events
  • Gather feedback after events to improve future programming
• Improve Campus Experience and Student Life
  • Advocate for small but meaningful changes that impact daily life
  • Work with campus offices to address common student frustrations
  • Focus on making the campus feel more inclusive and connected

And most importantly, I am committed to building a connection with every one of you. I want to be a point of contact that any student can speak to if they have a serious circumstance, a casual complaint, or a super fun event idea!

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope I can count on your vote 🙂

P.S It’s on my bucket list to know everyone in my year, so no matter the election results, please feel free to reach out and connect with me! I’ve included my meeting link and Instagram down below. 

Click me to meet with Michelle in person! 

Type me in for her Instagram: @mishacici

Hi everyone! I am Abhimanyu and I am running for the position of Dining Hall Liaison once again! Some of you may remember me running last year, but if not, I work with the Dining Services Committee and also run the Dining Hall Improvement working group for the CSA. In this capacity, here are some of the things that my working group and I  have done for you in the past year:

Firstly, Iced Coffee! If you have seen or enjoyed iced coffee from the dispensers in either dining hall, that is something I got for you. For the sustainability enjoyers in the house, the iced coffee also significantly decreased the amount of hot coffee wasted per day!

For those on the 20 meal plan, your meal equivalencies only worked until 3:00pm for lunch, which meant anybody on a 3a, 4a, 5a schedule still missed lunch! My working group worked to extend it so that people can now use their meal swipes at Sayles until 4:00pm for lunch, and still 5:00pm onwards for dinner!

If you love to spice up your food, the new spice rack in Burton was also my doing! After we saw that people enjoyed the one in LDC, we knew we had to make one happen in Burton.

There are more things I could speak about, like nutritional yeast, increasing the frequency of chocolate chip cookies, and so much more that I have worked on. There are things I am still working on, like moving yogurt away from egg salad, so that nobody has eggy yogurt, and getting FROZEN BERRIES(!!) into the dining halls. All of this to say, I have the experience and the results, and I promise to continue working to make your dining experience better every day!

Hello! 

I’m David Gimelfarb, a current Junior majoring in Cognitive Science from Deerfield, Illinois. I’m running to be the Education and Curriculum Committee Liaison for next year. I want to help ensure that Carleton students get both the best education that they can and also ensure open lines of communication between the Education and Curriculum Committee and Carleton students. As Liaison, my main focus would be on establishing a direct line between students of Carleton and the ECC. I want to do my best to be a voice for people’s concerns about aspects of Carleton’s education, such as graduation requirements or textbooks. I would host frequent office hours to establish a space for students to voice concerns, and represent them within the ECC and CSA. Thank you for your consideration. 

Best, 

David

I’m Seraphina Shutt (she/her), a first-year from North Carolina. I am thrilled to be running to be your next Education and Curriculum Committee (ECC) Liaison. You may recognize me from working at Burton (shoutout to my lovely coworkers!), a TRIO or QuestBridge event, playing frisbee with NOVA, volunteering with Food Recovery Network and Reading Partners, or from any random event on campus that involves free food. While most of my passions at Carleton revolve around building campus community, it is impossible to have a thriving community when academics are handled in ways that hinder students. As ECC Liaison, I have three goals: 

1. Inform Students About the ECC 

It can be difficult to navigate the red tape and bureaucracy of higher education, leading most students to feel they have no say in course requirements, academics regarding OCS, and the curriculum you are paying to learn. This isn’t true! The goal of the ECC is to be a voice for students and faculty when it comes to academic matters and my job as liaison is to be your voice! 

2. Be A Voice For Students 

After making sure all students know about the goals of the ECC, I will work to ensure that student concerns are addressed. Whether this involves campus announcements, Google Forms and QR codes, or posters (or all of the above), I am ready to ensure students know I am a resource. Your grievances don’t just have to be discussed among your friends or with your professors; they can be discussed in meetings that have the opportunity to make real change. 

3. Bridge The Gap Between Professors and Students 

Carleton is known for its amazing professors! Despite my love of attending office hours, I know that communicating with professors can be intimidating. My goal as ECC liaison is to be a bridge between the academic needs and wants of you all and the people responsible for our learning. A major portion of academic decisions are made at faculty meetings, and without solid communication between students and faculty, students’ voices won’t be heard. 

If these ideas sound like something you want to see happen at Carleton, I would be honored to have your vote for Education and Curriculum Committee Liaison!

Hello Everyone!!
My name is Janabou Diallo and I am a first-year running to be your Gender and Sexuality Center Liaison. I am a prospective Political Science and International Relations/Africana Studies major with a love for all things people; this is often reflected in my interest. My favorite book genre is biographies, I can talk your ear off about the menstrual cycle, and there’s a special place in my heart for James Baldwin. I love the way he challenges his readers to reach past their own experiences to understand intersectional perspectives. As GSC Liaison, I will be a part of incorporating more LGBTGIA+ voices in our CSA rulings.

Bridging the Gap Between GSC and CSA
Most importantly, I will serve as a connection between the GSC and CSA. I want to ensure that every student feels seen as we all collectively work towards the change needed at Carleton.

Amplifying LGBTQIA+ Student Perspectives
I will heavily engage in GSC programming to sustain a good understanding of the queer community at Carleton. I value conversation and believe that the best representatives are the ones who seek to know others. I am curious and desire to know my community, this way, I can better cater to the needs of the student-body.

Advocating Outside of the ‘Bubble”
As a former GSC Intern my role consisted of writing articles on historical figures, organizing libraries on queer topics, and hosting tea times that centered on comfortability. This is important. However, it is also equally as important to recognize that the world is not similar to the Carleton bubble that we live in.
States are passing ‘bathroom bans’ and in some countries it is still punishable by death to be gay. These are places where Carleton students are originating from. I believe it is of no comfort to a person to be placed in a ‘utopian’ LGBTQ+ society, then return to a ‘dystopian’ version of it. As a representative, I will advocate for programming outside of the bubble. For example, incorporating politics and real world issues in our initiatives. This can go a long way in building a more realistic GSC and strengthen intersectional programming.

Supporting Inclusivity, Visibility, and Education
As someone who needed identity centers, like the GSC to come out of their shell. I believe strongly in the importance of initiatives like tea times, Gaypril, Queer Mental Health Collective, etc. In addition, educational programming should include both past and present moments of significance. I will be a part of directing the CSA to continue supporting initiatives supporting inclusivity, visibility, and education.

As a current Communications and Belongings Intern, I spend about 10 hours a week in the Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) and have a very clear understanding of how it runs. The projects that I have worked on this year include: helping put together the QT Boutique (a closet that provides free gender-affirming clothing), putting up posters about our events, and overall keeping the center stocked and organized for student use. Through this work, both with my small team and alone, I have worked to make the GSC a more welcoming and inclusive space. 

Activism 

In current legislation, LGBTQ+ rights are under threat, specifically the healthcare access for transgender folk and trans youth. I will work with the GSC to: 

– Provide information about candidates who support LGBTQ+ healthcare for the upcoming midterm election 

– Hold fundraisers to donate to the Trevor Project, the largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, True Colors United, which works to end LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest civil rights organization working for LGBTQ+ equality. 

Commitment 

If elected, I will commit wholeheartedly to helping LGBTQ+ students have a voice in Carleton’s student government. As a member of this community on campus, I aim to represent all LGBTQ+ students so that everyone can feel more comfortable, safe, and supported at Carleton. 

– I want to be as connected with LGBTQ+ students on campus as possible. It would be my job to amplify your voice, so I need to hear your thoughts and opinions. 

– Connect with Peer Leaders and club members in many clubs and organizations throughout campus to better represent the LGBTQ+ student body. I am especially focused on advocating for LGBTQ+ students who are part of other marginalized communities, and maintaining connections with those communities in order to work towards a more inclusive and safe community. 

Transparency 

I think it’s super important for the student body to be very connected to CSA. If elected, I will be as open as possible about current issues, especially concerning the LGBTQ+ community on campus. I will do this by: 

– Holding office hours at least once a week, open for anyone to come in and chat about their concerns or ask questions! 

– Send out emails noting any accomplishments and asking for student input.

If elected as ITS Liaison, I will work to make Information Technology Services more visible, accessible, and student centred by strengthening communication, increasing awareness, and ensuring student voices are clearly represented. A key priority of mine is increasing inclusion and transparency within ITS by helping students better understand what the department does and how it supports them. Many students only interact with IT in moments of urgency, and I want to shift that by promoting a clearer understanding of ITS services, encouraging students to ask questions in everyday contexts, and fostering a more approachable and welcoming presence at the IT desk.

I am also committed to strengthening student advocacy by actively collecting feedback, concerns, and questions from students and bringing them directly to ITS supervisors and professional staff. By improving this feedback loop, I want to support meaningful changes in procedures, communication, and accessibility so that services better reflect student needs. I bring a strong foundation of experience within ITS that positions me well for this role. Through my work at the IT Help Desk, I have developed a clear understanding of the most common student needs, the challenges they face when seeking support, and the ways in which current systems can be improved. My role as a Support Assistant Supervisor (SAS Tech) has further allowed me to act as a bridge between our student workers and professional staff, thus giving me insight into both perspectives and strengthening my ability to communicate effectively across different levels of the department.

Finally, I aim to improve communication across departments to create a more connected and consistent experience for students. By facilitating better coordination between ITS and other areas of campus, I will help ensure that information about resources and services is accurate, clear, and easy to access. Overall, my goal is to create a more widely accessible, transparent, and student focused ITS experience that empowers every student to confidently engage with the technological resources available to them.

Hello everyone!
My name is Zoe, and I’m a junior double majoring in Religion and Psychology. I’m running to be the 2026–2027 Intercampus Liaison because I believe Carleton and St. Olaf can feel more connected than they currently do. Community is such an integral part of the college experience, and there’s no reason it should stop at the edge of campus.

Before getting into my platform, here’s a bit about me! I’m originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington, and before arriving at Carleton this past fall, I spent two years at Scripps College in California. My time here has already been incredibly meaningful, and it’s made me deeply invested in strengthening the communities that shape our experience.

One of the biggest barriers to intercampus connection is actually quite simple: access to information. There are countless events, classes, and opportunities happening across Carleton and St. Olaf, but much of it feels out of reach. (If St. Olaf has an event but no Carls hear about it, did it really even happen?)
Because of this, my goals center on making information more visible, accessible, and shared:

I want to develop a collaborative events system—whether that’s an intercampus newsletter, a centralized calendar, or both—that highlights club meetings, performances, academic talks, and other opportunities across both campuses. While Carleton has a strong internal communication system, reaching students at St. Olaf (and vice versa) can be much more difficult. I’d like to explore ways to create a shared—or parallel—communication structure so that both student bodies stay equally informed.

I’d also like to improve how we share academic opportunities. Even though Carleton and St. Olaf operate on different schedules, there are still many classes that students could benefit from. Through clearer communication and more transparent course information, we can make cross-registration more accessible and easier to navigate.

Beyond student life, I hope to support stronger connections between departments and faculty at both schools. There is so much untapped potential for collaboration—whether through joint events, shared programming, or expanded academic partnerships.

If you have any questions, you can find me on fourth Libe, taking long walks in the Arb, or live on KRLX at 3:30 on Saturday mornings for my show Apple Core (I must have done something truly upsetting to the director of schedules for that one).
Thank you!
Zoe

I have been the Office of Health Promotion (OHP) liaison for the past three years and have worked in OHP as a Student Wellness Advocate (SWA) for the past two. My job with OHP allows me to be closely connected with the office’s goals and missions and stay up to date on our programs and initiatives. This connection has allowed me to effectively advocate for OHP in CSA meetings and maintain a strong relationship between OHP and CSA. Additionally my three years of experience in this position have given me a strong understanding of the processes of CSA and how to advocate for and access funding for new and continued OHP related projects and programs. This expertise will help me continue to gain support for health and wellness related programs on campus. In the past years I have worked to facilitate CSA funding for campus-wide menstrual supply access through OHP, increased awareness of and engagement in important OHP programs such as Green Dot training, and collaborated on initiatives for expanded food options in the dining halls.

I hope to continue to use my role as OHP liaison to advocate for the health and wellbeing of the campus population and promote OHP’s initiatives and programming through CSA. I aim to respond to the needs of the campus community and facilitate dialogue between the student body, OHP and CSA through which these needs can be addressed and our campus can continue to grow and flourish.

Hi everyone! 

My name is Maboron Sherif (she/her), and I’m excited for the opportunity to run for the Office of Intercultural Life (OIL) Liaison position. 

I was born in Guinea and raised in New Jersey, and my experiences navigating different communities have shaped how I understand identity, belonging, and the importance of having spaces where you feel seen. That’s exactly why OIL matters so much to me. 

On campus, I currently serve as one of the First-Year Representatives for Black Student Association (BSA) and am involved in communities like OIL and Women of Color (WOC), along with serving on the Governance Committee. Through these spaces, I’ve built strong relationships and gained firsthand experience listening to and advocating for student needs. 

I’m running for OIL Liaison because I want to strengthen the connection between students, OIL, and CSA, and make sure your voices are not only heard but acted on. One of the most important parts of this role is making sure student voices reach the OIL Director and that information from OIL reaches students clearly. This role comes with actions that I hope to implement, such as.. 

● I will hold consistent office hours where anyone can come talk to me 

● Send out quick check-ins and anonymous feedback forms 

● Make sure I’m regularly updating you on what’s happening in OIL and CSA 

As OIL Liaison, I plan to center student voices in OIL spaces, especially by creating opportunities for students to share honest feedback about their experiences. OIL is more than a resource, it is a community that supports and collaborates with cultural organizations and identity-based spaces, and I want to actively contribute to strengthening that work. I also hope to help organize low-pressure, community-building events and create more opportunities for students to connect across different identities and lived experiences. 

Being a liaison means more than listening, it means pushing for change, bringing attention to challenges students face, and advocating. I plan to work with CSA and to turn student concerns into real action and conversations. 

Thank you, and I hope to have your support!

My name is Cara and I’m running to be your International Student Life Liaison for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Since coming to Carleton from Hong Kong three years ago, I have been passionate about bridging connections between our home countries and here. Part of that is working as an ISL assistant, programming events and helping out at the office. Our ISL Director Liz Cody and our incumbent Narjis Nusaibah have entrusted me with this role, and I am dedicated to representing our voices in CSA next year. Thank you!

I’m excited to run for the position of CSA/Residential Life Liaison. As someone who has been deeply involved in residential life at Carleton, I’ve seen firsthand how much our living spaces shape our day-to-day experiences whether that’s building community, navigating challenges, or simply feeling at home on campus. 

Through my experiences working with diverse groups of students and being actively involved in campus life, I’ve developed a strong understanding of both what’s working well in ResLife and where there’s room for improvement. I want to use this perspective to make sure student voices are not just heard, but genuinely represented in conversations with the Office of Residential Life. 

If elected, my priority will be to strengthen communication between students and ResLife. Too often, concerns about housing, facilities, or community dynamics don’t make it to the right place, or don’t get the follow-up they deserve. I want to create more transparent and accessible channels so students feel comfortable sharing feedback, and confident that it will lead to real outcomes. 

I also care deeply about building inclusive and supportive residential communities. As an international student, I understand how important it is to feel a sense of belonging in your living environment. I want to advocate for programming, policies, and practices that make every student regardless of background feel welcomed and supported in campus housing. 

Ultimately, this role is about trust: making sure students know they have someone who will listen, advocate, and follow through. I’m committed to being that bridge between students and ResLife, bringing both concerns and ideas to the table, and working toward meaningful improvements in our residential experience.

I am delighted to declare my candidacy for the CSA/ResLife Liaison position. Having worked as an RA this past year, I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know the ResLife Staff members, as well as their mission on campus. I’ve enjoyed all the moments I’ve had in this role, and gotten to know the Carleton community through a new perspective. I am looking forward to continuing my relationship with the Carleton community as I continue being an RA, and would love the chance to take on the additional responsibility of CSA. 

I am running for this position because I think it would be a great opportunity to create more connection between the student community and Residential Life. When I am approached as an RA by students feeling a disconnect between themselves and Residential Life, being on CSA would allow me to work on their grievances with a variety of tools, and in a broader manner that would benefit other RAs too. I also hope to assist the ResLife department in their push for more inclusive campus housing and land acknowledgement. Additionally, I think I would serve as a valuable liaison between the student body and the staff, especially in regards to building community. 

If elected, I would be floored at this won-dorm-ful opportunity. I would Musser up the courage to voice your grievances, and make sure ResLife gives you what’s Good(hue) for you… Okay sorry I’m done now. Jokes aside, I believe I would be a great representative of student voices in residential spaces!

Hi! My name is Paige, and I am so excited for the chance to run to be your TRIO Liason!
About me:
I am hoping to be a Political Science Major and double minor in Public Policy and Spanish, and I love dipping my toes in a lot of different things, which has helped me meet so many cool people and learn about so many different things! You may see me around campus doing a lot of various
things, but my main activities include being the Outreach Director for Voices of Equity, interning at City Hall, and various volunteering opportunities!
Experience:
I am currently on the governance committee for CSA, which has allowed me to gain a bit of insight into how CSA runs!
Regarding TRIO, it has truly been so helpful for my growth and comfort at Carleton, and I know it has been a wonderful “home away from home” for many other TRIO students. As TRIO Liaison, I hope to further bring this experience to non-TRIO students as well, so they can benefit from TRIO’s great resources even more. I will work with both TRIO and CSA to effectively communicate how to make the TRIO experience even better for staff, TRIO students, and the Carleton community in general.
Thank you!

I’m going to keep this short and to the point: F*** ICE. As security liaison I would represent those of us in the student body who are staunchly anti-ICE. I support our friends and neighbors who are at risk due to tyrannical choices on the part of the federal government, and I commit to working with security services to further protect our community against one of the largest threats to the Carleton community right now. Specifically, I would like to focus on no voluntary cooperation with ICE, strong protection of student privacy and dorm spaces, transparent communication if ICE is reported nearby, and accessible know-your-rights resources so no one is left guessing in a crisis – reinforcing and maintaining the good work that has already been done by honorable members of our community. No ICE, No fear – Vote Charlotte Kingman!

My name is Edward Marotta, Class of 2027, and I am running for Security Services Liaison in the upcoming CSA election. My journey with Security started last summer when I worked the night shift during Reunion weekend, transporting alumni and student workers. After my time there, Sara Jenkins, a security staff member, invited me to apply to work in the office year-round. I jumped at this opportunity and now work with security to better help the campus community. During my time, I have formed working relationships with members of the security staff, including Blake Held, head of security, and Elliott Courchaine, night-shift sergeant. If I get elected to this position, I hope to better facilitate common understanding between security and students by increasing transparency with student expectations and new security measures. Another goal is to increase the visibility and effectiveness of the lost-and-found program to help more of you find your items. 

This message was approved by Blake Held, head of security. 

Endorsements: 

Duncan MacArthur ’27 – current Class of 2027 Representative and 2027 Representative candidate. 

Olivia Gottlieb ’28 – current College Council Liaison and College Council Liaison candidate.