Two College Council/CSA Liaisons

Jonathan Hillis

I know what you’re thinking: CSA Senate doesn’t do anything. They just want to pad their resumes and feel important. You’re right. And wrong.

On one hand, a lot of what CSA does probably doesn’t have a very dramatic effect on college policy. I don’t want to mischaracterize our college administration—most of them truly do care about student’s opinions and input. However, the college governing institutions are set up in a way that under-represents student interests.

The most important work that Senate does is represent student interests on College Committees, like AFAC, ECC, and EAC. That’s why I am currently in the process of working with CSA President Isaac Hodes to find more places for students on college committees, so that our voice can be more clearly heard in places that have important policy ramifications. This process is a long-term project, and one I fully intend to continue working on next year.

But here’s why you’re wrong in saying that Senate doesn’t do anything: we dole out $510,600 of your money every year. The ACT Center, the Cave, all club sports, Spring Concert, Rotblatt, KRLX, SUMO, every student organization, and most events students participate in (speakers, festivals, conferences, tournaments, etc.) all answer to the CSA Senate. And that’s why CSA Senate needs the right kind of people: CSA Senate needs people who are responsible and reasonable about funding requests. We have had a chronic problem lately of running out of money, creating a terrible first-come-first-served method of doling out cash. We end up giving money to organizations doing things early in the term, instead of giving money to organizations doing the most good for the most students. I want to transition our practices more toward efficient spending by finding events that can do the most good for the greatest number of students, instead of just hiking up the student activity fees every year and then burning through our money by third week of every term.

CSA Senate needs people who are knowledgeable about the processes of Senate and the College. I have been actively involved in governing processes for both Senate and the College for the entirety of my time as a student here. I am currently a CSA Senator and a member of the College’s Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, the College Council Budget Committee, and the CSA Governance Committee. I have previously served as the Secretary of CSA Senate and the CSA Budget Committee. I also have direct, active leadership and decision-making experience that I have gained through my role as the National Chief of the Order of the Arrow, the highest youth position in the Boy Scouts of America.

CSA Senate needs people who care—people who are willing to read budget requests thoroughly, debate minutia equitably, and sit through sometimes boring meetings. I love boring meetings. And I really do care about these issues.

These large-scale problems that I am trying to address require a role in Senate and the College that spans all levels of the organizations. That’s why I’m running for the College Council Liaison position. In this position, I would be able to tackle these problems from all angles: College Council, CSA Senate, and CSA Budget Committee.

I am not running for this position just to put it on a resume—I really and truly do care about college processes, and especially in a time when the college is faced with looming budgetary issues, exponentially rising tuition, an increasingly competitive college marketplace, and a new strategic planning process to help us try to navigate these problems, we need a way for the student voice to be heard loud and clear.

Bill Brinkman

My name is Bill Brinkman, and I am a Junior Political Science major. I am running for the position of College Council/CSA Liaison. By serving on both CSA and College Council, I will represent the voice of students within both policy-making bodies; moreover, I will be a resource to keep everyone informed about the deliberations and decisions of CSA and College Council.

I believe my experiences have prepared me to serve effectively in this position. Throughout my time at Carleton, I have held the following roles:

  • CSA Senator/Class of 2012 Representative (2 terms)
  • Carleton Investment Group — Co-President (6 terms)
  • Carleton Archery Club — Co-President (6 terms)
  • CANOE — General Board (3 terms)
  • Mortar Board (1 term)
  • Schiller Society — Dorm Representative (6 terms)
  • Percussionist in settings including Carleton Jazz Combo and student group “The Babymakers” (6 terms)

These positions have given me a chance to interact with and serve various segments of the Carleton student body, so I’ve gained an understanding of what students feel is important — this understanding will allow me to effectively represent students in both CSA and College Council. I’ve also learned how the College administration works, and I’ll use that knowledge to benefit students. In short, I’m familiar with what we students want, and I know the administration, so I can get things done.

I have numerous goals to improve Carleton that I will pursue if elected; I’ll outline a few of them here. Throughout the past year I’ve been involved in addressing the questions that surround proposals to increase Carleton’s national and international visibility while simultaneously preserving the uniqueness of our school. As a CSA Senator, I’ve repeatedly met with Stevie P. to discuss ideas and to represent student opinion on the matter. Serving as College Council/CSA Liaison would allow me to continue this work — the reputation of our school is important, as is the unique Carleton character that brought us all here, and I would love to convey the sentiment of students as work continues on this question. Additionally, by serving on College Council I will contribute to discussions about College budgetary decisions, which powerfully impact student life at the college. Overall, across various policy areas, my objective is to provide effective representation of students within CSA and College Council, and reciprocally, to be a resource for students about occurrences in those bodies.

Finally, to be honest, I recognize that in a statement like this it can be hard to convey that I really do want make Carleton a better place, and that I am truly eager for the opportunity to work for you! So if you’d like to learn more about me or my goals, or if you’d like to share input about policy at Carleton, please feel free to e-mail me (brinkmab)! Thanks!

Rebecca Gourevitch

My name is Rebecca and I’m a junior psychology major from New York. I’m running to be one of your Senator/College Council Liaisons for next year. I hope to have the chance to continue to work hard to represent your thoughts, wishes and concerns about issues concerning both the Senate and the College Council.

Experience

  • 1 term Senator/College Council Liaison
  • 4 terms Senator at Large
  • 6 terms on the Committee on Student Life
  • 3 terms on the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee

I have been a dedicated representative of the student body to the Senate and administrators throughout my time at Carleton. I have learned a lot about how the College works and how to effectively communicate with administrators, faculty and staff to convey students’ diverse perspectives. Having served this term as one of the Senate representatives to the College Council, I realize that this is a very important committee for students to be well represented on. I believe that I can effectively convey the student perspective to the other members of the committee.

Some specific issues that I look forward to working on next year include: further discussion of how to change the S/Cr/NC policy to that it is well suited to the needs of students and professors; participating President Poskanzer’s strategic planning process; revising Senate’s constitution and bylaws; and empowering student groups to plan great events on campus. My three years of service on Senate have led me to believe that Senate can make important and influential changes to this campus that can benefit all students. I feel like this potential is underutilized, both by Senators themselves and due to a lack of communication with the student body about what Senate can do. If elected, I will continue working to increase publicity, transparency, and accessibility of the Senate to the student body.

Thank you for your support. I would also encourage you to vote YES on the referendum approving the changes to the Senate’s constitution. Please see csa.carleton.edu or feel free to email me if you have any questions about these changes!

Two College Council Students-at-Large

Samir Bhala

Hello. My name is Samir Bhala, and I am running to represent you, the student, on the College Council. I am a junior Political Science major who hopes one day to work in public service.

I stand for fairness and equitable treatment. I stick to my ideals and will fight until my last day on campus to do what I can to introduce fair and equitable governing on campus. What drives me is the perception that students’ voices do not matter on campus, from actions taken by the ECC to redo the SCrNc policy (without our input) to a general lack of student engagement on issues of the college. This, to me, is not healthy for our college. I have the experience and connections to increase the student voice on this campus.

As someone who has devoted his young life to politics and political action, I have held various positions of active leadership and feel that I am qualified to fight for equality on campus on the College Council. I have worked before in local, state, and federal government, and have actually helped enact real change at every step.

Within Carleton, I have also served in the following positions of leadership:

  • Tutor, Math Skills Center
  • Intercultural Peer Leader, Office of Intercultural and International Life
  • Member, Community Equity and Diversity Initiative Action Team on Campus Climate
  • Member, Committee on Student Life
  • Member, Library Committee
  • Member, Learning and Teaching Committee
  • Member, Governance Committee
  • Attended 17 Office Hours with Carleton College Presidents (13 with President Oden and 4 with President Poskanzer)
  • Hosted President Poskanzer on my radio show
  • CSA Senator
  • Board Member, Carleton College International Relations Council

Outside of Carleton, my experience with leadership includes the following positions:

  • Intern, Congressional Office of US Senator Richard J. Durbin
  • Fellow, Campaign Office of Rahm I. Emanuel
  • Intern, Congressional Campaign Office of Scott Harper
  • Member, Naperville City Planning Commission

For me, political involvement is the key to responsible citizenship. At Carleton, I have devoted whatever spare time I have to work with student government to ensure the student voice is heard on campus. As an intercultural peer leader, I am charged with the task of mentoring young students through their transition to Carleton. As a disabled student, I know how tough it is to finagle the smallest of accommodations from the College. As a student of color, I can recognize that the College is in dire need of help in attaining its goal of becoming a collaborative place of learning for all. In my own way, I have taken it upon myself to work for change. I stood on the Committee for Student Life last year, and helped alter Bon Appetit’s backpack policy. I also worked on the Discrimination Policy, which was finalized this year. Finally, I have privately met with students in order to bring into fruition an updated form of the campus documents.

My experience in politics so far has come in the form of microcosms – involvement with a local city committee, Model UN, and internships. However, it is experience that I think allowed me to grow as a person and as a leader. I am ready to do the work, not just go through the motions, to make Carleton a hospitable place for all. I feel as though I am the right person to represent students on College Council because of my breadth of experience. Thank you for this opportunity.

Lauren Chow

Hi everyone! I’m Lauren Chow, class of 2014, and I am running for College Council Student-At-Large. As you may or may not know, College Council (whose membership includes Stevie P. as chair. Yeah, this is serious business.) develops policies affecting many aspects of life at Carleton, ranging from handling this year’s flood to building climate action plans to establishing subcommittees of CSA. I hope to give you a voice as a student body in these important decisions that have a real impact on your life here. While I know I don’t (and will never be able to) represent the views of every single individual organization on this campus, I do bring a wide variety. As an active member of groups including the varsity cross country team, Ebony, Collective for Women’s Issues, Dialogue on Education, and most of all, the Carleton community, I have gained an understanding of many different parts of this campus – and would love to get to know more – which I can use to represent you that much better.

Some big-picture goals I would keep in sight with every initiative I worked with on College Council:

  • Respect for and furthering of diversity: We’re a pretty awesome bunch of people, and that’s because every person here is unique in different ways and has something they can bring to the table. CEDI (Community, Equity, and Diversity Initiative) is a subcommittee of College Council who I would work with and whose spirit I would promote in my discussions on College Council and in my everyday interactions with students.
  • Increased visibility for Carleton: How often have you told someone you go to Carleton, and drawn a blank stare? With any change making Carleton more amazing, people become more aware of how great this college is, and I believe much of that is accomplished in how the community functions in all its different aspects. In the past, College Council has worked on initiatives such as a Climate Action Plan which betters not only Carleton’s reputation, but our experience as students here.
  • Student voices: While it may seem obvious, too often I have heard the complaint that CSA is mysterious and impenetrable. I have seen how Carleton students have mobilized when they do feel like they have a voice and know what’s going on – see the recent buzz around the S/CR/NC policy, for example – and I feel passionate about putting in the time and effort to see that happen with the work I would do on College Council, through surveys, bathroom weekly updates, study breaks, tabling, and more.

I strive to be someone people find approachable, especially because of the close interaction College Council has with members of the school’s administration – I will bring your ideas and concerns right to the heart of the administration. Feel free to email me (chowl) with any questions or input you may have. I appreciate your support, and hope to represent you next year! And regardless of who you vote for, I encourage you to exercise your right to vote in this election! Thanks! Lauren Chow

Caley Fox Shannon

I have not been involved in formal governing processes before at Carleton, as some of my competitors likely have. But what I lack in experience, I would make up for by bringing a strong, new, and—most of all—direct approach to Carleton institutional processes. The College Council is not about setting specific policy agendas—most of the work of the Council is about advising decision-making aspects of other college committees, which is an especially important role as Carleton works toward the development of a new Strategic Plan. So what I bring to the table is exactly what College Council needs most of its student representatives: reasonableness, and with that, accurate representation of the needs of the student body. I am completely open to discussing issues with Carleton students before voting on them on the committee, and will make an active point of providing open forums for discussion of agenda items before they are voted on, as to include true student input into the legislative processes of Carleton, and avoid situations like the one that happened recently in regard to SCrNc policies. A vote for me is a vote for something new: direct student democracy, where your unbridled voices are heard directly by the individuals and institutions that govern Carleton.

The Committee on Student Life (CSL) Liaison

MacKenzie Persen

Hey Carleton College! I am MacKenzie Persen of the class of 2014. I am currently a 2014 class representative on the CSA Senate. Next year, I hope to be the liaison to the Student Life committee.

I think my current position has allowed me to become familiar with the workings of senate. I was recently appointed to the College Budget Committee where I would continue to work next year if elected. I am really excited to learn about the budget process for the school and help provide student input.

As the liaison to the Committee on Student life I would work to represent student voices. The committee is currently focused on plans to renovate Sayles. I want to know what you think! I would take these opinions to the committee as well as relay the committee’s opinions back to the students.

Some other areas of student life that I think could be improved are as follows:

  • More printers in dorms across campus (especially Goodhue)
  • A coffee cart in the Libe for those long nights we all have
  • The new constitution. The changes are minimal but will help make Senate function more efficiently.
  • More picnic tables and Adirondack chairs! We all love that the spring has started, but wouldn’t it be nice to have more places to sit? I am currently on the Senate’s small grounds committee. As part of that, I have helped research what sort of equipment would be possible to place around campus including picnic tables and chairs.
  • Hearing what you want and have to say! Our student life can only be improved if we speak up. I promise to represent student ideas so that we can make this campus better and better.

If you like these ideas, or not, feel free to email me and please vote for me!!

MacKenzie Person

The Education and Curriculum Committee (ECC) Liaison

Patrick Burke

Hello, I am Patrick Burke, a member of the class of 2014 from Texas. I am your current ECC Liaison, a current member of the Budget Committee, and I also served on the Constitutional Review Board during winter term. Through the ECC, students are given a unique opportunity to impact discussions about educational policy on campus. I believe it is vital that students have a strong voice on this committee to advocate for them and ensure that their opinions are heard on issues related to education–the primary reason we are at Carleton.

The following are some of the issues I will address if elected as ECC Liaison:

  1. Create an online course evaluation system. Building on the work of this year’s ECC Liaisons, I will complete work on a course evaluation site which would allow students to see reviews of classes by their peers. The old Caucus system is outdated and not used by students any longer. In the development of a new system, I will be sure to take student, faculty, and professor input into account. An online review system is desperately needed and would allow students to have a clearer understanding of what to expect in a class.
  2. Increase visibility of debates and decisions by the ECC. The ECC Liaison Senator is responsible for keeping both the Senate and the student body informed about the deliberations of the ECC. Even though all of the minutes for ECC meetings are posted online, there are many other underutilized methods to disseminate information to the student body. I will expand use of campus publications, all-campus emails, the NNB, Senate townhalls, and personal emails to both inform the student body of decisions by the ECC,and to solicit input directly from students to better represent you, the student body.
  3. Preserve students’ rights to explore a variety of academic fields. I will work to ensure that students are not confined by their graduation requirements, and are still allowed to explore interests outside of their major. As part of the exploration, I will fight to keep the S/Cr/NC policy as open as possible for students. I will oppose any further restrictions on students’ ability to have a true liberal arts experience, investigating new subject areas.
  4. Work on issues important to the student body as a whole. As your representative, I want to work on issues that are important to you, the students at this fine institution. I will continue to serve as a mouthpiece for the student body, advocating your opinions, so I will rely on you to keep me informed as to your opinions and concerns.

In order to best represent the students as a whole, I need to know what you think, so please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you for your time.

The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) Liaison

Hannah Heavenrich

Hello, my name is Hannah Heavenrich; I am a junior Environmental Studies major and I am running for the Environmental Advisory Committee Liaisons position. My experience with environmental actions on campus have well prepared me for this position, which requires collaboration with CSA and the committee that advises the campus on environmental actions and takes steps to further our role as an environmentally minded community. Since freshman year I have been an active member of SOPE (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment) and a member of Food Truth since sophomore year. I also served as the EAC Liaison my sophomore year and got to know how CSA and the EAC work as committees.

As a member of the EAC in the past I have been able to collaborate with administrators and students to make changes happen. I helped write three Sustainability Revolving Fund proposals and then implemented them. This included a project to replace inefficient shower heads to low-flow models. As the EAC Liaison I sat on the SRF committee and helped pass proposals as well as review the guidelines and encourage other to apply. 

Through my participation with SOPE, the SRF, and EAC (and CSA), I have gained the necessary skills that are required to make the connections from students, to CSA, to the administration in order to bring about changes that make Carleton a more environmentally friendly and environmentally minded place. Despite some great changes that have been made while I have been at Carleton, I think there is room for improvement. 

The EAC has taken steps since 2009 to address the President’s Climate Commitment and begin to plan and implement new strategies to reduce emissions. This process will likely begin next year, and with this will be the need for campus education and communication on changes that will occur and which students will contribute to. I think I could do a good job of listening to the student body about what changes they would like to see and are important to them, as well as assisting with behavioral changes that will benefit the school.

In addition, I would hope to work with Bon Apetit to continue the great progress they have made Carleton have one of the most sustainable food services at a college in the country.  This would involve working with student organizations and dining services to brainstorm and implement new ideas.

I hope to help Carleton make changes that not only decrease emissions, but also decrease cost. Efficiency can go a long way when it comes to sustainable living. This can also be addressed by behavioral change, which I believe can play a crucial role in Carleton’s future.  Carleton is already a forerunner in sustainable colleges, but why not be on top? By utilizing the skills and collaborative tool that our campus has, we have the ability to improve ourselves and our school.

Ben Hellerstein

Hi, my name is Ben Hellerstein. I’m a junior American Studies major, and I would like to represent you as a CSA Senator and the Environmental Advisory Committee Liaison.

I am running for CSA Senate for three reasons:

  1. First, I believe that students deserve a voice in the decisions that are made at this school. It’s not enough just to have student representatives on the committees — we must work to inform the whole student body about what is going on and provide ample opportunities for all students to make their voices heard.
  2. Second, I believe that the purpose of student government is to empower students to pursue their interests and passions — to provide the necessary financial resources, and to minimize the obstacles that prevent students from doing what they want to do.
  3. Third, I believe that Carleton is a leader in the campus sustainability movement, and we must remain focused on innovative and ambitious strategies to reduce our environmental footprint.

Qualifications:

  • I worked as a Sustainability Assistant during my sophomore year, and I am well-acquainted with the Environmental Advisory Committee. I have good relationships with members of the Facilities staff, the Environmental Studies department, the Treasurer’s office, and other key players in Carleton’s sustainability efforts.
  • I have served as a member of Dining Board this year, working with Bon Appetit and Carleton staff to help make our dining halls more environmentally sustainable, more socially responsible, and more attentive to the needs and desires of students.
  • I have been a leader and a member of several environmental groups on campus. As a freshman, I started and led a student initiative to reduce the environmental impact of our outdoor lighting system on campus. I have been a member of Food Truth since practically the first week of freshman year. More recently, as a leader of Carleton’s chapter of MPIRG, I have organized a campaign to promote sustainable agriculture in Rice County
  • I have attended more CSA Senate meetings this year than probably any other non-senator, and I am familiar with the ways in which Senate functions and the issues currently under consideration.

Goals:

  • Create a more sustainable campus. Specifically, I will work to foster collaboration on environmental initiatives among student groups, the Facilities Department, the school administration, and the local community. Because of my experience as a Sustainability Assistant and a member of several environmental groups, I am well-positioned to build these relationships. I am particularly interested in encouraging the use of more renewable energy, improving green transportation options, and developing more sustainable food purchasing practices.
  • Improve communication. I will ask the CSA Senate to publish its budget, because students have a right to know how their money is being spent. If the CSA Senate, the EAC, or any other committee is considering an important issue, I will work to inform students about the issue through articles in the Carletonian, through posters and NNB ads, and by visiting study breaks. I will ensure that students have ample opportunities to give feedback before a final decision is made.
  • Reduce red tape. Several students have expressed their concern about new funding rules that require student groups to come to Budget Committee approximately two weeks before an event takes place. I will encourage the CSA Senate to revisit this rule, and to pursue other ways to ensure that all worthwhile programs and events are funded.
  • Be YOUR senator! I want to work on the things that matter to you. I will actively seek input from students throughout the year to figure out what issues (environmental and otherwise) are most important to the student body.

The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee (AFAC) Liaison

Holly Abel

Hi there Carleton!

My name is Holly, and I’m a sophomore English major running for AFAC Liaison. Although I’ve never been a part of CSA Senate, my enthusiasm for CSA coupled with my experience with the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid make me a great candidate for the position.

I’ve worked as an office assistant in the Admissions Office for the past two years, and therefore have an understanding of how the office functions and its importance to the Carleton community as a whole–what students want to know about Admissions, what students want Admissions to know, and what the office wants students to know. Additionally, as someone who relies on financial aid to make my Carleton experience possible, I recognize that the Financial Aid Office is an essential part of many Carleton student’s lives. As the AFAC Liaison, I’d be interested in making student voices heard in the both offices and hope to make sure that Carleton’s financial aid fulfills the needs of every Carl in order to ensure that the Carleton experience is accessible to all admitted students, regardless of need.

In addition to my interest in the offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, I am an endlessly enthusiastic and organized person and tend to be overly invested in everything I do. I’m extremely interested in using these aspects of myself to work as a part of CSA senate. Yay!

With love,
Holly Abel ’13

Dana Lyons

Hi, my name is Dana Lyons and I’m running to be your admissions and financial aid liaison for the 2010-11 school year. I’m a sophomore political science major from Brooklyn, New York with a passion for environmental politics, the United Nations, and baseball.

Reason why I’m Running: For the past two years I’ve noticed some serious trends pertaining to whom Carleton admits and how these admittance policies have affected my Carleton experience as a whole.

The Problem with the financial aid packages: My biggest issue with the admittance policy has been the somewhat deceiving nature of the financial aid office. Some Carls have had to leave Carleton or have their families make more sacrifices for them to stay because their financial aid was reduced. I think this financial aid policy is irresponsible.

What I will do: I will work with the financial aid office to try to enact a policy that says the financial aid packages received by incoming freshmen are guaranteed for all four years. This will give students the ability to unpack their bags with the assurance that they will be able to attend Carleton for all four years regardless of personal finances.

The Diversity of the Student Body: I think it is evident that Carleton College is trying very hard to create as diverse a student body as it can. I do think, however, that this campus feels less diverse than it should, which is caused by students that are unwilling to transcend the comfort of their social groups. The only way for this community to actually feel diverse is if all members of the community are willing to, and actively seek out, real and daily interactions with community members unlike themselves.

What I will do: Although this is a tricky problem to solve, I think a great beginning is to stress to the admissions office that prospective students with these values should be sought out in order to increase meaningful diversity on campus. This may include an added question that students have to answer as part of their application or an added talking point for Carleton college interviewers to consider.

Thank you for taking a moment to vote for this position and I hope to be able to work with the admissions and financial aid board for the change I’ve discussed in my platform.

Two Community Equity and Diversity Committee (CEDI) Liaisons

Kelsey Han

My name is Kelsey Han, and I’m a sophomore Cognitive Science major. I’ve been elected to the CEDI (Community, Equity, Diversity Initiatives) liaison position last year, and I’m hoping to represent you on CEDI and senate for another year.

During this past year, I’ve been working toward developing a better idea of what community means to students, how it’s compatible or not compatible with the way the administration, faculty or staff sees it, and how these various voices are weighed and reflected in the process of making our community. For the following year, I hope to do a better job of representing the student voice on issues concerning our community based on my experience on the CEDI Leadership Board and taskforces. I’d also like to improve the communication between senate and the student body, so you know how you are being represented on various governing bodies on campus. These goals are largely consistent with projects that I’ve been part of in the past year, which include:

  • Posting updates from senate on bathroom stalls
  • Setting up the CSA bulletin board in Upper Sayles
  • Editing the CSA constitution to make it easier to understand*
  • Gathering student input on the new S/Cr/NC policy

It’s been a real pleasure and honor to serve you so far, so please help me continue my service to you by voting for me.

Thank you,
Kelsey Han ‘13

*Also, please don’t forget to vote on the referendum question to approve the proposed constitutional amendments! Changes are mostly grammatical, and we would really like to work with a document that reads better and makes more sense to everyone. For questions, please don’t hesitate to email me (hank). Thank you!

Matt Weinstein

My name is Matt Weinstein; I am a freshperson from Cincinnati, Ohio, a potential Religion major, and a diet Mountain Dew enthusiast. I currently serve on Budget Committee ensuring your student activity fee is wisely spent on things like Spring Concert and not philandered away on frivolous things like Unicorns or additional tenure-track faculty positions.

I am running for the Community, Equity, and Diversity Initiative (CEDI) Liaison position so that I can work with you to make Carleton a more welcoming and comfortable place to study, work, and live at. In case you didn’t know, seeing as they’re pretty stealthy, CEDI works with students, faculty, and staff to raise awareness of diversity issues and is tasked with making the campus climate more hospitable and open. As a queer, Jewish student a welcoming and accepting campus is incredibly important to me.

Priorities:

  • Communication: CSA and CEDI need to communicate if they are to work effectively.  As your senator, I would guarantee that this happens. Furthermore, projects undertaken by CSA and CEDI need to be communicated to Carleton students. Through canvassing, tabling, posters, and conversation I would make this happen. I also love receiving emails, which I’m sure this position would entail a lot of.
  • Climate: As evidenced by the Campus Climate survey, Carleton still has room to improve. As a CSA senator, I would use my voice and vote to represent CEDI in senate and raise concerns for actions that are inconsistent with the recommendations of the survey.
  • Commitment: If elected, I will be committed to representing you! I promise I will actually go to meetings, office hours, and answer my emails. Seriously though, send me emails. I hate telephones.

Through my work on Senate, Budget Committee, and in the Chaplain’s office, I hope to make Carleton a better place!
Vote Matt!

Justin Jack

jackj@carleton.edu
504.858.5213

My name is Justin Jack and I am a junior political science major from New Orleans, LA. I’m writing to ask you for your support during spring election in my campaign for Community Equity and Diversity Committee (CEDI) liaison. I have worked with a variety of organizations on campus and held a number of leadership positions, including serving as a member of CEDI’s task force on learning environment inside the classroom. In addition, I’m running as a 5-term Budget Committee member. If elected, my primary goals are to expand the current discrimination policy and increase the transparency between the college and the student body. There are a number of ways that I plan on enacting this goal 1) distributing monthly newsletters via email that also will be made available on the CSA website that will detail each meeting and the resolutions that are produced 2) working with CSA to ensure that the policies that mean the most to students are reflected in the committee’s proceedings 3) creating a space where students can make suggestions that pertain to the student policies that are on the committee’s agenda. Simply put, my previous leadership experiences have given me the tools necessary to perform the duties of this position. As a liaison between CSA and CEDI task forces and members, I will make it my duty to meet, consult, and produce CEDI related policy recommendations that reflect the interests and thoughts of the entire student body. Thanks for your time! Please email me any questions or suggestions (jackj).

Previous Experience:

  • President, Men of Color Association, December 2009 – March 2011
  • Senator, Carleton Student Association, September 2010 – March 2011
  • Student Liaison, College Council, September 2010 – March 2011
  • Student Liaison, Community, September 2010 – March 2011
  • Equity and Diversity Initiative: Learning Inside the Classroom Task Force, August 2009 – March 2011
  • Voting Member, Budget Committee,
  • Intercultural Peer Leader, Office of Intercultural Life, September 2009 – March 2011
  • Active Member, Black Student Alliance, September 2008 – present

The OIIL/GSC/TRIO Liaison

Michael McClellan

Dear Carleton Students,

I’m Michael McClellan, a Chemistry major/Women’s and Gender Studies concentrator from the class of 2013, and would be delighted to have the opportunity to continue to serve the campus as the TRiO/OIIL/GSC Liaison. I was appointed to fill this position for Spring term due to a vacancy, and I feel that in that short time, I have made my presence known in CSA Senate as a Senator who truly cares for the interests of all students, with special attention paid to issues that affect the offices that I represent.

Experience

  • One year as a Gender and Sexuality Center Associate, in which I have led workshops and provided peer counseling on Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Queer issues, Trans issues, men’s issues, women’s issues, healthy sexuality, sexual violence prevention, and more
  • One year on the Peer Leader Training Committee, comprised of faculty and student representatives from the different divisions of Student Life (including OIIL and the GSC, as well as Residential Life, the Career Center, the ACT center, and more), and tasked with planning pre-New Student Week student staff training and professional development
  • President/Facilitator of Carleton In and Out, a student organization whose mission is to provide a space in which Carleton students can discuss issues regarding sexuality and gender as they apply to life at Carleton and abroad

Goals as Senator

  • Continue to scrutinize all resolutions and budget committee recommendations for effects on the offices I represent and issues related to gender, sexuality, class, culture, race, and nationality/international student status
  • Foster dialogue between student organizations and Student Life offices, especially on issues in which many diverse groups are affected—concrete examples include sexual violence prevention, academic support, and campus climate vis-à-vis racism, homophobia, and the like
  • Make all Senate processes transparent, accessible, and equitable for all students, especially concerning access to the student tuition statement by student organizations, funding for events, and student activity fee scholarships

I hope to continue to represent these offices well, and with your vote, I will be able to do so.

Best Regards,
– Michael McClellan

The Acting in Community Together (ACT) Center Liaison

Borr Vang

Hey Carleton,

My name is Borr Vang and I am currently a junior Psychology major. I am running for the ACT Center liaison. As the ACT Center liaison, I want to continue to keep the communication between CSA and the ACT Center open and flowing.

I have volunteered in many of the different ACT programs in the past like the Middle School Youth Center, and what used to be Library Story Hour. Currently I am more involved with tutoring for Youth Tutoring. I also have many friends who are involved in the other programs. For this coming school year, I have been selected as a Student Coordinator for the ACT Center which will help me develop an even stronger relationship with the ACT Center. With my past and future experience, I am and will be able to formulate a wide-ranged perspective. This way, I can better represent the whole ACT Center community.

As a liaison, I will ensure that my voice in Senate will be representative of not only what is best for the ACT Center but also what is best for Carleton as a whole. I want to make sure the ACT Center is a welcoming and appealing space for students to get involved. I look forward to serving you as the next ACT Center liaison. Thank You.

Danny Ulman

My name is Danny Ulman, and I am eager to serve as the next ACT Center Liaison. That means that I will be the ACT Center’s primary representative at all CSA meetings, communicating the ACT Center’s needs and wishes and relaying CSA’s recommendations and concerns in return.

Next year, as a junior, I have been hired to be your Community Based Work Study ACT Center Student Coordinator. That means that I am already acquainted with the work of the ACT Center. Plus, I wholeheartedly believe in the ACT Center’s Mission Statement. Additionally, during my first two years at Carleton, I participated in various ACT Center events, especially in the tri-annual Blood Drive.

Community service and student involvement have always been important to me. I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician, qualified and certified to practice in both California and Minnesota. And during my 2010 summer vacation and winter break, I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in Los Angeles. I play on the Carleton rugby team, am a board member of the Jewish Students of Carleton, on the Dining Board, a religion major and I bake a mean chocolate chip cookie. That means I bring a variety of viewpoints and talents to whatever I do.

As a hired staff member of the ACT Center next year, I believe that being elected as the ACT Center Liaison to the CSA is a logical and good fit. I would not only serve the ACT Center’s interests in CSA meetings but also would seek to expand the visibility of the ACT Center on campus, garnering more volunteers and more enthusiasm for the ACTCenter’s important and dynamic programs.

Please vote for me, Danny Ulman, as the next ACT Center Liaison. I will fight for the ACT Center and all it stands for.