Winter 2025 Platforms

Howdy, y’all! My name is Vivian Agugo and I am running to be your CSA student body President! I am a Cognitive Science major and Neuroscience minor on the pre-med track from thee Houston, Texas. Throughout my time in CSA as the class of ‘26 representative, the most common question I’ve received is “What is CSA and what do y’all do?”. So what Can CSA do for you? The main answer is to serve the student body and improve different issues on campus. This includes increasing work-study wages to approving resolutions in support of different causes  – all sourcing from student concerns throughout the years. However, many are unaware of what CSA does it can be challenging to solve these issues, especially with many Carls having great ideas but no guidance on where to start. 

I am running with the platform “C is for…” with the primary mission being putting the C in Commitment because I want to enhance how CSA operates on campus. I aim to achieve this goal through various “C” initiatives: 

• Connect with the Student Body: Carleton Student Association’s purpose is to serve the people, however, what happens when said population is unaware that the senate is meant to serve them? One of my main goals if elected to be in office is to improve CSA’s connection with the student body in the following ways:
  • Making CSA More Accessible: While CSA meetings are open to the public, they typically consist mostly of senators. To encourage student participation, I plan to hold at least one town hall-style meeting in an accessible location, such as Anderson 121 or other central campus rooms. During these meetings, we will share updates on various CSA working groups, feature guest speakers from the administration, and provide a platform for questions from students. Additionally, I want to incorporate more student feedback on CSA initiatives through various channels, such as feedback forms. 
  • Increase CSA’s Front-Facing Interaction with the Student Body: In addition to improving accessibility, I intend to engage with the student community by hosting more events that allow us to connect with students. This includes organizing photo booths on the First Day of Classes and pep rallies during varsity sporting events. 
  • Create Student Guides for CSA Operations & Organizations: Many students have questions about how CSA functions, how to create club charters, and other related topics. I plan to develop a digital guide featuring frequently asked questions about CSA, as well as resources related to funding and student services.
  • Enhance Communication with Students:  Given the busy nature of student life, I aim to ensure that all students are informed about everything happening with CSA. I will increase communication between the student body and CSA. I will ensure students stay informed by reintroducing presidential reports with updates on CSA initiatives, notes from leadership meetings, and Senate highlights. I will also work with the SAO/CSA webmaster to keep the CSA page user-friendly and use Instagram to share CSA activities, student organization updates, and campus life.
• Community Engagement: “Carls Help Carls!” Hearing this outstanding quote during NSW, I’ve seen it manifest in many ways throughout my time at Carleton. I am eager to strengthen our community outreach both on campus and with our neighbors across the river—St. Olaf—and the Northfield community. While our campus currently has connections with Northfield through financial contributions and board positions, I would like to enhance student engagement through the following initiatives:
  • College Outreach Program: In partnership with Northfield High School, I hope to restart the Carleton-NHS college mentor program. This program would allow current Carls to meet with NHS students to provide guidance during the college application process and share our experiences navigating higher education.
  • Connected Promotion of CCCE Programs through CSA: The Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) offers various opportunities for students to engage in community service, both on and off campus, and students can record their volunteer hours on Workday for personal use. I aim to utilize CSA as a platform to promote CCCE programs and work-study opportunities.  
  • Replacing 1 PE credit for an Academic Civil Engagement (ACE) Class: With many students displeased with the amount of PE requirements, I have recommended replacing one of the PE requirements with an Academic Civic Engagement (ACE) requirement, allowing for a wider graduation requirement diversity. This change would provide students, who may not have time for extracurricular activities, the opportunity to learn about civil engagement beyond hands-on experiences.  
  • Collaborate with St. Olaf’s Student Government Association:  In keeping with Northfield’s identity as “Cow, Colleges, and Community,” there are significant benefits to connecting with our sister college, St. Olaf. By increasing collaboration through shared events and organizations on both campuses, I would like to enhance our connection with St. Olaf. This will be achieved by developing shared calendars of events, maintaining regular communication, and organizing collaborative student government events to strengthen our cross-campus culture.  
• Cultural & Diversity Awareness: The addition of the new Division of Inclusion, Equity, and Community (DIEC), allows for new and creative ways of implementing great ideas to improve cultural awareness on campus. As a peer leader in the Office of Intercultural Life (OIL), I am aware of the valuable services and opportunities available and plan to utilize the Cultural Student Association (CSA) to broaden awareness of these resources through the following initiatives:
  • Dedicated Communication for Every Heritage Month: In collaboration with OIL, DIEC, and CSA’s OIL liaison, I intend to implement dedicated communications (via email and other platforms) to promote Heritage Month events, including convocation speakers and OIL talks. These communications will be sent through our CSA class listservs on non-campus announcement days to reduce email clutter.
  • Increased Visibility of Cultural & Interest Houses: Beyond promoting Heritage Months, I also aim to highlight the various cultural and interest houses, including the newly added Khéya Kiƞ Ihdúwitayapi (The Turtles Gather). This initiative hopes to increase the number of applicants and showcase events hosted by these houses.
  • Advocate for Investment in Cultural Studies: As a dedicated supporter of the Africana Studies department, I appreciate the unique experiences offered by Carleton’s cultural studies programs. However, the limited visibility of our current cultural studies programs, many of which are not standalone departments, prompts me to seek solutions for increased visibility and funding. This includes advocating for funding and seeking more guidance from the administration regarding the steps they plan to take to support and enhance these departments, as well as advocating for increased staffing to ensure students can fully engage with offerings from these areas of study.
• Commute: As our campus continues to grow, so does the distance from many spots on campus. To improve transportation during move-in and move-out periods, I plan to explore the option of adding a Northfield Lines bus stop in the Lilac Hills area. I also aim to explore the possibility of subsidizing/decreasing Northfield Lines’ travel costs to and from the airport during break periods to help alleviate expenses for students.
• Campus Dining: One of the most significant issues the CSA has been addressing this year is the mandatory meal plan for the class of ’27 and subsequent classes. While we have gathered data on food insecurity and engaged in discussions with the administration, there remains dissatisfaction with this decision. Although the requirement is in place, I am committed to addressing students’ concerns. I will advocate for negotiating the costs of existing meal plans, particularly the 7-meal plan. I also want to address the need for adjusting dining dollar amounts to reflect current inflation. Finally, I hope to continue advocating for more inclusive policies regarding interest houses and ensuring all meal plan options are available for all types of housing.

Campus Involvement/Qualifications: 

With a passion for community building and engagement, I have actively participated in and held various roles within student organizations and college committees, including TRIO-SSS, QuestBridge, Black Student Alliance (BSA), Women of Color+, and the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). In addition, I currently serve in leadership positions such as: 

African-Caribbean Association Co-President: As the co-president of the African-Caribbean Association (ACA), I strive to create a welcoming environment for students of respective identities to celebrate their culture and build community. I have organized and executed various events throughout the year, with our largest being Independence Week in the fall and ACA Night in the spring.

CSA Class of ‘26 Representative: As class representative for three years, I advocated for increased CSA involvement with students through visible efforts like office hours. I helped establish a clear role for class representatives and secured funding guidelines to support future outreach. I also addressed concerns about cultural organization funding and campus announcements, leading to formalized communication guidelines.

Governance Committee Chair: During my tenure as a CSA senator, I served on the Governance Committee, where I helped approve new student organizations. This role allowed me to advise student organizations on club operations and explore ways that CSA can support their activities.

Carleton 2033 Strategic Planning Committee Member: As a member of the “Expanding Carleton’s Reach” committee for the 10-year strategic planning initiative, I provided insights on Carleton’s current recruitment practices, highlighting shortcomings in connecting with diverse communities. I also advocated for improvements in student life, particularly regarding academic requirements and dining hall food quality. 

OIL Peer Leader: Working in the Office for Intercultural Life (OIL), I continue to promote a safe space for BIPOC students. As a peer leader, I mentor a cohort of students during their first year at Carleton, offering guidance and support. I also curate programming that meets the needs and wishes of BIPOC students, including workshops that highlight campus resources. Furthermore, I collaborate with my exceptional OPL team to host OIL events throughout the year.

I’m Rahim Hamid, an international student from Pakistan and a Studio Art/Computer Science major running for CSA President! As your President, I will push for a better and more equitable experience for students at Carleton, focusing on food insecurity, CSA Transparency, social activism, mental health and supporting creativity on campus.

Representing my class on Senate for three years has given me the chance to talk to many members of the student body, student organizations and administration and learn about everything from accessibility issues to the intricacies of the meal plan to divestment. I have made my platform based on my personally held beliefs informed greatly by what I and many of my fellow Carls feel would make our time here more fulfilling, meaningful and equal for all. I intend for these changes to continue past my Presidency and fulfill not just these individual policies but shape an overall trajectory for the future student body to codify better conditions for students and continue to advocate strongly for ourselves for policies that are in our best interest.
Thank you for taking the time to read my platform!

On Food Insecurity
The current implementation of the Meal Plan limits student choice in deciding what works best for them, and is inequitable for students who are living in Interest Houses and are now subject to additional unnecessary costs. Additionally, students who are here over the summer face genuine food insecurity, with 41% responding as food insecure in a recent survey, a group for which there currently exists no special provision. As President, I aim to work with the administration to push for a solution that gives this choice back to the students and actually addresses issues surrounding food insecurity on campus by focusing on amending the meal plan itself, reviewing student wages, securing sources of funding for food aid and increasing transport access.

On CSA Transparency
I believe the decision to increase the CSA Activity Fee this past term was taken in error, and the guidelines for relief from the Activity Fee are vague and unclear. As CSA, we cannot expect students to trust in us if we are not open and transparent about what we are doing with people’s tuition. My first proposal to reduce the activity fee for all students and make all of our financial decisions not only public but easily accessible is the least we can do, and moving beyond that I additionally recognize that CSA at times has not held itself to its responsibilities as outlined in
the CSA Constitution. An adherence to these procedures are key to building trust, and something that I will keep at the forefront of my actions as President.

While CSA has been making steps in bettering communication with the student populace, in order to more effectively represent students, we have to do better. Contacting CSA is a burdensome process, yet being involved is still extremely important. My proposal includes making it easier to email and bring suggestions to CSA, having opportunities for campus organizations to come to CSA and executive tabling in Sayles to hear more from the student body and do our best to implement change.

Another aspect of transparency is having student voices heard by the Board of Trustees. As President, I personally would have access as a representative of the student body, however I feel this is insufficient. I attended a Trustee meeting as a Peer Leader, and making these sorts of meetings between students and Trustees a regular feature would go a ways in creating a greater understanding between those who make policy and those who are affected by it. I would strongly advocate for greater student presence in these meetings, continuing a commitment to transparency and openness that the Carleton administration and student body should be held to.

On Social Activism
Social activism is extremely important on college campuses now more than perhaps at any point prior. Issues surrounding immigration, climate change, freedom of speech and minority civil rights protections are directly relevant to our student body. As President, I would seek to establish a fund and raise funding for Carls and Carleton groups looking to volunteer or work for activist/grassroots organizations. The funds would seek to cover essential activities like transport, food and anything else you require to go out and advocate for yourself and others. I would additionally work with faculty and administration to best support students who engage in activism, given its importance in the current political climate.

On Mental Health
Mental Health at Carleton is a complex subject covering everything from academic pressure to social dynamics to physical health to finances and beyond. There is not one simple solution, and so I propose an array of policies to promote student wellness, including but not limited to further conversations with OAR around academic accommodations, broader campus discussions in light of how we view academics as students and faculty, reviewing the efficacy of the recent additions to SHAC, and pushing for a higher wage to better support all student workers on campus.

On Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The way that DEI has been implemented at Carleton leaves a lot to be desired. The reductive messaging on privilege and social class during the CarlTalks and inconsistent inclusion of different groups on campus in conversations surrounding race, privilege and equity does a disservice to the College’s mission. Working with students, campus departments and administration to formulate a policy that both fosters actual examination of what diversity, equity and inclusion involve (especially when they conflict with each other) and to make good on administrative promises with regards to equitable standards in accessibility, admissions and for underprivileged students is a top priority of mine.

Carleton is, like most if not all higher education institutions, inequitable in many ways to students of all backgrounds. With the recent creations of the DEI office and Immigration Task Force, I believe it is high time for Carleton to systemically address the flaws within its systems. I advocate for a diverse set of policies such as pushing for hiring professors in underrepresented academic disciplines like Middle Eastern history, pushing for revisions to admissions policies that privilege a select group of domestic and international institutions above others, and reviewing how we interact with and can better support Cultural Organizations.

On Supporting Creativity
With the aid of other like-minded students, I was able to help successfully bring back the canceled Social Dance and West Coast Swing classes for the upcoming Spring Term. I believe creativity is extremely important on this campus, and so I aim for a series of smaller reforms that better support students in their creative endeavors. This includes having special rooms allocated as “Creative Spaces” to increase access to the arts, getting better equipment for communal band rooms and democratizing access to them and continuing to fund creative events around campus. I would also prioritize bringing performances and student organizations,
working with Carleton’s a Drag specifically, back to Sayles to better build community and improve the viewing experience for all.

Why Am I Running?
The best things we have at Carleton are things that were fought for passionately by students who cared. Our laundry being free, increases to student wages, and bringing Social Dance classes back, and support for recent Divestment resolutions are just some of the ways that students via CSA have made Carleton better for us all. I care about the Carleton community that has given me so much, and feel a strong obligation to advocate for that community through any means I can. I’m tired of student perspectives being sidelined with no transparency or justification, and want to create a Carleton where the issues affecting the student body are
made transparent and open to challenge by any of us. Being President is where I would most be able to implement and advocate for us as a student body.

Why Me?

Leadership
I have served as Class Representative for the past two years, having consistently advocated for each of my platform positions to various members of the administration and executive. This time has given me incredible insight into how Carleton as an institution functions, what is and isn’t feasible, and what we can do to push for change within the system. I have additionally served as Viewpoint Section Editor for the Carletonian, Social Dance Captain, ISL Peer Leader, Treasurer for the Rocky Horror Picture Show Society, Synchrony Choreographer, bassist for two bands, and member of cultural organizations like MOSAIC and MSA. I talk to and know a lot of people in many different contexts across cultural, class year,
and academic backgrounds through my prior and current experiences. I have used these connections to better my understanding of tensions, problems and potential solutions to many of the issues on campus. These experiences have also taught me event organization, management and perseverance in the face of logistical or administrative hurdles that will be extremely valuable in my role as president.

Employment
I have worked 7 different jobs while at Carleton within Custodial, Arb Crew, the Modeling Department, the ISL Office, Boliou, and the Perlman Teaching Museum. I’ve spent 10 hours a week for the past three years hearing from, working with and learning from very different departments. I have worked with staff, faculty and administration and talked extensively about how these roles should be better compensated, made better for all involved and how students can get the most out of their time as student-workers.

Academic Background
As both a Computer Science and Art Double-Major, I believe I have a unique perspective on the both STEM and Humanities Degrees at Carleton, and in two very diverse fields that each have their own sets of challenges and quirks in post-graduation work and current curriculum. This view informs a lot of the policy with regards to supporting creativity and the conversations I seek to have surrounding academic pressure mentioned above within my proposals. Feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions regarding my platform or my experiences. As I’m currently on OCS, you can find me at my email hamida@carleton.edu. I am
grateful for the time you took to read through all this, and would be honored to continue to serve the Carleton community further through CSA.

My name is Daniel McGovern, and I am a junior French major from Wakefield, Rhode
Island. As President, it is my duty is to advocate on your behalf and propel the changes you want to see on campus. Students are the backbone of the community. Without proudly meeting their needs and fostering their success, Carleton is just another college campus. In running for President, I hope to establish stronger links between the student body and administration and reevaluate structures that undermine student choice.

After three years at Carleton, I have had countless conversations with students while
working for the Career Center, the GIS lab, the sports medicine team, and most recently, the French department and Language Center. In addition, serving on Carleton’s Responsible Investment Committee has allowed me to reflect and communicate with students on how Carleton’s endowment can better reflect community values. Interacting with a broad spectrum of students has made it clear that certain elements of campus life are neglected and reluctant to change. This platform promises to act upon recent concerns of the student body and ensure every student has a great college experience. We cannot be content if we choose to be complacent.

Back To The Basics:
Accountability, transparency, and communication are the foundation of a strong student government, and we believe CSA should do more to engage first and second-year students in the decision-making process. Too often, underclassmen feel disconnected from CSA, unaware of how to charter clubs, secure funding, or advocate for the changes they want to see. We want to change that. Our administration will work to demystify CSA’s processes by making funding and
chartering more accessible, holding open forums, and actively reaching out to younger students to hear their concerns. By fostering a more inclusive and informed community, we ensure that every student—regardless of class year—has a voice in shaping Carleton’s future.

Student-Administration Relationship:
CSA must remain a strong advocate for students by keeping the pressure on the
administration to address key issues that impact student life. We will continue pushing for a fair wage structure that ensures student workers are compensated based on the skills their jobs require, not just a flat rate.

Graduation requirements, including various liberal arts obligations, should be reassessed to ensure they enhance rather than hinder students’ academic experiences. Lab and music courses require significant time commitments, yet the credits awarded often fail to reflect this workload. We will work with the administration and the registrar to ensure that these credits count toward the 210 required for graduation without affecting the current credit limit per term.

We will continue advocating for more flexible meal plan options, questioning both the mandatory structure and the balance of dining dollars versus meal swipes, as well as improved transportation services for food shopping.

Finally, we will push for infrastructure improvements in first-year dorms, including better laundry facilities and showers, ensuring all students have a comfortable living environment. These issues require consistent pressure, and we are committed to making bold moves to address them.

Paying Executives and the Student Activity Fee:
Executive pay within CSA should come with greater accountability. Before
compensation, we need transparency in how our representatives serve students. A role in CSA government is about service—not personal gain—where the focus should be on representing and advocating for the needs of the student body. Pay is not the point—our commitment is to work diligently, listen to our peers, and make the changes that improve our community. It’s about making a tangible impact and ensuring every student has a voice in shaping the future of Carleton College. At the very least, executive pay should be a choice.

Furthermore, the Student Activity Fee directly impacts every Carleton student, and any increase to it should not be decided behind closed doors. We firmly believe that students should have the final say in whether their fees increase, and any proposed changes should be put to a student-wide vote. CSA exists to serve the student body, and financial decisions of this magnitude require transparency and democratic input. If elected, we will push for a clear process that ensures students are informed about how their money is spent and have the opportunity to approve or reject any increases.

I’m Narjis Nusaibah (she/her), and I am running to be your President this election cycle (This is the start of my political career. Be nice). 

Quick get-to-know-me: I’m a Junior, majoring in Chemistry and Economics, and I’m an international student from Bangladesh! My platform is a little on the longer side, but keeping it this way was very important to me. I appreciate your patience as you read through! 

My Platform follows a structured format to keep things accountable. For each proposal, I’ll start with a brief overview of the project, followed by a section on the work that’s already being done (to the best of my knowledge) and who’s leading those efforts. Then, I’ll outline what I specifically plan to do—whether that means supplementing existing work or launching a new initiative—how I plan to do it, and the timeline for implementation. I want to make sure you are informed on the viability of my proposals, and I want to give people the due credit on what they have already  done. This isn’t a one-person show, and I can’t do anything alone as a President. (Also, a big idea behind this is to help me stay organized. I need lists. I need plans. I’m aggressively Type A, and this is my way of making things easier for my future self.)

None of this is meant to sound impressive—it’s just meant to be true. I have good ideas, but sometimes, other people have better ones. And that’s okay. My goal is to push forward the best ideas, regardless of where they come from, and I will prioritize projects that are better for the broader student body. 

Note: Any office or initiative I mention here, I’ve already spoken to the respective leadership. Where I haven’t yet connected with leadership, I’ve made sure to mention that.

Project 1: Grad School Application Funding

Grad school is a privilege—and an expensive one. Students shouldn’t have to go into debt just to apply. The costs of standardized tests and application fees only add to the inequities already present in the post-grad process. I’m committed to advocating for more support to help students navigate this costly journey. Other schools have made it work, and there’s no reason Carleton can’t do the same.

What’s being done: Nothing that I know of. This is an idea that came up when President Hirano and I were working on the resolution for OPT. 

What I want to do:

• Establish a funding mechanism that covers application fees for med school, law school, PhD applications, any kind of grad school. 
• Help cover registration fees for standardized tests like the MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.

How I plan to do it

• Connect with the Dean of Students and Career Center to figure out what existing funding mechanisms are in place, if a new mechanism is required, or if we can somehow allocate funds from an existing source.
• If the answer to the previous question is that we need a completely new source, then connect with the Alumni Relations office to arrange for fundraising with the alumni during this year’s reunion. 
• Create an Alumni Relations Liaison. 

Timeline: This is something I want to get started on right away. That said, I know from experience that setting up a funding mechanism takes time and a lot of negotiating, and I probably won’t get it approved before this year’s seniors graduate. But I will definitely have my share of the work done for the next graduating class.  

Experience I have to deal with this:

I’ve done this before. As the CSA senator for International Student Life, my biggest project was financing the high cost of Optional Practical Training (OPT) fees, especially for low-income students. This term, I wrote a resolution that the senate passed, and starting this year, low income international students are going to have their OPT fees funded by the college. This required me to navigate funding mechanisms, work with multiple offices—including the Career Center, Business Office, Alumni Relations, and Dean of Students—and push for real financial support. I know how to get these conversations started, who to talk to, and how to most efficiently go about materializing the proposal. 

Project 2: FOOD

Quick note about the Meal Plan requirement: We all know this has been a challenge. The current Senate is working on it, and I plan to keep pushing. But I also want to be realistic: if we reach a point where conversations are no longer productive, I want to pivot toward negotiation. The people before me have fought hard, and it would be disrespectful to their work to pretend I can magically fix it.  There are some things we can’t win completely, and unfortunately, this could be one of those issues. 

What’s being done: 

• The Senate has met with Dean Livingston and consistently raised this issue in meetings, peer leader conferences, and discussions with the administration. As of now, the mandatory meal plan remains non-negotiable.
• There is a Food Insecurity working group at the Senate. (Big shoutout to Juan Garcia Reyes’ 26 who has been working on this issue for months). They have been working with the administration to improve access to the Carleton Cupboard and food resources.
• There is a working group named ‘Fruit’ (hi Ian Rothfield’ 27) that  has been working on getting fresh fruits in the dining hall.

What I want to do:

• Negotiate exemptions for interest houses: I want to advocate for houses (like culinary) that have their entire community based around cooking together to have the option to be off board. Additionally, interest houses like Chai House, and the newly established ISL House should have the option to be off-board. Food is a fundamental part of culture and community. If you live in a cultural house, you should be able to cook the food that feels like home.
• Improve meal plan quality: If we’re stuck paying a premium, the food should match the price.
• Ensure fresh fruit in dining halls: The ‘Fruit’ initiative is making progress, and I want to see it through. 
• Upgrade vending machines: Okay, this one is personal, but I want Ramen in vending machines. (Also, who is the vending machine guy? I will find out.)
• Carleton Cupboard Access: Pushing for the Carleton Cupboard to stay open around the clock and helping the working group however I can. 
• Meal support when you’re sick: I don’t want to say Carls are weak, but we do get sick a lot. Like, a lot. I want to streamline a system that makes it easier to access dining hall meals, either by delivering them to your dorm or making pick-up more convenient when you’re feeling under the weather. This would also help control the spread of illness

How I plan to do it 

• Create a Senate Dining Hall Working Group focused specifically on meal plan exemptions for interest houses. 
• Figure out who the vending machine guy is. Get them to put Ramen in the vending machines. Sorry, this is super ambiguous, I have talked to a few people, but it still remains a mystery on who the vending machine people are, but I shall solve it. 
• Continue working with the dining hall fruit initiative. We’re making progress, and I think we can actually get this done.
• Meet with Bon app to discuss Meal support for sick students. 

Timeline: This will be a four-term effort—and I will be as annoying as I need to be. But to start, I would ideally begin the interest house negotiations next term. 

Project 3: Promote Affordable and Accessible Textbook Options

Textbooks are ridiculously expensive, and the current system doesn’t do enough to help students. Right now, juniors and seniors only get one term of textbook assistance worth $100—which barely covers a single book. First-years and sophomores have slightly better support, but it’s still not enough.

What’s Being Done:

• As far as I know, nothing significant is being done right now beyond the limited assistance already in place from the Dean of Students office Emergency Funding.

What’s Being Done:

• Expand access to Open Educational Resources (OER). Many courses could use free or low-cost textbooks, but faculty don’t always prioritize them. I want to work with departments to encourage more use of OER and other free resources.
• Expand the textbook fee assistance program. 
• Create a textbook-sharing initiative. Some students already informally share or lend textbooks—this could be better organized at a campus-wide level, reducing costs for everyone. The plan is to have a more structured way for students to buy, sell, or trade used textbooks directly instead of relying on expensive retailers.
• Work with the library to expand course reserves. There is usually only one book on reserve that’s loaned out for two hours. More textbooks should be available for short-term loans so that students can access materials without needing to purchase them outright. 

How I Plan to Do It:

• Meet with the Dean of Students and Business Office to see if expanding the textbook assistance program is financially feasible.
• Work with the Library and Academic Departments to push for more Open Educational Resources and increase the number of books available on course reserves.
• Set up a student-run textbook exchange by the fall term, making it easier for students to trade and sell books at lower prices.

Timeline: I want to be able to spread these projects out, and I would ideally start working on this in the Fall term of my tenure.

Project 4: Academics

What’s being done: Nothing that I know of. 

What I want to do:

1. Comps Reform for Double Majors: Many students double major because they are passionate about the intersection of two fields. But when it comes to comps, they are often forced to complete two separate projects, even when their disciplines naturally overlap. I want to explore ways to allow integrated comps for double majors, so students can produce one meaningful, interdisciplinary project rather than being stretched thin across two separate ones. This would not be about lowering expectations—it’s about making comps more intellectually fulfilling and better aligned with students’ academic goals. (Credits to Hala Shabaita ’23 for this idea!)
2.  Petitioning Majors: The current process for petitioning to create a custom major is confusing and inaccessible. Many of us came to Carleton because we have unique and niche academic interests, and we should have a clearer, more supportive pathway to tailor our education.
3. Pre-Law Advising: We need a dedicated pre-law advisor. Carleton has excellent resources for pre-health and other tracks, but pre-law students deserve the same level of guidance and support. (Full disclosure: I’m not a pre-law).

How I plan to do it:

Comps Reform for Double Majors

• Gather student feedback from double majors to demonstrate the need for this change.
• Meet with the Provost’s Office and Department Chairs to understand the current policies and identify potential pathways for integrated comps.
• Propose a formal system for approving interdisciplinary comps, with clear guidelines for students and departments.

Petitioning Majors Process

• Work with the Academic Standing Committee to review the current petition process and find ways to make it more transparent.
• Develop clear, written guidelines that students can access online to understand what’s expected and how to navigate the process.
• Advocate for an info session or workshop to help students who are considering this option.

Pre-Law Advising

• Connect with the Provost Office to determine the best way to establish a dedicated pre-law advisor or expand existing resources.
• Look into peer institutions to see how they support pre-law students and identify best practices.
• Push for the creation of a pre-law resource hub that includes recommended coursework, LSAT prep, internship opportunities, and law school application guidance.

Timeline:  Winter Term 2025. 

Project 5: Rec Center Improvements

The Rec Center is an essential outlet for many of us. However, it’s clear that improvements are needed, especially in terms of equipment. ( I have also been told by multiple people, we need more stairmasters (?). I’m confused too, but if people feel strongly about it, we shall work on that). 

What I Want to Do:

1. Fix and Upgrade Equipment:

Some equipment has been broken for months or is constantly out of service. This shouldn’t be the norm. I want to push for regular maintenance and repairs so that students don’t have to work around faulty machines.

2. Expand Fitness Class Offerings:

Fitness classes provide structured, accessible ways to stay active, but there aren’t enough options. I want to survey student interest in different types of classes (yoga, pilates, HIIT, dance, etc.) and advocate for adding more options to the current schedule. If cost is a barrier to offering more classes, I want to explore student-led fitness sessions or discounted instructor partnerships.

How I Plan to Do It:

Equipment Fixes & Stairmasters

• Meet with Rec Center staff to determine what’s causing delays in equipment repairs.
• Push for a maintenance schedule with clearer timelines for fixing broken machines.
• Figure out funding sources for new stairmasters or other requested equipment.

Expanding Fitness Classes

• Survey students on which classes they’d like to see added.
• Work with the Rec Center and student orgs to explore funding options for more classes.
• Look into student-led fitness sessions if budget limitations exist.

Timeline: Fall 2025. 

Project 6: Communication

Effective communication means different things to different people, and I hesitated to include this because, traditionally, a CSA president isn’t the one in charge of communication—our amazing Communication Officer handles that. But here’s what I think communication should look like: Student government should be accessible and easy to engage with. Your representatives are students too—we attend classes, eat in the dining halls, and walk around campus just like you. It should be as simple as grabbing a quick chat or sending a message. I’ve learned that simply being available isn’t enough. Past presidents have done an excellent job of making themselves accessible, yet we still struggle to connect with the broader student body. Everything is available on the website, and the meetings are open to all, but it still doesn’t seem to connect. Before I joined CSA, I, too, didn’t fully understand what CSA did or how to get involved. I want to change that. My tag line as an RA is, “If you’re in a situation and you don’t know who to call, call me.” I want to do the same for CSA. If you have concerns and you don’t know who to go to, I hope you can come to CSA (Mondays from 7-9pm at Weitz!). No one should be lost on where to turn to. It’s a governing body, for the students, by the students, and it should feel that way.

What’s being done: 

• We have a general CSA promotion and outreach working group in the Senate.
• The CSA communication officer sends out weekly newsletters highlighting what CSA did during that week.
• The meetings are always open to every student.
• The meeting notes are always available on the website. 

What I want to: 

• Work with the CSA outreach working group to do some fun instagram/tik tok series explaining what CSA actually does. 
• Partner with the Carletonian to introduce an “Executive Debrief” column, where the senate can share updates and provide summaries on the pressing issues the CSA is addressing. (Note: I have not yet discussed this with the Carletonian leadership.)

How I want to do it:

• Work with the CSA outreach working group to do some fun instagram/tik tok series explaining what CSA actually does. 
• Figure out the best way to do this-whether through a liaison or weekly submissions, we’ll identify what works best for regular updates.

Timeline: Spring 2025. 

Project 7: Reslife Housing Lottery System Reform

The current housing lottery system at Carleton has long been a point of frustration for students. Since the system is entirely random, many students find themselves stuck with poor numbers year after year, which limits their options and affects their overall housing experience. My goal is to create a more equitable and predictable system for students, one that considers past performance and allows for greater planning and fairness.

What’s Being Done: Nothing that I know of. 

What I Want to Do: Create a system similar to the class registration system, where students’ lottery numbers are influenced by their previous year’s results. For example, students who receive a good number one year will get a medium number the next year, and students who have bad numbers should have a better chance in their final year. This system will allow students to plan ahead for their housing and reduce the frustration of being stuck with bad numbers repeatedly. This tiered system will give students more of a sense of control and fairness, ensuring that all students have a reasonable chance at better housing over their time at Carleton.

How I Plan to Do It:

• Research other institutions’ housing lottery systems to see what has worked elsewhere and how those systems could be adapted to Carleton’s needs.
• Gather student input to understand the specific challenges and frustrations with the current lottery system. This could involve surveys or focus groups to better gauge the student body’s concerns.
• Work with Reslife to propose changes to the system
• Advocate for a trial run of the new system to see how it plays out and whether it results in fairer, more predictable outcomes for students.

Timeline:

• Fall’ 25: Gather data, survey students, and research successful models from other universities. Meet with Reslife to present findings and discuss potential reforms.
• Work to have the revised system ready for implementation or at least tried for the next housing lottery cycle.

Project 8: Senator Projects 

A significant part of the role of a CSA President is to assist and support the senator projects. These senators are the driving force behind niche campus issues, and they bring both passion and expertise that is often more specialized than what I can offer as president. A big reason why I got my OPT project funded was because my President sat down with me, helped refine my resolution, and advocated for it in discussions with the administration where I wasn’t present.The same way, I want to ensure that my role as President empowers and amplifies the work of the senators.

What’s Being Done:

Senators are already working on a range of projects that are important to various student groups on campus. Whether it’s academic reform, sustainability initiatives, or social justice efforts, these projects are being shaped by passionate individuals who care deeply about their causes. 

What I Want to Do:

• Advocate for their projects when necessary, ensuring that senators have a clear line of communication with other campus bodies, whether that’s the administration, student groups, or faculty members.
• Provide support for senators in the form of resources, advice, and coordination. I want to ensure senators feel empowered to pursue their projects while also making sure they have the tools and connections needed to succeed.
• Make sure there is transparency in how senator projects are progressing. Students should be aware of what’s being worked on and how they can get involved.

How I Plan to Do It: (This is not different than what the previous presidents have done)

• Hold regular check-ins with senators to see how their projects are going and what support they need from the President’s office.
• Work to connect senators with key campus stakeholders who can help move their projects forward.
• Create a system for monitoring and sharing progress, so students can stay informed about how senator projects are evolving. This could include monthly updates on the CSA social media or in a newsletter.
• Encourage collaboration between senators on overlapping projects to maximize impact and avoid duplicating efforts.

Timeline: Throughout my tenure.

Project 9: Student-Led Projects 

Another priority is fostering more student-led projects. Our campus is full of passionate, driven students who often have great ideas, but they may not always have the resources or guidance to bring them to fruition. I want to help provide the tools, support, and encouragement to ensure those ideas have the chance to grow and succeed.

What’s Being Done: There is some work being done by individual students and groups, but it’s not as coordinated as it could be. I am not aware of the specific mechanisms here. 

What I Want to Do:

• Lead workshops on how to effectively write and propose resolutions, helping students learn the steps to bring their ideas into the official student government process.
• Encourage more students to write resolutions on topics they are passionate about. The more students we have actively engaging in the governance process, the more inclusive and representative our government will be.
• Create an accessible system for students to submit proposals for projects or resolutions, ensuring that their ideas are heard and considered by CSA.

How I Plan to Do It:

• Host workshops focusing on how to craft resolutions, understand the proposal process, and effectively present ideas to CSA.
• Develop an easy-to-follow guide for submitting proposals that can be distributed through email or posted on CSA’s website.

Timeline: Fall 2025 or Winter 2026. 

That’s it! (Yes, it bothers me that there are 9 projects instead of a nice round 10, but what’s a number on paper when it’s going to be three extra months of my life in the real world? I’ll take it!) These are the things I’m committed to getting done during my tenure. I could’ve had fewer, but since I’ll be serving four terms instead of three, I’m confident these are all achievable.

Some other relevant experiences: 

• Legislative Coordinator, Amnesty International: I currently serve as the Minnesota Legislative Coordinator for Amnesty International. In this role, I lobby elected officials in the House and Senate, lead advocacy sessions, and manage Amnesty chapters across the state. 
• MOSAIC (of South Asian Interests at Carleton) Board Member
• Resident Assistant, Reslife
• Vice President of Doctors without Borders Chapter at Carleton. 
• Research assistant at Sung Lab (Had to put this in to let you all know it’s not just all beauty but also brains).

The point of all of these is to say: I’m dependable. I show up. I pull through. If I’m assigned something, I wouldn’t have to be checked up on. For me, leadership is about being reliable, providing everyone with the resources they need to succeed, and making sure they feel comfortable holding me accountable.

If you haven’t already gathered from my platform, I’m not going to be your broody, mysterious president. I’ll crack jokes, my speeches won’t be filled with profound wisdom (honestly, I hardly have deep thoughts), but I promise they’ll be real and approachable. I like to think I’ve got incredible social skills (I’ve talked my way out of every baggage fee at the airport, so I’ve got that going for me), and I will be good for this role. 

My biggest concern during running was the fact that I was not formal enough. I cut off half the jokes from my platform because I wanted people to take me seriously. But I have realized that’s just not true. My ability to keep things light is part of what makes me a strong candidate. Knowing how to talk to people, how to connect, and how to make spaces feel welcoming is a skill that makes me an effective president. A CSA president should be someone you feel comfortable approaching, not someone who feels out of reach. That’s exactly what I bring to the table. 

Aside from the roles and the overall pleasant personality, I love Carleton. I’m incredibly well integrated within the community, and I am super excited with the possibility of working for it at such a high scale! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns, and I would love to chat! 

Hi, I’m Lydia Bacigalupo, and I’m a junior Statistics major from Duluth, Minnesota. I’m running for CSA Vice President because I have always believed in promoting progress based, forward focused systems. In CSA, I would lead effective and functional operations, driven by strategy, compassion, and collaboration, while emphasizing individuality and diversity. Carleton students have a wealth of experiences and opinions, all of which deserve to be heard. Working with students to create these changes excites me, as I have spent my life dedicated to people-centered change and improving our communities.

DEI Conversations: Our current political climate feels scary and unpredictable, even in the Carleton bubble. However, I have found that there is little to no transparency from the school administration about how they are being affected by new federal policies. I would emphasize opening up some of these conversations to students and would like to keep everyone in the loop. We deserve to know how we may be impacted and should not have to speculate about our basic treatment as a diverse population.

Creating and promoting more inclusive support groups: Additionally, I’d promote and expand spaces for students to express their feelings and worries about DEI initiatives. While some communities currently exist to provide support, students might not feel like there’s a group they identify with, or they might not be aware of any. I actively work with TakeAction Minnesota and the University of Delaware’s Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender Based Violence, groups to promote social justice and progressive change for underrepresented groups. In my experience, creating spaces to address what is going on in the world and centering our experiences and feelings together creates a stronger community. I have often felt this presence missing from my Carleton experience, so I would communicate with and promote student groups and organizations that offer this experience.

Mental Health Awareness: Further, I would work with groups like the Office of Accessibility Resources, SHAC, and the Office of Health Promotion to create more awareness about mental health resources and accommodations. Struggling with mental health can be an isolating experience, and when there’s a lot of bureaucratic processes in the way of getting help, it might prevent students from seeking resources. Additionally, creating a healthier culture of work-life balance for students would be one of my top priorities. This is done in collaboration with academic and health offices.

Creating better overall experiences for survivors of relationship and gender based violence: This is one of my top priorities. Many students do not know the process of submitting a Community Concern Form, and there is little knowledge of what happens after submitting a CCF. I would work with SMPR to create better communication and awareness about the resources available after reporting, and would work with campus groups to create safe and supportive environments where survivors do not have to constantly explain and validate their feelings in order to get help. The Carleton website has very little information about these processes and resources, so I would create a better site to provide easy access to this information. When you look up SMPR at Carleton, there is essentially no specific website, only information about Title IX. I would also include better communication about relevant statistics. The college is required to report crime data, but can be hard to find and research.

Updating information about clubs: I would work with student organizations and clubs to create better online accessibility. The information currently available online is outdated and hard to navigate. While events like the Student Involvement Fair offer amazing chances to explore new opportunities, this information should always be available, even to prospective students. In order to increase transparency and student involvement, I would update and improve these resources.

Why me?
I would bring real world experiences to the vice presidency, along with passion, empathy, and respect for Carleton students and CSA officers. I constantly work on logistics, communications, operations, and research as an SDA for the Public Policy Department, with the UD Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender Based Violence, as a mentor for Project Friendship, as a tutor for the Quantitative Resource Center, and as a volunteer at TakeAction Minnesota. I am excited about helping Carleton grow by creating and executing better processes to amplify and lift each of our voices.

Hello there! Thank you for taking the time to read my platform. I hope to have made the case for electing me as your 2025-26 CSA Vice President. I am a double major in political science, international relations, and religion on the pre-law track. I got involved with the CSA as a first-year because I believed I had the fire to drive to improve our student body experience. My goal has been to deepen the relationships that make us Carls while increasing the representation of students from underrepresented groups in the CSA Senate and committees.

As Vice President, I would be the student body’s liaison to the CSA and represent your interests in our student government. That is why the main focus of my campaign is improving Collaboration and Communication between the larger student body, student organizations, and the CSA.

COLLABORATION

• Student Activity Office (SAO)
  • SAO works closely with student organizations in preparation for events and trips. Yet, there is a need for better communication and support for student organizations. I propose creating evaluation forms for student organization leaders to complete after events to help concretize their intentions going into events and their finalized execution. An evaluative form such as this will also be an excellent
    tool for managing organizational events and getting feedback on ways to improve SAO support and better ways to help organizations on campus, which helps you.
• Club-wide Student Calendar:
  • As the Veep, I want to work with the SAO, the CPB, and the Carleton Communications Office to create a campus-wide student calendar featuring relevant information on student events from across the many aspects of student life, from ACA Night to events at the Cave. Student organization leaders can add their events to the calendar, which is accessible to the rest of the student body so that you can stay updated on the exciting events of student life at Carleton.
• Cultural Programming Board (CPB):
  • Carleton’s Cultural Programming Board, a branch of the Office of Intercultural Life (OIL), comprises student leaders from cultural organizations across campus to be a collaborative space for underrepresented cultures. We should have better communication and cohesion between the function of this board and the CSA. I
    propose that the Vice President act as a liaison to this board to keep current on student life’s many events and happenings and ensure that the CSA is involved. As your Veep, it would be my responsibility to ensure that the CSA supports these student leaders in their planning so they can better serve you.
• Shared Resources List:
  • I will work with the OIL and CPB offices to create a list of resources
    accessible to all student organizations and ensure their safe storage in the newly developed Multicultural Center. If organizations become more resourceful and use already available materials for events, this will save the CSA Budget Committee a lot of money!

COMMUNICATION

While communication isn’t necessarily the Vice President’s responsibility, I believe that the way information is disseminated from the CSA to organizations and students can be improved. I look forward to working to make this happen.

• Official CSA Bulletin Board:
  • I am advocating for creating a CSA-executive-ran information hub for students to get the significant takeaways from weekly Senate meetings, highlight upcoming student events on campus, and give publicity to newly chartered organizations. As Veep, I am responsible for fostering collaboration among the larger student body and the CSA. I look forward to working with the communications officer to facilitate this by building an open communication connection.
• Student Proposal Forum:
  • I want to implement a Carleton-wide forum to solicit student proposals on what the CSA should focus on. Through this initiative, you will have a say in the projects that CSA working groups made of CSA senators have developed during their time in office to accomplish these goals. As your veep, I will work closely
    with your elected representatives to meet your needs.

Campus Involvement/Qualifications

• Carleton Students Association Budget Committee:
  • Since my freshman Fall, I have been an active member of the Budget Committee. At Budget, we allocate money to various spheres of student life, including cultural organizations, Spring Sproncert, and PEAR. Participating in the committee has allowed me to stay connected with the happenings of the Carleton student body. I have also developed insights into how the CSA operates with many other non-student departments.
• Carleton 2026 Class Representative
  • I was a class representative during my freshman fall and winter terms. As a liaison between our class and the CSA, I redefined the role of class reps on campus and the CSA from passive to active members and contributors to improving the Carleton experience for everyone.
• Carleton Muslim Students Association:
  • I began my freshman year as the secretary of MSA and then graduated to become the organization’s president during my sophomore year. I led the MSA board during one of the most difficult times for Muslims due to the war in Gaza, and this has given me valuable experience in leadership when unprecedented circumstances arise.

My name is Brady (he/him), and I am running for Vice President of the CSA Senate. At the moment, I am serving as the Office of Accessibility Resources liaison to the CSA Senate. Around campus, you might have heard me play trombone in Symphony Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra, including performing the trombone solo in the Mozart Requiem that the Orchestra and Choir performed in Spring 2024, and sing in Carleton Choir and Chamber Choir. I am running for Vice President because I want to accelerate improvements to campus life for the student body.

Priorities:

• Accessibility
  • Fix slippery sidewalks: In the winter, the sidewalks become very slippery due to melted snow re-freezing. I would work with Facilities to develop a plan to further reduce the amount of ice accumulating on the sidewalks and with the Rec Center to start an equipment-sharing program that provides gear for cold weather and icy sidewalk/road conditions
  • Obtain funding from the Office of Stewardship to support accessibility: Last year, the OAR obtained funding from alumni to support neurodivergent students. I would continue this in collaboration with the Office of Stewardship to secure funding for accessibility improvements on campus.
  • Include “may contain” labels in the dining hall: Due to Bon Appetit company policy, Dining Services does not provide ingredient lists, requiring students to speak with ingredient experts to find out if certain dishes contain anything to which they are allergic or sensitive. I would work with dining services to put “may contain” labels on dishes so that students could more quickly make informed decisions about what they can eat.
  • Work with Facilities to identify and improve inaccessible areas of campus: There are multiple buildings on campus that are physically inaccessible (in most cases, one must ascend stairs to enter and/or the building has multiple floors and no elevator). I would collaborate with Facilities and Capital Planning to determine which areas of campus can be made more accessible and draft plans to make improvements.
• Transportation
  • Lower Zipcar cost: Currently, Zipcar costs $11.75 per hour or $89.25 per day, not including taxes and fees, which can add over 20 percent to the total cost. To put that into perspective, $11.75 is not much lower than the lowest hourly student worker wage at Carleton. Having Zipcar cost as much as it does could make it
    inaccessible to some students, just as $35 Northfield Lines Metro Express tickets were not frequently used. The high cost of Zipcar also means that first-years, who are not allowed to have cars on campus, have fewer options for getting off campus. I would work with Campus Services and other pertinent offices to lower the cost of Zipcar for students.
• Food
  • More variety at breakfast: Breakfast options often are limited and do not have much nutritional variety (e.g. biscuits and gravy). It is much more difficult to have a balanced meal at breakfast than it is at lunch or dinner. I would work with dining services to add more variety to breakfast offerings.
  • Fruit in dining halls: Many students have expressed interest in having fruit available in the dining hall. I would work with dining services to make a variety of fruit available during every meal.
  • Fresh vending machine: While the fresh vending machine in the Rec Center is an improvement from previously existing vending machines, it is not in an easily accessible location and cannot be accessed at all hours of the day. I would work to have a fresh vending machine placed in a more central location accessible for
    more of the day (so that students can access it when the Rec Center is closed), such as Sayles, and work with Dining Services to allow dining dollars to be used for the fresh vending machines.
• Communication between students and administration
  • I would put together a means for students to provide suggestions to the CSA executives on issues that students would like the administration to address. I would relay that student input to relevant offices and administrators so that more of the student body’s ideas can be shared with the administration in an efficient
    manner. From my leadership roles on campus (see below), I have developed negotiation skills that I could use to persuade the administration to take action on student concerns.

Experience:

• CSA Senate
  • I have served on Senate for the past two years as the OAR liaison, and it has
    given me a window into what CSA can realistically accomplish.
• OAR Peer Leader:
  • I organized and led programs to educate students and faculty about disability:
    • A panel of neurodivergent students speaking at an LTC Lunch
    • A book club for faculty on Neurodiversity and Education
    • A presentation at the 2024 Winter Peer Leader Conference on how to talk about disability
    • I helped to lead meetings of the Association of Neurodivergent Students (ANDS).
    • I helped to organize the Art Night for the Perlman Museum’s exhibit by disabled artists from Winter 2024.
    • I regularly contribute to the Accessibility Digest (the newsletter for OAR).
• CDA Co-President/former Vice President of OAR/other offices relations:
  • I relayed student concerns about inaccessibility to the OAR, Dean of Students Office, and Dining Services. This has resulted in, among other things, subsidized medical transportation and a quiet room in LDC.
  • I negotiated between CDA and OAR to find reasonable compromises that addressed student concerns within the scope of OAR’s capabilities.
• Equestrian Vice Captain:
  • By negotiating between team members and the riding instructor, I oversaw an overhaul of the attendance and dues policy for the Equestrian club that dramatically improved attendance and conserved College resources.
  • I planned the lesson schedule for each term, matching riders by experience level
    and availability.
  • I kept track of attendance and cancellations, notifying the instructor of any student cancellations. Through having to relay information quickly when riders had last-minute cancellations, I became proficient in taking care of time-sensitive tasks.
• Music ensembles
  • As the principal trombonist in the Orchestra and the lead trombonist in the Jazz Ensemble, I have learned how to lead a group of my peers by setting a stylistic example of how the section should play segments of music in which the section is in rhythmic unison.

In addition to having extensive leadership experience on campus, I have had valuable life experiences that have prepared me for this executive position. Early on in my life, it was not clear whether I would survive, as I was born at 27 weeks and spent the first three months of my life in the hospital. I experienced a brain bleed at three days old that led to hydrocephalus, a brain condition characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid that has led to 9 brain surgeries. Due both to being autistic and to the developmental delays brought on by prematurity
and hydrocephalus, I spent much of my primary and secondary education in a special education program that was not a good fit for me, and by enduring that education program and the 9 brain surgeries needed to treat hydrocephalus, I have become quite resilient and flexible. In addition, I have had to deal with a lot of ostracization throughout my life, and as a result I am not afraid to go out on a limb to take an unpopular stand when it is the right thing to do.

My name is Marcus Merkelbach, and I am a junior economics major from Seattle, Washington. I am a dedicated Carleton College student with a strong commitment to leadership, collaboration, and service to the community. With a solid foundation in economics and hands-on experience in financial management, I am eager to apply my skills to the CSA Treasurer role. I bring an organized, thoughtful approach to problem-solving and a passion for ensuring resources are managed effectively for the benefit of all students.

Key Qualifications & Experience:

Leadership and Collaboration:
As a varsity athlete and coach, I have honed my leadership skills in diverse settings, managing teams, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing collective goals. I am confident in my ability to chair the CSA Budget Committee, working alongside other officers and CSA chartered organizations to ensure that every decision aligns with the interests of the broader Carleton community.

Financial Experience and Strategic Thinking:
My internship at Alvarez and Marsal, where I worked on corporate valuations and financial modeling, has equipped me with practical skills in analyzing financial data and managing budgets. I have experience with tools like CAPIQ and financial reports, which will enable me to effectively administer CSA funds and ensure compliance with the CSA Financial Regulations. This experience will be crucial when presenting budgets to the Senate, conducting Spring Allocations, and supporting the fiscal needs of student organizations.

Engagement with the Campus Community:
Effective communication is key to any leadership role. As Treasurer, I will work to ensure that students and CSA organizations are fully informed about the budget process and have the resources they need. I am committed to fostering transparency and accessibility—by continuing to publish termly financial reports—making sure all voices are heard and that budget decisions are made collaboratively.

Commitment to Service and Accountability:
In all my roles—whether as a coach or a wetland field technician—I have learned the value of service and accountability. I take great pride in serving others, and as Treasurer, I will make it my priority to manage our finances responsibly and make sure that funds are allocated where they are most needed to support student life at Carleton.

Goals as Treasurer:

• Chair the Budget Committee with Integrity: Lead the CSA Budget Committee to ensure our funds are allocated fairly and in alignment with the CSA Constitution and Bylaws. My experience in financial reporting and analysis will support this process by providing clear, accurate, and actionable insights.
• Transparent and Inclusive Budgeting Process: Work collaboratively with CSA officers and chartered organizations to create an accessible, fair, and transparent budget that reflects the diverse needs of the student body. I will ensure that the budget process is well-documented and that all decisions are communicated clearly to students.
• Support Spring Allocations: Manage the Spring Allocations process efficiently and fairly, working with student organizations to allocate funds in a way that supports the goals and needs of the broader campus community. My financial background will help ensure that this process is both strategic and equitable.
• Effective Representation in the Senate: As a voting member of the Senate, I will advocate for the financial well-being of students, using my experience in financial analysis and budgeting to inform decision-making and promote transparency in all Senate discussions.
• Build Strong Alumni Relations for Future Support: I will also explore opportunities to leverage the alumni network, engaging past students in fundraising initiatives and creating pathways for ongoing support for the CSA. This will help ensure long-term financial sustainability.

As Treasurer, my goal is to maintain fiscal responsibility, lead with transparency, and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to benefit the Carleton community. I am excited to bring my experience and passion for service to this role and look forward to contributing to the continued success of CSA.

My name is Zaeda Peter, and chances are you’ve seen me around school carrying either my stuffed emotional support pigeon named Penny or my purple yarn bag stu fed with my crochet projects. But if you haven’t, let me introduce myself. I am an international student from Laborie, Saint Lucia, and I am an economics major and a French & Public Policy double minor. I’m running for treasurer because I believe every student organization at Carleton should have access to the resources and support they need to succeed. I’m ready to make our financial process as smooth as possible.

My Leadership Experience:
❖ Carleton College Budget Committee, Member(current)
Since my freshman fall, I have been a faithful member of the budget committee. I have served under 3 of our treasurers (past and present) and have been a part of Spring Allocations. Alongside my fellow committee members, I have assisted in overseeing and allocating over $900,000 in funding for student organizations, ensuring equitable and strategic distribution of resources. My participation in the
committee has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the inner workings of CSA’s finances. It has also allowed me a chance to connect with students from all different walks of life, from our cultural organizations to our PEAR sports teams and everyone in between!

❖ Carleton College Governance Committee, Member(current)
My journey with the governance committee also started during my freshman year. As a member of the committee, I have reviewed and approved 30+ charters for new student organizations in an effort to foster campus engagement and innovation. I have learned how to balance voting for new organizations while taking into consideration existing groups and facilities already present on campus. This has also given me invaluable experience working with student orgs behind the scenes and has presented me with a wealth of knowledge of how clubs operate.

❖ Residential Life, Resident Assistant (current)
Being an RA has allowed me to gain a better understanding of student life and the challenges that residents, both domestic and international face on a daily basis.

❖ African Caribbean Association, Caribbean Representative(former)
I have assisted in planning campus-wide events, including ACA night, and helped to cultivate a welcoming environment for African and Caribbean students on campus. It has also given me deep insight into how cultural organizations are structured and the experiences of some of the most underrepresented groups on campus.

❖ Black Babes of Carleton, Co-President (current)
As Co-President of Black Babes of Carleton, I have been dedicated to fostering a welcoming and affirming space for Black and femme-presenting students—one of the smallest minority groups on campus. While our events are more intimate in scale, this has allowed me to develop deep, meaningful connections within this community and gain valuable insight into the unique experiences and challenges we face.

Why this Matters for Treasurer
Through my involvement in student governance, cultural organizations, and residential life, I have spent years working closely with communities across campus. These experiences have given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges student orgs face, from funding constraints to administrative hurdles. I know what it takes to advocate for student organizations and ensure their needs are met because I’ve been in the spaces where these conversations happen. As treasurer, I will be an accessible, informed, and proactive resource—someone who not only understands CSA’s finances but also understands you.

Platform Points:
❖ Cultural programming board x Budget Committee
I propose reserving one seat on the Budget Committee for a member of the Cultural Programming Board. This would ensure that cultural organizations have direct representation in budget discussions, fostering inclusivity and making sure their unique needs and perspectives are considered in funding decisions.

❖ A guidebook for student organizations
Student organizations inevitably experience leadership turnover, which can make financial transitions challenging. I propose creating a simplified guidebook outlining how funding works and ensuring new board members can navigate the process smoothly. This resource would also provide information on accessing other funding sources at Carleton, increasing financial transparency and accessibility for all student organizations.

❖ Host treasurer office hours
With this role becoming an official position, the treasurer will have more flexibility in managing their duties. I propose hosting office hours biweekly (or by appointment) to support new organizations in planning their first events and understanding funding bylaws. This will ensure clubs know what can be funded and how to navigate the financial process effectively.

❖ Greater collaboration amongst student organizations
Hosting events together is great, but we can take collaboration even further. In partnership with the Vice President, I propose creating a shared inventory of items owned by student organizations, along with designated contact points to encourage resource sharing. For example, if Group A owns 15 black tablecloths and Group B needs black tablecloths for an event, they can borrow instead of purchasing new ones; saving both time and money.
❖ Student organization accountability & archive
After each event, student organizations would be required to complete an event evaluation form, serving two key purposes:

• Record-keeping & guidance: Establish an online archive of all CSA-funded events, creating a
  valuable resource for new club treasurers to reference when planning future events.
• Event improvement & waste reduction: Provide a benchmark for annually recurring events,
  helping organizers reflect on successes and areas for improvement—especially regarding budgeting and reducing food waste.

❖ More storage for student clubs
If you’ve attended a budget committee meeting, you’ve likely heard the question, “Where will you store this item once it’s purchased?” Storage limitations shouldn’t be a barrier to well-planned events. I propose exploring additional storage options, especially for organizations that aren’t affiliated with a Carleton office and may not have access to existing storage spaces.

❖ Comprehensive financial reports
Prior to 2020, the treasurer published comprehensive financial reports on a yearly basis, making CSA’s financial activities transparent and accessible to students. I believe reinstating this practice is essential for ensuring accountability, promoting trust, and helping students better understand how our funding system operates.

❖ No more deficit <3
For the past few years, CSA has been operating at a deficit, but we’re finally approaching a break-even point. With careful financial planning, we can ensure long-term stability while continuing to fund student initiatives effectively.

As Communications Officer, I will make CSA communications clear, accessible, and engaging. The CSA newsletter will be concise and relevant, highlighting important updates. I will make it a priority to represent the students’ voice and student organizations by keeping everyone updated on campus events through clear, to-the-point communication. I plan to open up better ways for students to give feedback, whether that’s through surveys, direct communication, or a student forum, allowing students to voice concerns and see them addressed. I will make sure that CSA processes and happenings are transparent and well publicized. It is important to set a precedence for accessibility, which I will achieve through making CSA communications easier to understand and more direct, making sure things are easy to find. Whether it’s clearer emails, more organized materials, or better use of other media, my goal is to make CSA communication straightforward. Students should not have to dig for important information or feel like the CSA is out of touch. By prioritizing clarity, efficiency, and student engagement, I will ensure that the CSA communications will serve its purpose of keeping students informed, involved, and connected.

Hi there! My name is Talia Raich (she/her) and I am so excited to be running for
Communications Officer! I have been on CSA since September of my freshman year as College Council Liaison which has largely contributed to my platform and confidence in transitioning into this role (scroll to read more about my experience). To give you the gist, I think there is much room to make CSA more accessible to the student body. Carleton Student Association is actually every student at Carleton, not just the Senate. Everywhere I go at Carleton I hear snippets of what people feel angry, passionate, or excited about, even here on my OCS in Southeast Asia (oh yeah hi from Thailand!). When there are issues in our community they must be heard and addressed. To me, that breaks down into four categories: Student Body, Internal CSA, Administration, and External Communication (you can play a game with how many times I say communication, get ready).

Student Body:

• I will clearly communicate crucial CSA occurrences through emails, social media, and office hours. I would also like to remove some of the formality around communications and focus on accessibility. At the end of the day, it’s Carleton student government – it can be chill while still making sure you can make the most out of CSA.
• I want to hear all your gripes and suggestions! As Communications Officer, I would host ‘ask CSA anything’ weekly in Sayles for you to ask questions, offer feedback, and engage in dialogue. There should not be any barriers should you want to communicate.
• With that, feedback forms. They exist, but they can definitely be improved upon so you can bring anything up easily.
• Information should be more centralized in both the website and newsletter format. I will work on one centralized webpage with all the relevant events and information that is constantly updated.
• The CSA Instagram will be epic! We will feature students, highlight orgs, have fun graphics and polls. I have learned a trick or two on Canva and Photoshop while working multiple graphic design and marketing jobs.

Internal CSA:

• Being a senator provides you with many opportunities to benefit the student body, but it’s really difficult to know where to start. Given my experience on Senate, I’ve learned a lot about the challenges and problem-solving involved with being an effective member. There are so many phenomenal people with amazing ideas on CSA. I will assist senators in communicating with who they represent to make sure we get all of the feedback necessary to push forward changes.
• I will make sure every student, especially non-senators, feels welcome at Senate. It might be scary to show up, but it is so important. I will make sure to greet you and fill you in on the processes (Mondays, 7-9pm! Anyone and everyone should come – we want to hear from you).

Administration:

• In my past CSA role, I got an up-close look at how administration systems function. I feel comfortable in both reaching out to administrators and helping you set up a meeting or draft an email. Change is important and the college should know when we want to enact it!
• Speaking of which, the 7-meal plan has been a hot topic. I feel strongly about the opportunity to go off-board remaining or a revised meal plan along with a better approach to food insecurity. I have already been advocating for this and working on paths to tackle both the meal plan and food insecurity by having discussions with administrators, faculty, and the Board of Trustees. I promise I will continue to do so should I be elected.

External:

• I believe CSA should be constantly improving and rethinking structures and decisions. To that end, I will spearhead the creation of a network of college student governments to take inspiration and bounce ideas off each other. Given that we all are colleges dealing with the same global and national events, there is a lot of room to learn from other schools which can be crucial to making good decisions and continuing to reform our systems.

Phew ok of course I have more to add, but these are the main points. The role “Communications Officer” also has set responsibilities in the Constitution that I will not bore you with, but should I be elected, I would definitely fulfill those. The constitutionality of CSA has been raised recently in the Carletonian and I will work on reforming the systems to ensure that CSA is upholding what it has promised students. I have taken both Constitutional Law 1 and 2 just to prepare for this moment :).

If you are interested, here’s a little about me! I do outreach for Women’s+ Rugby (go oaks!), mock trial, JSC, find myself occasionally living in interest houses, and I am currently on OCS in Southeast Asia. I love walking in the woods, stealing (borrowing?) oyster crackers from Sayles, and accidentally almost biking into people on campus. Most relevantly, I have been CSA College Council Liaison and on CSA governance committee for the past year and half where I have learned valuable skills such as advocating and listening. I worked at SAO doing marketing and graphic design where I created some of those posters you might have seen in your email or around campus – yay communication! There’s more stuff on my resume that’s applicable but I won’t make you read it if you trust me.

Most importantly, I’ll always be there for you. Being a part of CSA means representation and listening – something I will prioritize as Communications Officer. If you made it this far, thank you so so much for reading. I know it’s been quite a few platforms to get through – concise is in my plan for CSA’s future :). Totally feel free to contact me at raicht@carleton.edu with any questions, suggestions, or just to say hello!

Hi! I’m Olivia and I am running for the position of College Council Liaison. In the fall, I was appointed as a student representative on the Council and have really enjoyed my time acquiring the skills and responsibilities necessary to act as an elected liaison! The council is a group of administrators, including the president and faculty president, that make decisions for the school in every aspect except for the curriculum. As a member of the council, I have had the chance to vote on topics related to policy changes in disciplinary measures and budgeting, and gaining a deeper insight into the inner workings of the college has been very interesting for me. It has also allowed me to consider the important role I play in making the school a more comfortable and inclusive space for every student!

As your representative, I commit to advocating for your concerns and providing input to the council on issues facing the student body. Here are some topics I commit to addressing as your representative:

1. Showers: Why take an ice bath when you could take a Myers shower? The showers are cold and almost always dirty. As your representative, I will promote better maintenance, keeping showers clean and warm.
2. Laundry: Laundry is a significant issue to students on campus! There are too few machines in each building and they get overcrowded very easily. Also, many are broken and maintenance is spotty. I commit to advocating for greater attention paid to laundry services, including more frequent maintenance and the addition of more machines.
3. Meal plans: Many students have concerns about meal plans on campus. Students with back-to-back classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have no time to eat lunch. Recently, Sayles has decreased their meal swipe dollar equivalency. Also, why aren’t meal swipes cumulative? I will spread awareness about student feelings towards meal swipes to make positive change.

Lastly, I would like to discuss what makes me qualified to represent you on the College Council. Aside from my current role as an appointed student representative on the Council, I have lots of experience in representative positions! I served on the student government in high school and was elected as president of my school in my senior year. As part of my role, I acted as a representative to the town school committee and learned how to properly communicate with town leaders on behalf of the student body. I enjoy making positive change and listening to others and I am excited that I have the opportunity to run for this position! Thank you for your consideration.

Hi everyone! My name is Ian Rothfeld, I’m a sophomore prospective Chemistry and Political Science major from Washington D.C., and I’m running to be one of your College Council Liaisons!

In currently holding the position, as well as having been the CSA’s Secretary and Sustainability Working Group Liaison, I believe I’ve gained experience that makes me the best candidate to represent the student body in college committees. On the CSA too, I would love to continue my work of bringing more fruit into the dining halls, as well as help improve the CSA’s communication and transparency, and make cafe hours more friendly for students.

What is the College Council, what do Liaisons do, and why me?
It’s important to know what the College Council is, so bear with me…
The College Council is a committee of admins, faculty, staff, and students that recommends tuition and college handbook changes to the Board of Trustees. Most recently, we approved next year’s tuition and refined Carleton’s drug and alcohol policies. Liaisons are voting members of that committee, and they report updates back to the CSA Senate.

As such, this position is a bit different from most of the other positions up for election. Many other roles are internal to the CSA and use the CSA’s resources to negotiate with the administration, and while College Council Liaisons sit on the CSA too, they’re also elected to directly represent students alongside faculty and staff on a committee that has a longer-term and college-wide focus. Having been on the College Council since last Spring Term, I’ve had the opportunity to experience first-hand the full range of what it does. And from that, I’ve learned which questions are best to ask and how to best relay an understanding of how students feel to other groups on campus.

The bottom line? Having already successfully represented students on the College Council, I believe I’m the best candidate for this position.

What have I been working on in the CSA, and what do I want to improve?
Even if the main job of the College Council Liaison is to ~liaise~, the position is still a part of the CSA Senate. And using that position, I’d like to improve:

1 – FRUIT: Since the beginning of my freshman year, I’ve been disappointed in the lack of fruit options at Carleton. Fresh-cut fruit (like pineapple and watermelon) is only offered during breakfast and brunch—and during brunch, fruit is only offered in a (sort of gross) mixed assortment. The result is that fruit isn’t very accessible, unless you’re willing to consistently wake up early to make it to breakfast (I and many others are not morning people).

To remedy that, I started and have been leading a CSA group with the goals of: 1) getting that fresh cut fruit into the dining halls during lunch, 2) splitting up the fresh cut fruit during brunch, 3) having consistent access to grapes during breakfast, and 4) getting berries during breakfast. I would love to see that project all the way through, and plan to do so if re-elected.

2 – CSA Communication: One of the best ways to let everyone know what the College Council and CSA does is to improve the CSA’s communication with the student body. Having been on the CSA for the past two years (this year as a voting member, last year as its secretary), I’ve seen how it has a massive impact on students. It has a budget of almost $1,000,000, and practically every aspect of student life depends on it—from student orgs to athletic teams. And it hears presentations from the administration and offices around campus, making it the best place for students to bring up issues with those who can fix them.

Students at large should care more about what the CSA does, but the only way to achieve that is to actively advertise its actions. I would do that by continuing what I did as Secretary: creating easily readable summaries of meetings to be made accessible so that everyone can easily keep track of what the CSA is doing, and incorporating more information into newsletters so everyone can be as informed as possible about what’s happening around campus.

3 – Dining Generally (Meal Plans and Hours): Nobody is happy with the mandatory
7-minimum meal plan, and many are unhappy about dining hours (Sayles should stay open later during weekdays, and a 3a-4a-5a schedule shouldn’t prevent people from eating lunch). The CSA should hold more conversations with the administration to find solutions that both the college and students find acceptable.

4 – Other Working Groups: While I would like to focus on those three things on the CSA Senate, I would love to assist other senators in their working groups too (such as projects working to get a bike share program on campus or to allow us to have OneCards on our phones).

I would be happy to discuss any ideas anyone else has too!

Hello, everyone! My name is Abdulrahman, or more commonly known as Mono. I’m running to be the class representative for seniors. For context, I’m mainly running to help build more leverage for students in the eyes of the college. Truth be told, despite being the only person running, I have experience working with organizations/administrators from my time in Res Life and council work in my hometown of St. Paul, MN. So, I believe I can bring some value to CSA with my ideas and dedication.

As for what are my goals or values I hold. I believe in transparency, advocacy, and community. I’ll ensure seniors stay informed, push for our interests with the administration, and work to strengthen our class community. Most importantly, I’m here to listen and turn your concerns into action whenever I meet with the CSA. If given the opportunity, I will do everything in my power to create the change that is demanded by the people for the people. Let’s hope for a good 2025-2026 year!

I’m Natalie Berman-Schneider and I am so excited for the chance to be your next class representative! I cannot wait to serve as a liaison between our class and CSA, and I am ready to be your go-to person for anything you want to change or improve during our time at Carleton.

A little about me:
I’m currently working as the Leadership & Intercultural Programming Assistant in the Student Activities Office, which means I’m directly involved with planning a ton of the events you enjoy as a Carleton student, like Sproncert, Midwinter Ball, and Date Knight. I’m also on the CSA Budget Committee, run the Figure Skating Club, and play on NOVA!

Why does this matter to you?
Since I already have established relationships with people in SAO, SAPB, and Budget Committee, I can quickly bring any ideas or concerns you have straight to the places where change can be made. Whether it’s suggesting a new student activity or having a say in decisions that affect us, like raising the CSA activity fee, I’ve got the resources needed to make change happen.

My leadership experience:
Before Carleton, I was a camp counselor at the Boys and Girls Club teaching cooking classes, and I currently coach at Northfield Skating School. These experiences taught me the importance of creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels heard and welcomed. I absolutely want to make sure people feel like they belong, and I’ll bring this mentality to my work as your class rep.

What I want to work on:
Food → As someone who eats gluten-free, I completely get how frustrating it is when dining hall options are limited. I want to advocate for more options for dietary restrictions, such as ensuring there is always gluten-free bread available. I also want to improve the quality and consistency of dining staples like the eggs and grilled chicken, and increase the fruit selection. I would love to bring back “Berry Mondays” and add cut fruit to lunch and dinner options. Shout-out Ian Rothfeld <3
Budget Allocation → As a member of Budget Committee, I am already very involved in allocating funds for organizations and the general student body. I want to bring more student opinions to budget decisions to better allocate funds, such as purchasing more washers for dorms, providing dish soap and basic cooking supplies in kitchens, and subscribing to campus-wide study resources.
Transportation → Last winter, I had a 104.5 degree fever over a weekend but there was no way for me to get to urgent care because CarlsGo! only runs on weekdays, and no one had a car. The new ZipCar service is only available for campus drivers, and the cars often fail to arrive or are in poor condition. I want to work on making weekend transportation a reality (think: a CarlsGo!-like service, free rideshare options, and lower-cost trips to the Twin Cities).
Sports → Right now, club and intramural sports often practice at extreme hours (like 6 AM or 10 PM) during the winter because of limited recreation hours. In addition, many people have expressed interest in longer rec hours, especially on weekends. I want to explore options to make things more balanced, like switching up the club team reservation schedule mid-term so groups aren’t stuck with really early or late slots for the whole term.
Community → I hope to host Class of 2027 events, such as ice cream socials, catered dinners, movie nights, and bowling trips. With my experience in event planning at SAO, I am very familiar with planning large events, and cannot wait to make these fun opportunities happen for our class!

If you ever see me around campus please come say hi! I am committed to creating a welcoming campus environment and genuinely want to fix issues that our class cares about. Thank you for taking the time to read my platform and considering me for your class representative!

My name is Ian Chang and I would like you to vote for me as one of your Class of 2027 Representatives. Some quick facts about me—I’m planning to double major in Biology and Statistics, and I’ve lived all over, including New Jersey, Michigan, Dallas, and North Carolina. Currently, I serve as the OIL Liaison for CSA and as a student member of the Carleton Responsible Investments Committee. I’m also involved in Karl-Pop, Quiz Bowl, and the Taiwanese Cultural Society. I’m running to be your Class of 2027 representative, and my platform, Vote for CHANGe, builds on my current work in the CSA to improve student access to campus amenities while also addressing broader quality-of-life concerns at Carleton.

What I’ve Been Working on in CSA

• Transportation: I’m working to introduce a bike share system to give students—especially those without cars—greater mobility around campus and beyond.
• Fruit in the Dining Halls: Right now, fruit availability is inconsistent. I’m advocating for more reliable access to fruit and the addition of highly requested options like blueberries, strawberries, and grapes.
• Mobile OneCards: We’ve all forgotten our OneCard and had to rely on a friend to swipe us into a dorm. While Carleton still uses physical IDs, many schools have adopted mobile IDs for dorm and dining hall access. Through CSA, I’m working to push Carleton toward a mobile OneCard option, providing students with a convenient alternative using the devices we already carry every day.

What I Want to Push For

• Meal Plan Reform: I will continue fighting to remove the mandatory meal plan for our class. Additionally, I’ll push for more equitable pricing—because why does the 7-meal plan cost twice as much as buying seven meals a week with cash?
• Actually Late Late Night: We all know Bon Appétit won’t keep Late Night open until 2 AM every day, but I want to work with them to at least extend the current midnight closing time to weekdays–because let’s be real, since when was 10 pm late?
• A More Flexible S/Cr/NC System: Right now, the scrunch limit is 6 credits per term, which usually means you can scrunch one class. But what if you’re taking a 5-week course or a class with a separate lab? By increasing the limit to 9 credits per term, students would have the flexibility to scrunch both a main course and its lab—or a 3-credit course without it interfering with their other plans.

What’s up guys, it’s Duncan, I got some BIG PLANs and AWESOME POSITIONs, but I’ll get to those in a second… First, a little about me –

I was raised in heaven on earth, the glorious Portland Oregon, but I was born in Chicago, so I’ve got a little midwest in me too. At Carleton, you can usually find me tweaking out in the Anderson atrium, or stealing supplies from the makerspace. I also enjoy humiliating myself at club badminton, and breathing loudly at meditation club bi-weekly. And I am over six feet tall. My academic interests lay between STEM and the humanities, because I take a lot of stem classes and also a lot of humanities classes.

I won’t lie, I mainly want to be class rep for one reason – to bring this College’s decision making processes back to the students. We are quite fed up with the decisions being made by the current administrators, such as limitations with the meal plan, and living off campus, which are unpopular and clearly not the future of this school. To reverse these changes, however, it will take time and a lot of effort from the student body, taking away our time to do fun and cool new things, rather than just undoing the mistakes of an out-of-touch administration. What we need is preventive change – students should be consequently involved in these decisions from day one, so they never come to be in the first place. We, the students, are what makes this school amazing (along with the profs, I love yall profs) NOT the administrators – so let us have some say in what happens around here.

Short term though – I’ll be treating yall good with these other changes I’ve got lined up:

Top priority is to get more laundry machines STAT. I weep for my peers who have to journey from Evans to Casset just to clean a shirt and some pants, and my heart breaks for everyone who has made the trek all the way to their building’s laundry room – just to be met with full machines, and a broken dream. THE LEAST we could get is some machine redistribution, equal population – equal machines, that’s how
it should be.

Secondly, I wanna get you guys hooked up with some more perks for going here – yeah, I’m talking Canva and Quizlet pro. Making these tools accessible to all students would lift us all up, allowing us to become smarter and more creative than EVER before.

Perks on the mind, I would love to get a bike share program up and going on campus. We had one before Covid, and there’s no reason not to bring it back. I want every student to know what it’s like to risk their life biking on ice, that’s my goal, let’s make this happen.

Lastly, some additional factors I want to touch on, I donno about you all, but one hindrance on my journey to become super ripped is that the rec keeps closing like super early on the weekends. Let’s open it up some more – create some new jobs there, yada yada yada. I also KNOW no one living in Myers, Musser, or any other old building is showering well – Water pressure worse than anything, gross curtains that never shut fully. Someday soon, the college will have to do something about this – I demand to see a plan about when and how that will happen. Also on that, MOLD!? Let’s fix these places up a bit.

That’s it for now y’all, I love you my constituents <3 vote for me

DunCAN (and he will)

I am Juju Xiaaj, and it would be my honor to serve as the Class of 2027 Representative. I’m currently a residential assistant, on the board for two student organizations, am involved with the performing arts, and have experience with the Carleton Student Association (CSA). Through these opportunities, many profound conversations with peers have inspired me to take initiative in a stronger leadership role.

Leadership Experience and Involvement

● Residential Assistant
One of the most rewarding experiences at Carleton has been building community and organizing events for my floor. Being involved in residential life has taught me invaluable lessons about student life and how to handle conflict resolution, high-stress environments, and prioritizing student needs.

● Reviving the Coalition of Hmong Students (CHS)
I have worked diligently with peers to revive the deactivated Hmong Club at Carleton College. This student organization provides a space of safety for Hmong carls, and I am heading projects to spread awareness to the greater Carleton body. Exploring this opportunity has honed my organizational and leadership assets. To name a few capabilities, my role as a board member requires strong communication, effective coordination of budgets, deliberate community programming, and enthusiasm to educate.

● Serving as treasurer for Letters of Love (LOL)
I am the treasurer for Letters of Love, part of Letters of Love Global, a mission-driven
organization dedicated to helping children and families in hospitals. Collaborating with peers and being part of the process to initiate this chapter at Carleton has given me experience with different campus partners like SAO and the Budget Committee. Like CHS, I am also well attuned to the many logistical elements and detailed documentation as treasurer.

● Served as a CSA College Council Liaison
I have served in a leadership role as a CSA College Council Liaison during Winter Term 2023. I was present for CSA and College Council meetings, gained exposure to the challenges the Carleton community faces, and gained further insight into how changes are made.

My Initiatives as 27’ Class Representative

● Reevaluate academic culture and graduation requirements
While Carleton is known for its academic rigor, students’ mental and physical health should be considered. Carls have many academic and extracurricular interests, and they should be able to pursue these without overtaxing themselves. Creating a sustainable balance between academics, work, and life doesn’t just come from individual change but challenging the expectations and culture of the institution. Exploring solutions to alleviate this immense amount of stress is necessary to support student well-being.

Additionally, graduation requirements are set up to support students in the liberal arts, however, not all credits are reflective of the amount of time and effort put into courses and activities. Especially when it comes to labs and the arts (dance, theater, music, etc.), graduation credits are not inclusive or interdisciplinary and often require a higher commitment while being counted as a 6-credit course or less. For example, pursuing STEM while fulfilling the liberal arts requirements and major requirements can be extremely demanding. Trying new interests and/or students’ health tends to be compromised. There needs to be further conversations on balancing the workload for graduation requirements.

● Improving dining experience and addressing food insecurity
Our class is the first to be under the required meal plan. Whether or not this can change within the remainder of our time at Carleton, this requirement is not beneficial for future Carls. There needs to be exceptions, particularly for interest houses, as the meal plan is more expensive than paying out of pocket for groceries. Additionally, the dining halls are already packed, and as a former dining hall worker, the job will become only more burdensome. My top goals are ensuring fair student wages, addressing better food insecurity solutions, and providing enjoyable dining options and experiences.

● Serve as a bridge
There is a lot that happens on campus. It’s okay not to know everything that is occurring, but I want to ensure everyone is at least aware of the resources available to support them. CSA is, first and foremost, meant to serve you. Knowing where to reach out can be intimidating and overwhelming, so it is my priority to keep communication clear and resources approachable. Being a trusted resource and connecting my peers with opportunities to voice and amplify their input is a tremendous honor. As class rep, I will ensure students’ needs, interests, and voices are heard. Without the student body, there is no Carleton. I firmly believe that student well-being should be the institution’s main priority. A balanced academic and life environment, clear communication, and advocating for student perspectives are imperative to academic excellence and our success as a community.

Without further ado, here is my “platform.”
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.

Firstly, as the incumbent, I am in a unique position to inform you all on the realities of the position. My platform will tell you all of what I (alongside Nicole) have done and what I can feasibly promise.

What I have done:

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 the 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 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

Lastly, Nicole and I are hosting a CSA stop and chat event on the Bald Spot this Friday from 3:30-5! Hot cocoa, hot cider, music, and movies will all be present. More details will be in a separate email.

Now onto what else I will do as your Carleton rep:

The greatest strength as your rep is through advocacy. Generating as many opportunities for the student body to speak and be heard. This materializes in big and small ways.

• Big
  • Continuing to vote on resolutions for the greater student body
    • such as the ones named above
  • Advocate for the class of 2028 during the Q&As
    • Discontent with dining halls and meal plans
    • Struggles with balancing workload and life
  • Host student events
    • Offer drinks to the student body for free twice a term such as the hot cocoa hot cider event
• Small
  • Hosting CSA office hours
    • in person check-in’s at Sayles
  • Weekly email check-ins
    • EVEN MORE WEEKLY SONG RECS!!!!!!
    • Google forms

As your incumbent and hopeful returning REP, as I said in my first application, as has been my mantra as your rep, and I will continue to believe if re-elected. My job… my platform… my purpose as your rep is to embody the Class of 2028. I won’t disappoint.

Hey everyone! My name is Eli Floyd, and I’m running to be the next Class of 2028 Representative. I am a prospective economics major from Austin, Texas and currently serve as the CSA Secretary. Aside from that, I enjoy working out, getting outdoors, and everything Carleton has to offer!

Experience
I currently serve as your CSA Secretary, which means I dedicate 8+ hours a week to assisting with much of CSA’s operations. Some of my responsibilities include taking minutes during Senate and Budget committee meetings, helping the Treasurer by compiling funding requests, and managing the CSA Calendar/Campus Announcements email chain. Over the last two terms, I’ve worked hard to improve the way these things run. Specifically campus announcements– by enforcing the guidelines and reaching out to offices, I’ve been able to reduce the spam in your inboxes, saving you time.

I have a great understanding of how the organization runs and works for its students. I have a 100% attendance record at CSA and Budget meetings. I have unique experience working with members of the CSA and helping the body accomplish its goals through my behind-the-scenes work. I hope to utilize this experience as your Class Rep by advocating for our mutual priorities while embracing realism. I know exactly what CSA can and can’t do, and most importantly, how to do it best.

Platform

1. Fiscal responsibility
   • What: In February, the CSA Senate voted to increase the Activity Fee by 6.2% this year, from $435 to $462. That’s an increase that we, the students, pay for directly, and is generally not covered by financial aid except in very limited circumstances. This fee is important and is used to fund events like Sproncert and Midwinter Ball, as well as the vast majority of clubs on campus. In econ/finance terms, the money has a very high ROI (return on investment). However, CSA can (and should) pursue more fiscal responsibility and work to balance the budget. I’ll use my position as Class Representative to commit to taking a deeper dive at tackling the budget and maintaining full funding for clubs and events while looking over any inefficiencies. Next year, the goal will be to cap the rate of increase to 3-4% in line with inflation. I’ll work hard to hold CSA to this standard.
   • How: I am a non-voting member of the Budget Committee and currently commit 2-3 hours a week to attending meetings/setting agendas, etc. I understand the CSA’s budget and will combine my CSA experience with my own personal passion for finance to deliver results.
2. Two-way communication
   • What: The “C” word is a part of everyone’s platform. Which makes sense, given that Class Representatives serve as a bridge between their Class and CSA as a whole. It’s important for us to communicate with you about issues like the meal plan and other topics that are directly relevant to the well being of our class. But it’s equally important for you to communicate with us, and it’s our responsibility as Class Rep’s to facilitate that. I will be sure and listen to your concerns and voice them within CSA meetings.
     And I will also pursue more creative ways for engagement, by making a space for first-years to inform other first-years of events/performances, etc. to promote cohesion as a club.
   • How: Using my experience running CSA communication infrastructure for Carleton as a whole, I am uniquely suited for this role. I’ll commit to hosting engaging weekly office hours that go beyond tabling at Sayles. I’ll also hold periodic events that you will actually want to go to, like campus-wide hide and seek for first-years, trivia nights, etc.
3. Fostering pet-projects
   • What: CSA has a large discretionary fund that can be used to give money to projects that directly benefit the student body. While CSA doesn’t have power over policies like the meal plan, academic requirements, or parking, it is arguably the best way we have to advocate for change. That being said, I will focus on the little things that are feasible (listed below)
     • Implementation of a bike-share program
     • Small improvements to dining hall food (like more fruit options, etc.)
     • Funding more trips to the Mall of America and other Twin Cities destinations
   • How: I will set realistic goals and priorities (informed from my experience on CSA) and will be honest with you all about what will work rather than making bold, unrealistic promises. I will use my time during meetings to foster collaboration with other class representatives and liaisons, building on the relationships I already have.

Thank you for taking the time to read my platform, and I humbly ask for your vote this weekend. Good luck with the rest of your term!

Hello Class of 2028, I’m James Gates and I would like to be your Class Rep!
As a student, athlete, and someone involved in the arts, I am able to relate to many of you. I think this better puts me in a position to represent our class as a whole.

Here are some of my ideas:

1. Printers in the dorms:
   It’s so inconvenient to have to march to an academic building to print out your paper that you finished last minute. Having just one printer in each dorm would make life a lot easier, especially for people living in remote parts of campus (like… Goodhue).
2. Class Games:
   When I was going through the knock off quizlet that I made to learn all your names, I realized that I know less of you than I thought I did. So here’s my proposition: Class Games, an opportunity for us to come together as a class and compete against other classes (trivia, dodgeball, etc.) This friendly competition would not only be fun but also help us foster a stronger sense of community.
3. More Fruit…The Dining Hall:
   Hear me out. Less options for dessert and more fruit (Like… Berrrrries)! I get it, the crazy amount of dessert options are nice, but many of them lie mostly untouched. How about we just streamline it. I don’t know about you but I’d rather have a better meal than a bunch of dessert options.
4. Laundry Baskets:
   Laundry baskets next to the dryers to put people’s stuff in if they’re not there to take it out (better than having to dig through the communal pile).
5. Shelves in the Showers:
   The balancing game in the shower is never fun. On my birthday this past fall, my shower caddy fell from the tiny ledge it was balancing on. I tried to save it and ended up slicing my toe open on the handicap seat and had to get stitches. I’ve now opted out of playing the balancing game but I know lot of you still partake. I think a great solution to this would be… shelves!

At the end of the day, the Class Rep’s role is to represent you all. If you elect me, I promise to be an echo of all your thoughts and feelings. If you have any questions, comments, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out.

Hey everyone! My name is Benedict Le and I’m from Dayton, Ohio! If you don’t know
me— you might remember me as the guy who sang Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” at the 2028 Variety Show during New Student Week, or as a member of Carleton’s fully-freshman Latin jazz band, Caballeros sin Nombre. Off the stage, however, I find myself quite involved in our student body too! As the only freshman member of the CSA Budget Committee, I’m directly involved in efforts to fund and support student activities (e.g. movie showings in the Weitz, cultural organization events, SPRONCERTTT). I’m also the only student member on the campus-wide CEDI (Community, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee that works to accommodate and promote the well-being of all Carleton students. It’s worth noting that the responsibilities of my current positions do not fundamentally overlap with the responsibilities of class representatives, but I firmly believe that the experience and knowledge gained from these roles will assist me to be a successful representative— for the sake of you all.

So now that you know a little bit about who I am and what I do, take a moment to see
what I plan to do through my platform…or, as I like to call it: Benefits with Benedict!!

Communication:
I understand many of my fellow candidates are saying the same thing. And that’s good— transparency and honesty are important!! Here’s what you can expect from me:

• Commitment to addressing the needs of all class members. I’m here for YOU.
• The class representative can only do so much. It’s important that you know there’s a lot I can’t do for you— because you all, as voters, deserve an honest and realistic platform. What I will do, is clearly communicate with you all what I can and cannot do when appropriate.
• Expect to hear from me. As your representative, it is my responsibility to let you know when and how topics and resolutions discussed at CSA Senate meetings will impact you. It is my responsibility, also, to check-in with you all on how I’m living up to the trust you all will place in me to fulfill my promises to you.

Community
As outlined within the CSA constitution, it’s my job to “create opportunities for social and intellectual interaction.” What’s that gonna look like?

• Weekly office hours!! Expect to see me at Sayles.
• And more events!! I wanna see you guys as much as you wanna see me– that means more than just any planned Class of 2028 socials!! Come study with me before exams, come have meals with me— it’s beneficial for all if you get to know me and I get to know you.

Advocacy:
CSA unfortunately does not have the power to change Carleton policies like the
mandatory meal plan, motor vehicle policy, or various academic requirements. However, I understand and recognize that many of us are dissatisfied with many of these policies and would like to see a change in our time here as students. It will be my duty to use my role, in collaboration with all other elected student representatives, as a tool to fight for changes we all want to see at Carleton.

Of course, it’s also worth noting that advocacy falls short without any action. I mentioned collaboration earlier because I believe in and agree with many of the points other CSA candidates are seeking to improve (e.g. convenient transportation to the cities, better dining experiences). I’m committed to working with CSA-at-large to turn these words into action and make realistic improvements for students’ lives.

Amplification:
As someone who’s grown up with a creative spirit, I understand the value of recognizing talent and other hard work. As your representative, I find it important that I work to ensure all members of the Class of 2028 have a platform to achieve that recognition. How will I do that?

• I invite all members of the Class of 2028 to share their talents or anything else they may have going on to be shared to the broader Carleton community through means of the class representative’s social media or newsletters. If you’ve written a poem or short story? Submit it. If you’ve got a masterpiece to be displayed at an art show? Submit it. If you have a performance going on?? Submit it!!! It’s my job as your representative to see you and support you.

That’s all I have for you guys. Thanks for reading and I hope I have the honor of your vote!

Hey, Class of 2028! I’m Viktor Maletin (he/him) from Cupertino, California, and I couldn’t be more excited to run as your Class Representative! As your Class Rep, my goal is to help you get what you want and improve your first-year experience, into sophomore year and beyond.

Serving in student leadership across student government and organizations, I have learned to turn desires for what is wanted into real changes. I have made this platform for realistic changes based on several student experiences, particularly regarding food, transportation, events, and academic success.

FIRST-YEAR FOOD EXPERIENCE
Dietary Restrictions: The dining halls currently only serve alternative food choices for a select few restrictions. This has even led to situations where food options have been incorrectly labeled for contained allergens. I have talked about this with the Dining Liaison and plan on increasing the accessibility of food for dietary restrictions.

Fruits and Protein: As first-years, we are expected to mainly rely on the dining halls for our food. However, the lack of diversity can often lead to similar meals everyday. I will work on increasing the variation of fresher fruits and high-protein foods, for those with dietary restrictions and not.

CLASS EVENTS
Exclusive Events: Social events serve as a great way to meet peers from across our class and have largely not taken place for us. I will strive to organize class-exclusive socials, including with the sophomore class, along with catered food or food trucks.

Fundraise with Off-Campus: Besides the easy access of businesses in-town, it can be harder to impossible to order food and drinks from our favorite restaurants. To fundraise for class events, I will work to bring off-campus goods to campus at affordable prices for your convenience.

TRANSPORTATION FOR YOU
Twin Cities Access: Without on-campus cars for first-years, it can be difficult to access the incredible assets of the Twin Cities. While Northfield Lines serve as a useful option, their high price—even when discounted during weekends—makes frequent trips unaffordable to many students. I will look into the first-year car policy and explore lowering the shuttle prices for students.

Rideshare Options: Due to the price and time restricting nature of shuttles, many other colleges offer free-to-discounted rideshare options for students. While Zipcar is a step in the right direction, the service can prove unreliable and offer cars in poor condition. I will continue the effort to expand affordable alternatives for off-campus transportation for first-years, especially in the case of medical circumstances.

ACCESS TO ACADEMIC PLANNING/CLUBS
STEM Course Interest: Due to the popularity of some classes, it can be very difficult to enroll in desire and necessary STEM coursework as first-years. To combat this, I plan to work with Departments and student interest organizations to conduct interest surveys on desired STEM courses. This would allow Departments to accommodate spots as an under-year class and for interested students to better plan their schedule in upcoming terms.

Club Accessibility: After Clubs Faire, it can be difficult to join new communities and organizations’ mailing lists. I will work on compiling a list of open organizations across the year, and spotlight events for new members, making exploring new interests easier and more fun.

WHY ME?
Leadership Experience: With years of leadership experience from the school to city level, I have served as the president/vice-president of several organizations and been involved with student government for years. As President of Cupertino UNICEF, I learned the why and how of leading and getting things done at a large scale, including what can feasibly be accomplished.

Event Planning Experience: As the Event Director for my school and event planning in other capacities, I have planned a wide range of district-wide events and non-profit fundraisers. As your Class Rep, I am uniquely positioned to apply this experience to similar and new opportunities for our class, especially when it comes to logistics including finances and actual delivery.

STEM and Humanities Experience: As I am interested in studying an intersection of STEM and the humanities, I understand the student-life perspective from both sides. No matter your major, I will work to represent your and the rest of our classmates’ interests.

1. Imagine a scenario, such as the mandatory meal plan, where you face a significant conflict of interest between what is popular among students and the position of College leadership. How would you navigate this situation, and what factors would guide your decision-making?

While our community is quite progressive, there are still issues, such as the mandatory meal plan, that need attention. I recognize that conflicts may arise between student preferences and the position of college leadership. To navigate these situations, I plan to employ a middle-ground approach and creative problem-solving.

I will begin by gathering diverse perspectives through conversations with CSA senators, student leaders, and organizations to understand how the issue affects different groups. After compiling student concerns, I will present these insights to college leadership while also listening to their reasoning. From there, I will advocate for student interests while seeking practical, middle-ground solutions that address both sides. I am prepared to face pushback and will firmly represent student concerns, fostering dialogue that encourages creative, impactful solutions.

I understand that the outcomes may not always align with students’ desires. However, I will strive to find a middle-ground solution. For instance, while the mandatory meal plan will remain in place, I will explore alternative options that still address key aspects of the situation. This will include evaluating our current meal options and quality, defining expectations for students who require alternative plans or live in unique living situations that should qualify for off-board or reduced meal plan requirements, and expanding the variety of meal plans available for all housing types.

Throughout this process, I will use a bi-term presidential report to communicate updates on the issue, share progress made, ask for feedback, and ways to get involved. It is my top priority to provide students with a platform to voice their concerns, relay this information to college leadership, create solutions that benefit students within the administration’s framework, and continue advancing progress on campus.

2. You stand as the primary representative for all students on campus, a role that requires bridging the gap between diverse student interests and the administration. Consider two of your key platform items: What specifically will you do during your first term to advance these interests? How will you build on this foundation in the remainder of your tenure? Please include realistic action steps, points of contact, and areas of collaboration you will use to achieve your goals.

A2. During my first term in office, I will focus on the first “C” of my campaign: Connect. To bridge the gap between students and CSA, I will enhance CSA’s campus presence through front-facing activities, such as a “First Day of Class” photo booth in the spring and collaboration with PEAR for halftime activities and possible pep rallies. To increase engagement, I will hold a town hall in the first few weeks, providing updates on CSA initiatives. Hear from students, and share dates for CSA meeting guests (like President Allison Byrle and Dean Carolyn Livingston). Communication will improve through presidential reports (4th/5th & 8th/9th weeks) and CSA senate emails with meeting agenda sent the weekend before Monday meetings. I will also work with the CSA/SAO webmaster to update the CSA website for better accessibility and collaborate with student organizations and SAO pro-staff to develop a CSA and student orgs guide, launching by New Student Week after gathering input during spring allocations.

The second C I will focus on is Campus Dining Concerns. I will partner with the Food Recovery and ECO club to promote their “Weigh the Waste” project, increasing student participation. A dining hall quality questionnaire will collect student feedback on food quality and meal plan options will be conducted. I will share the data from both projects with college leadership and aim to negotiate for a price reduction on the 7-meal plan or adjust the dining dollar amounts to account for inflation by the end of the term. 

Throughout my tenure, I will see it to accomplish most if not all my C-initiatives by encouraging both my exec team, CSA senators, and the student body to hold me accountable. This can range from addressing all goals during exec and CSA meetings and being open to students to ask me questions or updates during formal and informal conversations.

Imagine a scenario, such as the mandatory meal plan, where you face a significant conflict of interest between what is popular among students and the position of College leadership. How would you navigate this situation, and what factors would guide your decision-making?

The CSA President is a representative of the students, not the administration. While the College leadership has their understandable priorities, my role is to make the student voices be heard loud and clear, and I have faith in our student body to know what makes their lives better. Negotiations on polarizing issues between students and administration such as the meal plan may not result in total change to these policies, but I believe continued advocacy will give way to concessions and workarounds that would be better than the current status quo. My decisions would be fully guided by what works to accommodate our student population, and working with the administration to find the way forward to make Carleton better for its students.

You stand as the primary representative for all students on campus, a role that requires bridging the gap between diverse student interests and the administration. Consider two of your key platform items: What specifically will you do during your first term to advance these interests? How will you build on this foundation in the remainder of your tenure? Please include realistic action steps, points of contact, and areas of collaboration you will use to achieve your goals.

The Social Activism Fund would be my main focus for my first term. The steps involved in order to make it a feasible policy would be deciding on guidelines for funding, allocating the funds, setting up applications, and figuring out a fair way of distributing these funds to groups who request it. This will involve conversations with the Treasurer, with SAO, the CCCE and College Leadership and a vote within the Senate to actually approve it. Beyond next term, the task would be to publicize and work with departments like the CCCE to encourage use of these funds for aiding activism on and off-campus and reviewing our guidelines and allocations as the funds get used over the course of the next year. Senate Transparency would additionally be a priority of mine this first term. With Spring Allocations coming up, I would introduce a resolution for the Financial Report, Financial Projections and Allocations to be made public and accessible. Bringing the Carleton student
body into the more obscure yet important parts of CSA is vitally important. I would also work closely with the Communications Officer, Class Representatives, the Liaisons as needed and my fellow Executives to compile comprehensive lists of what the Senate is working on and has accomplished on a week-to-week basis. This transparency also ties into my other goals over my term. I plan on releasing notes from meetings with administration and updates on my other policy goals, any roadblocks in accomplishing them as part of the push for transparency and accountability for promises made on this platform.

Imagine a scenario, such as the mandatory meal plan, where you face a significant conflict of interest between what is popular among students and the position of College leadership. How would you navigate this situation, and what factors would guide your decision-making?

In situations like the mandatory meal plan, where there is a clear divide between student preferences and the administration’s stance, my approach would focus on maintaining open dialogue, transparency, and a strong advocacy for student needs. My decision-making would be guided by these principles:

1. Listening to the Student Body: First, I would ensure that I have a comprehensive understanding of student concerns, ideally through surveys, forums, or informal discussions. It’s essential that students feel heard and that their voices are central to any proposed changes.
2. Transparent Communication with Administration: I would foster open
   communication with college leadership to make sure that the students’ concerns are presented clearly and respectfully. Rather than positioning this as a simple “us vs. them” situation, my approach would emphasize collaboration—demonstrating how addressing student concerns can also align with the college’s broader goals, like enhancing student well-being and retention.
3. Researching Best Practices: To strengthen the case, I would gather data and research from other institutions that have navigated similar situations—whether they have restructured meal plans, adjusted requirements, or balanced cost and convenience for students. Understanding successful models will provide a stronger argument for students’ needs.
4. Advocating for Flexibility: I would push for more flexibility within the plan, such as options for students who don’t utilize the dining services as often. I would also advocate for increased transparency in how each meal plan is decided and offer a clear explanation of how these decisions impact the student experience. This transparency helps build trust with both students and the administration.

You stand as the primary representative for all students on campus, a role that requires bridging the gap between diverse student interests and the administration. Consider two of your key platform items: What specifically will you do during your first term to advance these interests? How will you build on this foundation in the remainder of your tenure? Please include realistic action steps, points of contact, and areas of collaboration you will use to achieve your goals

In my first term, I will prioritize two key platform items: improving the student-administration relationship and enhancing CSA transparency, particularly for underclassmen. Both of these areas require strong collaboration, proactive outreach, and sustained effort.

1. Improving the Student-Administration Relationship (Fair Wages & Flexible Meal Plans):

• First Term Action Steps: I will begin by meeting with key members of the administration, including the Human Resources department and Dining Services, to address fair wage concerns for student workers and the rigidity of the meal plan system. I will initiate a series of discussions with these offices to gather data on their processes and explore potential solutions that benefit students without overburdening the college financially.
• Collaboration: To move forward on fair wages, I would work closely with the student worker organizations, faculty, and administration to create a wage structure that reflects the responsibilities of each student job. For flexible meal plans, I would collaborate with the Dining Services director, relevant student committees, and the broader student body to determine the most effective and flexible options.
• Building on this foundation: In the remainder of my tenure, I would follow up
• on these initial discussions by ensuring that these changes are not only implemented but continuously reviewed. I will also engage the student body in regular feedback sessions, ensuring that changes remain effective.

2. CSA Transparency and Student Engagement (Involving Underclassmen):

• First Term Action Steps: I will establish open forums and workshops dedicated to educating students on how CSA operates, how they can get involved in decision-making, and how they can access resources like funding or chartering clubs. Additionally, I will create a digital resource center with clear guides and FAQs on CSA processes, making this information easily accessible for underclassmen.
  ○ Collaboration: This initiative would involve working closely with the CSA
  Executive Board, the Student Activities Office, and peer leaders who can help communicate and organize these events. I would also engage directly with first- and second-year students through town halls and outreach efforts.
• Building on this foundation: Once these initial steps are in place, I would make sure to create a system for regular follow-up with underclassmen, keeping the lines of communication open and continually ensuring that the decision-making process stays inclusive.

Imagine a scenario, such as the mandatory meal plan, where you face a significant conflict of interest between what is popular among students and the position of College leadership. How would you navigate this situation, and what factors would guide your decision-making?

My primary responsibility is to represent the students, and I’m deeply committed to pushing for what’s in their best interest. However, I also understand that as President, part of my role is to maintain a strong working relationship with the administration. Without that relationship, it becomes much harder to effectively advocate for student concerns and push for the changes we want to see. Having worked with two Presidents during my tenure, I’ve learned that a successful
approach requires a balance of student advocacy and maintaining a constructive relationship with the administration.

Throughout this process, I would prioritize transparency. I want students to know what’s being discussed, where things stand, and what progress is being made. If there’s a hard limit on what’s achievable, I would make sure students understand why, and that their concerns were heard. Most importantly, I will ensure that I’m advocating for the best possible compromise without losing sight of the goal.

You stand as the primary representative for all students on campus, a role that
requires bridging the gap between diverse student interests and the administration. Consider two of your key platform items: What specifically will you do during your first term to advance these interests? How will you build on this foundation in the remainder of your tenure? Please include realistic action steps, points of contact, and areas of collaboration you will use to achieve your goals.

I feel confident that the format my platform follows will answer this question, so I will leave it to that.

In Governance Committee, how do you plan on balancing between the great proposals which come through the committee each term and deciding which ones are most beneficial/relevant to the campus community?

This process is only successful with input from Carleton students. I would have
check-ins with CSA officers and would promote open conversations with students
about proposals and possible new groups. These types of qualitative assessments
provide valuable insights to the unique and relevant experiences of the Carleton
community. Additionally, giving each proposal an open and fair consideration,
including its prospective impact and any disadvantages, would help to fully weigh
the pros and cons. Finally, I believe that these decisions cannot be made without
looking at empirical data. I would look at which organizations already exist,
examine any support systems that students need but do not have, and the logistics
of the proposals.

Considering that you will hold a newer Chief of Staff style position, how do you envision yourself creating an atmosphere that fosters a collaborative relationship between you and the Senators?

Creating a space where Senators feel comfortable and confident to share their true
opinions and needs is one of my top priorities. I would do this by promoting a
culture where we all respect each other and our goals, and understand that we can
help each other achieve them. I would also do check-ins with the Senators
individually, and would work with them to understand the best way to have a
productive working relationship together. Senators might have different
accessibility needs, learning and working styles, and priorities, so meeting at the
start of our relationship (with the ability to revisit as often as desired) would be
absolutely crucial. Additionally, I would be open and transparent with the
Senators, and would be as clear and communicative as possible.

In Governance Committee, how do you plan on balancing between the several great initiatives which come through the committee each term and deciding which ones are most beneficial/relevant to the campus community?

As Vice President and Chair of the Governance Committee, my primary responsibility will be overseeing the chartering of the CSA organization, and to effectively carry this out, I will need to ensure that both new and existing organizations align with student needs and that they are institutionally feasible. In line with my campaign’s focus on improving collaboration and communication, I seek to incorporate student input and that of other CSA bodies. For this, I propose establishing a routine student forum to allow students to express interest in new clubs or share feedback on whether existing clubs meet their needs. This forum would help guide the Governance Committee deliberations by providing direct insight into what students want and need. In addition, since many organizations rely on the Budget Committee for funding, I want to work closely with Budget to ensure that newly chartered organizations understand financial expectations and responsibilities. My experience on the CSA Budget Committee has prepared
me to make strategic decisions on prioritizing funding for student organizations and campus-wide events. I believe this experience translates well to the goals of the governance committee. Moreover, a collaboration Budget will help the CSA anticipate the additional costs new organizations will bring and prepare for them. By balancing student input and financial feasibility, I will ensure that the Governance Committee remains proactive and student-focused to foster a well-supported student life at Carleton while maximizing the CSA’s effectiveness.

Considering that you will hold a new Chief of Staff style position, how do you envision yourself creating an atmosphere that fosters a collaborative relationship between you and the Senators?

To lead the Governance Committee, I will model structure, approachability, and efficiency to create a culture of collaboration with Senators. My previous experience as the MSA President has shown me the value of leading with clarity and initiative, especially in times of uncertainty. My strategy is to keep committee members actively informed with the inputs from student feedback and engage in discussions on pending organization petitions, encouraging them to provide input. I will establish structured check-ins with Senators to discuss their goals for involvement in the committee and how I and the rest of the CSA executive board can assist in making them happen. As a former class representative, I worked to redefine that role into an
active rather than passive position. As Vice President, I will do the same for Senators by ensuring they have opportunities to make meaningful decisions to improve Carleton’s student experience. By fostering a team culture where every CSA senator feels empowered and can thrive, we can effectively help CSA better serve the Carleton community.

In Governance Committee, how do you plan on balancing between the great proposals which come through the committee each term and deciding which ones are most beneficial/relevant to the campus community?

I would first take stock of the initiatives that Carleton already has in place to support students and see if there is a way for an existing initiative to meet the needs expressed when a new initiative is presented. If an initiative is going to be able to meet an unmet need, especially if that need is large and/or felt by many students, I would likely support that initiative. I would take into account whether an initiative would tap into a scarce resource, such as funding, and ensure that any new initiative would be sustainable for the college.

Considering that you will hold a newer Chief of Staff style position, how do you envision yourself creating an atmosphere that fosters a collaborative relationship between you and the Senators?

I would have Senators tell me (likely via a form) what they are looking to get out of their projects and experience in Senate. I would speak with them individually throughout the term before and after meetings to get to know them as well. Since I have developed good relationships with a few campus offices, I could connect any Senator with an office with which they would like to work and facilitate their relationship-building with other offices and community partners.

Every year CSA gets more funding requests than we have money to give out. How would you prioritize hosting events while keeping CSA out of a deficit and fiscally responsible?

Every year, CSA faces the challenge of balancing the high demand for funding with limited resources. To address this while maintaining fiscal responsibility, I would implement a transparent, fair, and strategic approach to prioritize funding requests, ensuring we stay within our budget and avoid deficit.

● Clear Budgeting Guidelines and Prioritization Criteria: I would establish clear
criteria for evaluating funding requests, focusing on the alignment of events with the
broader Carleton community’s needs. Events that promote inclusivity, student
engagement, and community-building would be prioritized. Additionally, requests that benefit a larger portion of the student body rather than a smaller subset would be given higher priority. I expect to work closely with student organizations to ensure that funding is distributed equitably, without favoring any one group over another.
● Tiered Funding Model: To further streamline the process, I would implement a tiered funding model. The first tier would cover essential events or programs that are crucial to campus life, ensuring these are funded within our available budget. The second tier would be for events that, while valuable, could be adjusted or scaled back if necessary, giving us flexibility in case of funding constraints. By creating clear guidelines for how funds should be allocated at each tier, I can ensure that CSA makes informed and responsible decisions without exceeding the budget.
● Transparency in Decision-Making: Throughout the funding process, I would maintain full transparency. Termly financial reports must be published to keep the Carleton community informed about our budget, funding decisions, and available resources. After each funding cycle, I will publish a detailed breakdown of funding allocations, explaining the rationale behind each decision and ensuring that students understand the choices we’ve made.
● Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment: I would also ensure that we regularly monitor expenditures and adjust our funding allocations if necessary. If certain events come in under budget or if there are savings in some areas, I would reallocate those funds to support additional programming later in the year. This dynamic approach will allow CSA to remain flexible, ensuring that we maximize the impact of available funds without going into deficit.

Given the fluctuating nature of funding and costs, how would you plan for and manage unexpected financial shortfalls or surpluses? Describe a strategic approach that balances flexibility with fiscal responsibility.

Financial shortfalls and surpluses are inevitable, and it’s crucial that CSA is prepared to manage them in a way that balances flexibility with fiscal responsibility. My approach would be rooted in proactive planning, regular assessments, and transparent communication.
● Building a Contingency Fund: I would prioritize building and maintaining a small
contingency reserve each year. This buffer would be crucial for covering unexpected
financial shortfalls and ensuring that CSA can meet its obligations without compromising on important programs or services. By establishing this fund, CSA would have a financial safety net in place, reducing the risk of going into a deficit during unforeseen circumstances.
● Frequent Budget Reviews: In addition to the termly reports, I would advocate for more frequent internal reviews of CSA’s financial status. These reviews would allow us to assess whether we are on track with our spending and identify potential budget shortfalls or surpluses early on. Regular monitoring would also help us quickly make adjustments, ensuring that we’re not caught off guard by unexpected changes in revenue or costs.
● Strategic Allocation of Surpluses: If CSA experiences a financial surplus, I would
exercise caution and consider the long-term impact of how those funds are used. Rather than allocating surpluses to large one-time events or projects, I would recommend prioritizing sustainable investments that benefit the entire student body, such as expanding the contingency fund, supporting long-term initiatives, or investing in infrastructure that enhances student life. This approach ensures that we don’t inadvertently create budget imbalances in future years.
● Scenario Planning and Flexibility: To balance flexibility with fiscal responsibility, I
would develop a series of potential scenarios that account for both financial shortfalls and surpluses. These scenarios would help us quickly pivot if unexpected financial shifts occur, whether that means scaling back on events during a shortfall or expanding support for student organizations during a surplus. By being prepared for various financial situations, CSA will be able to make swift, strategic decisions that maintain fiscal health without compromising student needs.
● Transparent Communication with the Community: Above all, I would maintain
transparent communication with the student body. If a shortfall or surplus occurs, I would ensure that students are informed promptly about the situation, the steps CSA is taking to address it, and how it might impact funding decisions. This openness will foster trust and ensure that students understand the reasoning behind financial adjustments.

In conclusion, by implementing clear prioritization guidelines, maintaining a contingency fund, conducting regular financial reviews, and practicing transparent communication, CSA can navigate both expected and unexpected financial fluctuations while maintaining its commitment to fiscal responsibility and serving the Carleton community.

Every year CSA gets more funding requests than we have money to give out. How would you prioritize hosting events while keeping CSA out of a deficit and fiscally responsible?

• My priority would be to ensure that funding is distributed in a way that maximizes the benefit to the entire student body while also supporting the unique goals of clubs and organizations. I would like to prioritize events that are directly tied to a club’s mission and try to foster a sense of community and engagement on campus. This would mean ensuring a broad variety of events, not just big ticket ones but also smaller gatherings that serve specific niches and provide value to different groups.
• To maintain fiscal responsibility, I would like to emphasize cost-effectiveness in order to ensure that events are beneficial to as many students as possible without exceeding budget limits. That doesn’t mean leaving smaller clubs out, though, it instead means looking for creative ways to keep costs low per person while still supporting diverse types of events. So, my planning would reflect a balance between supporting big events and making sure that all clubs, big and small, have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to campus life.
• Q 2. Given the

Given the fluctuating nature of funding and costs how would you plan for and manage unexpected financial shortfalls or surpluses? Describe a strategic approach that balances flexibility with fiscal responsibility.

• For surpluses, my strategy would be to allocate additional funds towards CSA scholarships. I would also create a separate fund to act as a buffer for future shortfalls or unexpected emergencies. This would ensure that we are prepared for financial fluctuations while continuing to provide support for student initiatives.
• In the case of shortfalls, I would collaborate closely with the Senate and Budget Committee to ensure we have a designated rollover fund. By setting aside a portion of the rollover funds, we can create some financial wiggle room if we go over budget, as has happened in previous years.

There are many interests and initiatives happening within CSA at a given time between the Executive team, subsidiary committees, working groups, and individual senators. How will you collect and share information regarding each of these groups with the general campus?

From the executive team to various committees, the CSA consists of many moving parts all working on different initiatives. As the communications officer, I will streamline how information from all these many groups are collected and shared with the general campus. I will maintain regular communication with the CSA leadership and committee members, making sure to ask for the most relevant information and plans. I will then compile these updates in a concise, digestible format, as well as ensuring that the CSA newsletter serves as a neat, structured
summary of key developments. Students will be able to stay up to date without being overwhelmed by many updates from various groups. I will ensure that CSA communications will be a hub where students can get real-time updates about ongoing initiatives and meeting agendas of the CSA in a transparent and engaging way.

Connecting with students can be difficult. Please give communication methods/strategies with students that you plan to use, with one specifically focusing on engaging students currently unaware of or uninvolved with CSA.

Increasing the reach of the CSA goes beyond just sending out emails. To reach a wider audience, including those that may not be aware of CSA happenings, I will implement communication beyond just emails, whether that involves social media or in-person engagement through tabling. For students who are currently involved with the CSA, I will work on targeted outreach to these individuals through various student organizations or even residential communities. I hope to have a system for students to provide feedback, such as a Google Form, where students can easily share concerns or ask questions. By having a more engaging CSA, students will be more likely to seek out information on the CSA, even if they had been uninvolved previously. The goal is to make the CSA more visible, responsive, and approachable so that students feel more informed and included.

There are many interests and initiatives happening within CSA at a given time between the Executive team, subsidiary committees, working groups, and individual senators. How will you collect and share information regarding each of these groups with the general campus?

There are so many moving pieces of CSA – I’ve seen this firsthand by going to Senate, College Council, College Budget Committee, and Governance Committee. All of it is important to share with students, but it must be structured and easily digestible. That is why I will work to create a more organized newsletter that outlines the different parts of CSA. People should be able to read what is intriguing without having to dig! In our brainrot/ doomscroll era, I know I sometimes get information best through Instagram. Making engaging posts that get details across and having highlights on the story for each committee and group will be prioritized.

My approach to collecting information distills in three parts: conversation, confirmation, and collaboration.

Conversation – I will listen to people during Senate and talk with them after to see what they think should be added to the newsletter and Instagram! I will especially engage with people who sit on committees I do not attend.

Confirmation – I will review the CSA documentation from the past week closely to pluck out the highlights.

Collaboration – Before sending the newsletter, I will share a Google Doc with the rest of Senate to give them the chance to contribute additional points.

Connecting with students can be difficult. Please give communication methods/strategies with students that you plan to use, with one specifically focusing on engaging students currently unaware of or uninvolved with CSA.

To me, it’s ok if some students don’t want to be tuned into the play-by-play of CSA. Rather, I believe the most important thing is that students know the opportunity to engage exists and the channels through which to access CSA. This should ideally start during New Student Week where the structure of CSA and SAO is clearly explained (briefly, definitely not thinking CarlTalk level). My platform addresses tabling in Sayles, Instagram, improved newsletters, and more streamlined webpages to make CSA more accessible to all students.