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The Dartmouth
March 28, 2024 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Assembly candidates talk Greek issues in final debate

4.14.14.news.glcdebate
4.14.14.news.glcdebate

Student Assembly must promote Dartmouth Bystander Initiative training to all students, student body presidential and vice presidential candidates said in their fourth and final debate, held on Friday afternoon.

During the debate, hosted by the Greek Leadership Council in Collis Common Ground, candidates voiced their opinions about the Assembly’s role in the Greek system to an audience of around 45, the largest of the four debates.

Presidential candidates Casey Dennis ’15, Jay Graham ’15, Jon Miller ’15, Sophia Pedlow ’15 and Yesuto Shaw ’15 and vice presidential candidates Frank Cunningham ’16 and Harry Qi ’17 took part in the debate. Vice presidential candidate Matt Robinson ’15, Graham’s running mate, was absent because the pair decided that Robinson would focus on other campaign activities. Pedlow is running as a write-in candidate.

GLC accountability chair Sarah Lucas ’15 moderated the debate.

All candidates agreed that the Assembly and GLC should collaborate to tackle campus issues.

Although he acknowledged the large role of the Greek system at the College, Miller noted the importance of creative alternatives.

“As much as we’re working with affiliated students, we want to work with unaffiliated ones,” he said.

In response to a question about the Greek system’s biggest challenge, Shaw cited the socioeconomic barrier created by house dues and proposed that the College provide loans.

Graham suggested that each Greek organization name an officer to lead efforts to reduce sexual assault within the house.

Running mates Dennis and Cunningham emphasized their ongoing involvement and leadership in their fraternities as key assets in leading the Assembly.

“Our love and passion for our brotherhoods makes us more motivated to make the system better,” said Dennis.

Cunningham said he and Dennis hope to make bystander intervention training part of freshman orientation or a pre-rush requirement.

Pedlow said that the autonomy of Dartmouth’s Greek system might contribute to its longevity, but it also allows students the “incredible ability to make changes in the system.”

Candidates also discussed the proposal to incentivize bystander intervention training spearheaded by current student body president Adrian Ferrari ’14, which would have given $2,000 in dues-assistance funds to Greek governing councils for each Greek organization that had 25 members or half its sophomore and junior class members participate in a six-hour DBI leadership training session.

The Undergraduate Finance Committee rejected the proposal, citing UFC rules on sharing funds between organizations and an emphasis on allocating student activity fees to non-selective campus organizations.

Miller and Qi said that, if elected, they would push the administration to give the Assembly funding directly so that it is not limited by UFC rules.

Lucas also asked the candidates how their Greek affiliation or lack thereof would affect their leadership.

Graham said that he sees his unaffiliated status as “a huge advantage” because he has no personal agenda to push. He added, however, that his running mate Robinson is affiliated, making them a balanced team.

“I am not defined by my Greek letters,” Dennis said. “My first letters are C-A-S-E-Y.”

Cunningham said his involvement in his fraternity would enhance his vice presidency.

Pedlow, who noted that she is affiliated, said her roles as GLC’s summer moderator and as chair of the Student and Presidential Committee on Sexual Assault would make her an effective student body president.

“Knowledge of systems can only enhance your ability to effect change on campus,” she said.

Audience members could then pose questions to the candidates on notecards, which were then read by the moderator.

In response to a question about the Assembly’s power, candidates emphasized the importance of spreading awareness of its activities.

“The power Student Assembly does have is in working with administration to get things done,” Shaw said, citing as an example how the Assembly lobbied to increase meal plan options. “SA has the power to make incremental changes that make student life better on campus.”

All candidates said they would remain involved in the Assembly even if they were to lose.

Elections opened at midnight and will close at 8 p.m. tonight.