One of the more heated battles in this spring's elections is the race for 1995 class president, which pits two-year incumbent Tim Rodenberger against current vice president Alyse Kornfeld.
Rodenberger, who said he has tried to increase the Class Council's role on campus the last two years, said he would like to be re-elected so he can see his work to completion.
"I've been building up the Class Councils - gaining resources, gaining respect," he said. "We've really undergone a transformation. I'd really like to see the transformation go through."
Kornfeld, who has also held leadership positions in the Jewish students' organization, said the 1995 Class Council is floundering in terms of membership, and needs more members to plan events for senior year.
"I think that I would be able to get a lot more people interested in the council," she said. "Right now we have a very small group of people that are representing the views of our whole class."
Kornfeld said she has sat in on meetings with the 1994 Class Council to better understand what the council does during senior year.
Rodenberger, who is also active in the Student Assembly, claims his leadership has resulted in two positive outcomes for the 1995 Class Council: more council sponsored activities and an increase in College funding for the councils.
He said he thinks it would be counterproductive to change leaders now, and said he doesn't understand why Kornfeld is running.
"She has never really given me a straight answer," he said. "Her campaign said its time for a change, and she hasn't really explained what's wrong and why we need a change," he said.
Kornfeld said there needs to be a more accessible and open-minded president.
"I'd be a much more interactive leader - more interactive with our class, with the Council and with the administration," she said.
Class of 1994 President Dan Garodnick said people expect more from the senior class president than from other leadership position, adding that the president is viewed to be an authority on student matters.
"What you need is somebody who is willing to consider all options with an open mind, not someone who has their own set agenda, and shuts out other ideas," he said.
Garodnick said the senior class president sits on "a gazillion" committees and has the ability to start new projects. Garodnick started the Task Force on the Status of Women at Dartmouth last term.
Although Rodenberger said he was upset when Kornfeld said she was planning to run last term, he said things have not been tense on the Class of 1995 Council.
"My relationship with Alyse is obviously a little cool right now," he said. "It will be somewhat difficult to work together the rest of the term ... but for the sake of the class, we can't let that get to the Council."
Council member Hosea Harvey '95 said he agreed - he said there has been little tension between Kornfeld and Rodenberger. He said students should vote based on whether or not they want change.
Class of 1996 President Brendan Doherty and Vice President Tom Caputo are both running unopposed for their respective positions.
Two freshmen are challenging Class of 1997 President Pam Sanders - Jessica Roberts and Steven Wolkoff. Todd Johann and Matthew Shafer are running for Class of 1997 Vice President.
