Student Assembly presidential and vice presidential candidates spoke last night about a variety of issues including the housing crisis, reforming the Assembly and freshman residence halls at the Green Key Society's "Meet the Candidates" forum.
Only about 30 students came to listen to Assembly presidential candidates Brandon del Pozo '96, Phil Ferrera '96 and Jim Rich '96 explain their platforms and answer questions posed by the debate's moderator, Greek Key Election Chair Omar Ladi '96.
The presidential candidates
Calling the Assembly a heterogeneous group, del Pozo said he wants the Assembly to address issues pertinent to the entire student body, rather than certain groups. He said special-interest groups on campus work hard to successfully solve their own problems.
As an example, del Pozo said the Assembly did not ask the College to hire an administrator for gay, lesbian and bisexual concerns, but the Dartmouth Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Organization successfully lobbied for such an administrator.
He said the Assembly should try to solve the housing crisis, publish a quality course book and analyze how the administration spends student tuition.
Ferrera said, "I've had a very positive Dartmouth experience." Seeking to relate his experience with his role as president, Ferrera said he wanted to break down "barriers and obstacles to certain students' happiness at Dartmouth."
Ferrera, who has advocated creating a "Women's Issues" residence hall and relocating the Women's Resource Center, said the fact that there are 15 fraternities and only six sororities shows that there are not enough women's resources on campus.
He said the Assembly should concern itself with issues of community and support minority groups.
"Being president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity during a tumultuous time, I know how to bring back an organization," Ferrera said. Ferrera was president of Beta over the summer, when it was operating under heavy sanctions.
Rich began his speech by saying the Assembly is "in a real dilemma." He said students and administrators currently do not respect the Assembly.
Rich said he sees the Assembly as a lobbying organization for students. The Assembly should get things done for the students by petitioning not only the administration, but the Trustees and alumni too, he said.
Rich's agenda focuses on four issues. First, he said he opposes freshman dormitories and any cuts to need-blind admissions. The Assembly should help reform the Office of Residential Life's housing lottery, he said. His fourth concern is making student life a budget priority for the Trustees.
All three candidates spoke about the recommendations of the Committee on the First-Year experience. Del Pozo and Rich said they agree with the idea of increasing intellectualism outside the classroom but do not like the idea of freshman residence halls.
Ferrera said he supports the proposals, but would like to hold a referendum on the recommendations.
Vice presidential candidates
Assembly vice presidential candidates Aleph Henestrosa '96, Kelii Opulauoho '96, Scott Rowekamp '97 and Bill Tovell '96 also spoke at the meeting.
Henestrosa said he would be willing to work with any of the presidential candidates to restructure the Assembly to make it more respectable.
Opulauoho, who is running on a ticket with Ferrera, said he wants to bring to the Assembly his personal Dartmouth experiences that have made him a responsible leader. He said he hopes to preserve need-blind admissions and work for women's concerns.
Rowekamp said he opposed freshman housing and supported freshman spring rush. He said he saw it as a solution to the current housing crisis. He also said he wants to keep library space open 24 hours and set up a permanent fund for undergraduate publications.
Tovell said he was disappointed with the status of the Assembly among students. People do not care about the Assembly and disregard it "as a clique in an ivory tower," he said.
