Although Randi Barnes '98 has been involved in student politics going back to her high school days, she is far from a one-dimensional "career politician."
Barnes -- who has been president of the 1998 Class Council since Fall term of her freshman year -- also finds the time to play a sport and be an active member in her sorority in addition to fulfilling her duties as the leader of the Class of 1998.
Sitting on the back porch of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority yesterday afternoon, Barnes used a study break to discuss her time at Dartmouth so far, and where she thinks the Class of 1998 is headed in the next two years.
Regarding her decision nearly two years ago to run for president of her class, Barnes said, "Coming here as a freshman, there are a lot of things about the College you don't know or understand. I ran for president to get to know the school better."
Two years later, the experience as the political leader of the Class of 1998 has made Barnes a recognizable name on campus -- and by her own admission, has been one of the best aspects of her Dartmouth career.
"I've really enjoyed it -- that's why I did it again and again," she said. Barnes has won re-election twice since her initial ascension to the Class of 1998 presidency in 1994.
"It's enabled me to meet many new people," Barnes said, "and really helped me to understand that 'this is the Dartmouth experience.'"
Barnes, who was also president of her class during her sophomore, junior and senior years in high school, said she has found the experience rewarding.
"I like being behind the things that are planned, and helping to make them happen," she said.
She called the class council, the organization that she leads, "a fantastic group" whose purpose is to "get out there and offer services to the '98s while at the same time giving them something fun to do."
"Everything we plan is to foster that sense of class unity," she said.
This summer alone, the council has organized several projects and events, the biggest one being Sophomore Parents' Weekend last month.
Also, Barnes and the class council have organized the recent class barbecue downstream from Ledyard Bridge, a night at the Big Apple Circus, and this Thursday night will present a screening of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" -- to be shown on the wall of Blunt Alumni Center.
Barnes' experience in a team setting no doubt helps her in one of her other passions -- rugby.
A devoted member of the women's rugby team, Barnes called the sport "something I value enormously" and a "big part of my Dartmouth experience."
Although president of the Class of 1998, Barnes also hopes to be a part of decisions that could change the sorority rush process -- something that will have an impact on the entire College.
Barnes said when she went through rush, she was not satisfied with the process -- and she hopes it can be made "a little more enjoyable."
She endorsed the Spring-term proposal for a seventh sorority, saying it would offer more space for women and lessen the pressures on the rush process.
"The size of the sororities makes it difficult on the rush process," she said. "When you have 120 per house, it's hard to foster relations among all the women in your sorority."
In the meantime, Barnes plans on continuing her work with the class council -- including finishing up Summer term on a positive note.
She said she is prepared to work on more projects, and come Fall term, she hopes to get "some fresh faces and a larger group on class council."
As members of the Class of 1998 prepare to assume positions of senior leadership at the College this Winter term, Barnes reminded the sophomores that the school has been "left in our hands" this summer -- and that the '98s have risen to the occasion.
Barnes' colleagues on the class council, in turn, think she herself has "risen to the occasion."
"Randi is very good at organizing events and a lot of fun to work with," according to Chris Swift '98, Student Assembly vice president and a member of the 1998 Class Council.
"It's a small council but she runs it really well," he said.
Swift especially praised Barnes' efforts in organizing Sophomore Family Weekend, an event that was extremely tough to plan but which he said Barnes "did a great job with."
Barnes, a native of Marblehead, Mass., is a film studies major, and jokingly talks of one day being "a famous film director."
In addition, Barnes said she enjoys running -- which she describes as her opportunity for "meditation" -- during her leisure time.
"It's not so much for the exercise than to get out into the fresh air and to relax," she said.
Running, playing on the rugby team and dreaming of fame and fortune as a film director are just some of the many things Barnes has done during her time at the College.
In Barnes' own words, "I am just trying to enjoy my experience here as much as possible."
