This year's Student Assembly president will not be returning to the campus in the fall like presidents of the past. Instead, Frode Eilertsen '99 is already here.
Eilertsen and Assembly Vice President Nahoko Kawakyu '99 have, unlike prior Assembly executives, been on campus for their Sophomore Summer -- their predecessors had off-terms in the summer as they were about to start their senior years.
"It was really good for all of us to have this summer to relax and prepare and do some ground work," Kawakyu said.
"We're in very good shape," Eilertsen said.
The Summer Assembly normally handles facebook production, dining guides, student organization guides and College Kit preparation, all of which this summer's Assembly has worked on, Eilertsen said.
In addition, he said, "the summer has been good to do some basic research."
The Assembly has been setting the groundwork for upcoming projects, as well as working on more tangible projects like a student Bill of Rights, continued Dartmouth Dining Services work, a sexual harassment brochure, upgrading BlitzMail computers to prevent them from crashing and looking at DarTalk and College fining procedures.
The Assembly also plans to clean up "a lot of minor details" in the bylaws of its constitution, Eilertsen said. For example, the constitution currently states that the Summer Assembly should spend "no less than $1500."
Kawakyu said this year's Assembly will try to plan ahead and prepare future assemblies, so that work carries over from year to year.
"We're hoping to leave a lot of paperwork ... a trail of paperwork this year," Kawakyu said.
Balancing between long-range plans and short-term accomplishments is one of two important balances for the Assembly, Eilertsen said. The other is whether it is more effective to address issues in a quiet proactive manner or a more public activist style.
This fall, the Assembly hopes to "to recruit a lot of '01s," Kawakyu said.
To that end, many Assembly members will arrive on campus early, and, Eilertsen said, "I'll be here all through interim."
