Ours is a generation characterized by apathy. Particularly at Dartmouth, where we find ourselves availed with numerous opportunities for success. Here, we often shy away from a struggle in pursuit of our own aspirations. The changes suggested in the Student Life Initiative will reshape the College. Our time has come to stand up and say, 'This is what WE want.'
The Dartmouth I have come to know and love emanates from the people who attend this great institution. My campaign for the Presidency of the Student Assembly is a call to arms for all of you. No longer can we sit idly by as our College's culture, both academic and social, is dictated to us by the Trustees and the Administration.
In my time here at Dartmouth, I have taken away hundreds of experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. From the classroom, where I have heard you speak passionately about academics, to social settings where I have absorbed the culture of our time, I have been given a great number of opportunities to learn from you. Now, it is my turn to give back to you and this College all that you have given to me.
My Presidency will be based on one question, What Dartmouth do YOU want to see? The idea is that each student, each member of this community will be given the opportunity to help enhance the College. Given this chance, what will you say? Will you allow apathy to win out? The effort at times may be great, but the rewards will be even greater.
As President you can be sure that I will lead this charge. I will be open to any and all ideas that you wish to voice. I may not agree with what you have to say, but you can be sure that I will listen.
The Student Assembly has often been seen as unapproachable and impotent to those it is supposed to represent. If I am elected, I will construct a new image for the Student Assembly. Instead of you feeling closed out, I will turn Assembly meetings into forums for any and all students to voice their opinions about issues concerning the College at large. I will also hold weekly office hours where I will invite any member of the community to discuss their concerns about the direction the Assembly is taking. No longer will you feel unwelcome. My Presidency will focus on open communication, I will form the bridge across which ideas will be passed to the Trustees and the Administration.
In all fairness, the Assembly certainly has put forth great efforts for change. Throughout this past year President Dean Krishna and his staff have worked tirelessly to assure that we are kept apprised of all the new information. But let us not be satisfied with what has been achieved so far. Let us go farther. With each member of this community adding their own part in the next year, the possibilities are endless. Together, we can assure that any changes undertaken will be constructed in the image we resolve for our small College on the hill. If we are able to stand together, represented by an Assembly of our peers, the Administration and the Trustees will be forced to listen to our requests.
The Student Life Initiative will most likely dominate the Assembly for the next year, although many things can happen. Who knows, another issue could arise this spring or next fall that could transform all of our concerns. The Trustees met this weekend to discuss the responses to their Initiative and have laid out their feelings concerning the direction in which the College should proceed. I do not ask for your vote simply for what I have written in this article. I ask for your vote because you know Alex Grishman. You know the type of person I am. You know that when I say I will do something and give my word, it will get done.
I am an outsider to the Student Assembly. The reason I chose to get involved is to give back to a place that has given me so much. My ideas will most likely be fresh and you might not agree with them all, but I welcome your critiques. For without each one of you, my Presidency and the Student Assembly can never achieve the goal of reshaping Dartmouth in the vision we each hold.
We have been presented with an amazing opportunity--to literally recast this College in our collective view. As students, our challenge is to make sure that the institutions that make this college special are not cast aside. It is time we all step up and do are part. Let this election be the first step in our fight.
