As members of the Class of 2005 near the end of their time at Dartmouth, Senior Executive Committee members were announced this week. The 20 students comprising the committee will be responsible for organizing all class events for the next five years following graduation.
Nathan Cardin, Serena Chang, Ralph Davies, Yah Demann, Micah Dortch, Susan DuBois, Puja Dutt, Brian Edmonson, Matthew Fay, Julia Hildreth, Daniel Hui, Kaitlin Jaxheimer, Merrick Johnston, Steven Koutsavlis, Timothy Millikin, Jonathan Lazarow, Zachary Rubeo, Sabrina Singh, Kathryn Strayer-Benton and Nicole Valco will represent the Class of 2005 on the SEC.
According to Deputy Director of Alumni Relations Margaret Parsons, the new committee will be in close contact with the senior class deans and alumni relations as they plan events ranging from Class Day to the fifth-year reunion in 2010.
"The senior class deans and the Alumni Relations Office work together with the SEC," Parsons said. "We are both very pleased with the broad range of student interests and activities represented by this group, and we look forward to working with such an outstanding group of student leaders."
Out of 39 applicants to the committee, 12 were elected via electronic voting, and the remaining eight members were chosen based on applications to the SEC selection committee.
"I think what makes this group unique as a governing body in that it is not comprised solely of class council or SA members, but represents a greater cross-section of leaders and people who are dedicated to serving the class now and in the future," Strayer-Benton said.
Rubeo characterized the election process as very low key this year.
"Major campaigning was frowned upon, so everyone stuck to just blitzing out to friends, campus groups, et cetera," Rubeo said.
According to Strayer-Benton, the desire to stay connected to Dartmouth and her class were particularly important considerations when running for a position. Concern for the welfare of her class and a desire to continue communication among class members also led Strayer-Benton to seek her seat.
"[The seniors are] all people who have shown initiative and leadership in their time at Dartmouth, and served in some capacity or another," Strayer-Benton said.
Singh chose to run for a position out of a desire to stay connected.
"I chose to run for the SEC because it's scary to think about leaving Dartmouth in a few months, and the SEC was a way for me to stay involved in the Dartmouth community after graduation," Singh said. "Hopefully the 20 of us as a committee will be able to encourage others in our class who have a variety of different Dartmouth experiences to do the same."
According to its mission statement, the SEC seeks "to continue and strengthen the connection between all members of the Class as well as the Class with the College."
The 20 members of the committee will be responsible for holding mini-reunions, managing the class newsletter, planning the fifth reunion in 2010, planning Class Day activities and speakers, selecting class marshals and flag bearers for Commencement, serving as Alumni Council representatives and working to maintain communication throughout the class and with the College.
Rexford Morey '99, the assistant director for young alumni and student programs, will advise the SEC until June along with Carolynne Krusi and Sylvia Langford, the deans of the Class of 2005. Following Commencement, the class will work within the Alumni Relations Office on all activities.
