Student Assembly has something right. Its mission statement underscores the integral connection between representation of the student body and the unity of it. But unfortunately, it also has something disastrously wrong: it has failed to live up to its potential and aim to increase both representation and unity.
Go to an SA meeting and you'll notice the room is peopled with few women and even fewer minorities. So much for SA's commitment to "descriptive representation." So-called "substantive representation," in which a representative cross-section of issue positions is reflected in a decision-making body, is also farcical. When's the last time you received a survey from SA about an upcoming issue for discussion? How about minutes of the meetings? An invitation to a meeting?
Without representation, no wonder we don't have unity! Seldom does SA initiate and sustain meaningful contacts with non-SA Greek, athletic, community service, and religious student-leaders. SA can hardly even manage to unite itself. Read through the archives of The Dartmouth and you'll uncover too many resignations, impeachment trials, and coup attempts to keep track of.
Enough is enough.
If elected Student Body Vice President, I will use my mandate to help SA finally fulfill its mission statement.
First, I will make the General Assembly and the Executive Committee more representational of the larger student body, both descriptively and substantially. As head of the Membership and Internal Affairs Committee, I will take account of Dartmouth's diversity as the committee allots non-elected seats in the General Assembly. In consultation with the President, I will appoint a more diverse leadership of committee vice presidents. And most importantly, I will make sure that SA establishes open lines of communication with the larger student body, through timely invitations to SA meetings (including distribution of each meeting's agenda) via blitz, prompt posting of meeting minutes to the SA website, and frequent surveys of the entire student body.
Once SA is more representational, we'll be able to focus on reaching out to and uniting the larger student body. I will seek the expertise of the GLC, IFC, and Panhell when discussing SA resolutions on Greek issues such as a seventh sorority, expanded publication of the Greek Times, and budgeting for house improvements. I will consult with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to discuss how SA can help increase attendance at sporting events, renovate athletic facilities, and multiply the resources available to athletes while off-campus. I will coordinate service projects with Tucker interns and chairs, and will work with the DOC to better subsidize outdoor programs.
Only in fulfilling its mission will SA be the strong student voice that is should--and must--be. Only as a representative assembly can it help the student body to unite. And only if we students unite will we be able to preserve and enhance the Dartmouth undergraduate experience. For representation and unity, vote today for Chris Galiardo.
