I agree with The Dartmouth Editorial Board that campaign finance reform should be high on the agenda. In recent years, Association of Alumni elections have followed the larger trend of our national elections in that candidates' campaign spending has ballooned out of control. Effective campaign finance reform would be consistent with the proposed amendment in producing a more democratic election process.
--Blair Sullivan '10
The trustee elections are in desperate need of campaign finance reform. That candidates spend excessive amounts of their own money on their campaigns seems to me a grave breach of democracy. Trustee elections should be based on ideology, not on the personal wealth a candidate is willing to invest in his or her campaign.
--Kevin Niparko '12
It is patently ridiculous to spend six-digit figures while campaigning for the Board of Trustees. This is just a college. When we have so many other pressing national and international concerns, why waste money turning the operation of this icy oasis on a hill into a politicized debate? I honestly wouldn't care if the administration appointed the entire Board of Trustees.
-- Sam Buntz '11
I think that some candidates are spending an absurd amount of money on their campaigns. There needs to be a reasonable cap on the amount of money that candidates can spend on direct mail, as well as print and online advertising. Such a system will always have loopholes, but the idea is to encourage candidates to behave responsibly and honorably during elections, not devise a complex set of campaign regulations.
--Jordan Osserman '11
The most important changes that need to be made in Association of Alumni elections are a one-person, one-vote system and a cap on campaign financing. This would make for a simpler process that would allow for greater equality among candidates. The Board of Trustees should not be composed of the most wealthy alumni.
--Jacob Batchelor '12
The one-person, one-vote amendment would be a major improvement to the trustee election process. Campaign finance reform should be the next priority -- resources squandered on massive campaigns could be better spent in other ways, for example, on meaningful contributions to the College at a time when they are sorely needed.
--Tina Praprotnik '09
The trustee election process is most in need of campaign finance reform. When money becomes a deciding factor in elections, it not only gives an unfair advantage to wealthy alumni, but also makes it possible for unofficial alumni organizations with specific agendas to influence election results by bankrolling candidates who share their ideology. When independent organizations with special interests hold such sway over trustee elections, the results are decidedly undemocratic and not in the College's best interest.
--Emily Johnson '12
All of this talk of election funding, unfairness and democracy draws attention from whatever it is the AoA really does, which, we can assume, has something to do with the quality, integrity and continuity of our institution. But since we can only imagine it (from our exposure to it in this paper) as some gnashing Charybdis of feuding alumni, we'll continue to ignore it as students of the school whose interests it desperately wants to represent.
--Zachary Gottlieb '10
I have not been exposed to the Association of Alumni election process enough to make informed recommendations for reform. So in that sense, the trustees should do more to involve the student body in their elections. With a greater student stake in the process, reform will come naturally.
--Ben Gonin '12
