Changes to the eligibility requirements for Student Assembly presidential and vice presidential candidates introduced this year have recently sparked discussion among the student body about whether a formerly suspended student should be able to run for an Assembly executive position ("The Parkhursted President," April 1). I have had much difficulty solidifying my opinion on this topic, mostly because I am a staunch proponent of second chances.
However, I have come to believe that the Election and Planning Advisory Committee is correct in banning anyone who has been suspended from the College from running for an executive position in the Assembly.
Whenever I think of Student Assembly, I am taken back to a night this past fall when I was living in the Mclaughlin Cluster. I heard a knock at my door, and when I opened it, a friendly-faced boy stood before me holding a big bag of warm cookies. This stranger began to tell me how much he was enjoying Dartmouth so far and how he would really like to represent the Mclaughlin cluster as a freshman representative for the Assembly. He then offered me one of his cookies. Had I been able to vote for him as an upperclassman, I probably would have. He seemed nice enough, and he had offered me cookies. It was a done deal.
Unfortunately, once I told him that upperclassmen cannot vote for freshmen representatives, he thanked me quickly and abruptly walked away.
"Wait!" I shouted. "What about my cookie?"
It was only when I chased him down the hallway that he reluctantly gave me the cookie he had originally offered, I had thought, out of his own good will.
The event that night confirmed my impression of the Assembly, which often appears to be dominated by students seeking power and recognition rather than people who genuinely care about the concerns of fellow students.
It is often difficult to get an accurate read on people, but particularly so during elections, when candidates go out of their way to feign kindness in order to get your vote. Our resulting uncertainty about a candidate's true colors makes it tough to assess them objectively, separated from their friendly words and offers of free food.
However, a suspension on someone's record does not lie it gives evidence-based insight into a person's character. In my eyes, suspension shows a profound lack of judgment and maturity, and indicates that a person does not meet the moral standards we hold for a leader of our student body. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to recognize that students do not get suspended over trivial matters. There are several disciplinary actions given to students who commit minor misconduct that do not involve suspension. Suspension from the College is reserved for major misconduct due to unethical behavior, ranging from sexual abuse to physical violence to academic dishonesty. Suspension indicates that a person has lacked integrity in a serious situation, and has not proven him or herself to be an ethical member of the campus community.
The Assembly president and vice president positions exist not only to lead, but also to serve as role models for the student body. This is apparent in the various responsibilities given to Assembly executives from a place in the Palaeopitus Senior Society that works to "foster positive traditions at Dartmouth, to promote Her welfare and to protect Her good name," to a spot on many important committees, to being a recognized liaison between students and College administrators. It is also tradition for the Assembly president to stand in front of incoming freshmen at Commencement, speaking on behalf of all upperclassmen in welcoming new students to Dartmouth.
Despite the endless qualifications a candidate may have, integrity and strong moral character are essential attributes for a leader to be able to appropriately represent the student body. Suspension from the College unequivocally contradicts these principles, and cannot be overridden by cookies, smiles or empty promises. For this reason, formerly suspended students should not be allowed to run having shown that they cannot follow the guidelines set in place for proper conduct while at the College. The institution of Dartmouth deserves a better face to its name than that.
