The vice president of the Student Assembly is officially responsible for three things. He or she oversees the budget, runs Assembly meetings and is in charge of the Membership and Internal Affairs Committee. But there is more in the job description than meets the eye. The vice president serves as a representation of Dartmouth along with the Assembly president. They are chosen as the student body's voice to the administration, the faculty and the trustees. It is important that whoever serves as vice president not only is in touch with individual student group opinions, but also embodies the general opinion of Dartmouth as well.
Too many times in the last few weeks have I been asked the question, "What does Student Assembly even do?" It is important now more than ever that people are aware of the changes that the Assembly can effect and its role in providing a student voice. In the face of unavoidable budget cuts, it is imperative that Assembly leadership is able to stand up and fight for programs that students see as necessary, otherwise they will be instantly cut when no one supports them. Now is the time to elect a vice president who will represent you and your ideas to those making the decisions.
This is where I can succeed as your next vice president. I am committed to defending and pressing the student agenda to the administration. If any idea is brought to me from a student, and I hope that there regularly will be, I will make sure that it is proposed to the Assembly. My personal opinion on the matter will not dissuade me from seeing it put to vote. In addition, I will see to including leaders from all student groups to guarantee that student ideas will not be subject to neglect. While it is essential to maintain a smaller group in the Assembly to talk over and weigh certain policies, I would put any Assembly action to a student body vote rather than just Assembly members.
Many campus issues also need to be addressed such as the constant issues of sexual violence and binge drinking. In my mind, sexual assault stems completely from abuse of alcohol. The newly implemented SEMP policies will help to stem such abuse, but going forward we need to be sure to include leaders of Greek houses in decision making. The Greek system has come to define my Dartmouth experience, and I will not see its demise at the hands of the Hanover Police for irresponsible risk on the part of the system. The Greek leaders themselves will acknowledge that some reform is needed, but I would rather see them create it for themselves than it handed down from the administration.
I hope that tomorrow you will vote Brian Holekamp for Student Assembly vice president.
