Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) held its Executive Committee candidate debate at Jack MaGee’s Pub and Grill on Tuesday night, the apex of Bowdoin politics. Only three of the seven races are contested.
Candidates were allowed two-minute opening statements. Afterward, they had another two minutes to answer three questions from moderators, including BSG Vice President for Student Government Affairs Charlotte McLaughry ’15 and BSG Vice President for Student Organizations Harriet Fisher ’17. At the end, there were one-minute closing remarks.
Running for BSG President are Danny Mejia-Cruz ’16, Justin Pearson ’17 and Roberto Tavel ’16.
Mejia-Cruz began by highlighting his past experiences, which include his positions as a member of the Student Activities Funding Committee (SAFC) and Vice President for Student Organizations.
He cited his efforts in working on long-term projects, such as reforming the Credit/D/Fail policy, extending Thanksgiving break and introducing graduate school preparatory classes and expressed a desire to see these initiatives through. Alluding to the college’s changes inadministration next year, Mejia-Cruz emphasized the importance of keeping BSG’s “continuity of leadership” and stressed his credentials as someone who not only knows but also contributes to what has been done on campus in the past years. In addition, Mejia-Cruz also hoped to replace the Orbit with an everything-Bowdoin App—an app he has been working on since last summer, which would include year-long Bowdoin events and dining menus.
Pearson mentioned holding similar positions in BSG like the other two candidates, but stressed the differences in their accomplishments.
“When I was elected as Vice President of Student Affairs, there were five Good Ideas submitted to the Good Ideas Fund during the entirety of that year,” said Pearson. “Now we have over 25.”
Pearson stated he would like to increase BSG’s visibility on campus and ensure that students’ opinions are represented clearly to the administration. He went on to speak about facilitating an open Bowdoin community and included informal events such as Gelato or S’mores on the Quad. He hopes to create more discussion spaces that encourage dialogue on hotly contested issues. Additionally, Pearson looks to work with professors on uploading their syllabi to Blackboard before classes begin.
Tavel said he believed this election was not about who has the most experience, but who has the vision to redefine BSG’s role to the student body.
“BSG has become an event planner first and a policy advocate second,” said Tavel. “I plan to change this. I think we have an awesome opportunity next year to work with President Rose and fix some major policy issues.”
Tavel spoke about BSG’s role in rallying and mobilizing students to self-advocate for matters which they care about, such as the lengthening of Thanksgiving break. He stressed BSG’s role as a representative entity of the student body rather than a mere liaison between the students and the administration, highlighting that “it should not only ask how students feel about important issues but also encourage them to take ownership in those issues.” He hopes to rejuvenate what the BSG means to its own members and to make BSG meetings and its administrative processes less of a “chore.”
The race for Vice President for Student Government Affairs features Michelle Kruk ’16, Riley O’Connell ’18 and Emily Serwer ’16.
Kruk emphasized her experience working with Bowdoin staff, faculty, dean and trustee members. She mentioned her current discussion with McLaughry for the creation of a multicultural liaison to BSG and pledged to continue to represent marginalized groups on campus.
O’Connell stated that he would like to bring an “air of transparency” to the BSG by keeping students better informed on its meetings and agendas. He stressed the importance of improving BSG’s relationship with the administration and hoped to help facilitate consistent meetings with President Rose next year.
Serwer expressed her plan to improve BSG’s presence on campus through the use of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. She emphasized her work as Director of Programming and said, if elected, her experience would maintain BSG’s cohesive workings as a team.
Lucia Gibbard ’18 and Luke Von Maur ’16 are competing for the position of Vice President for Student Affairs.
Gibbard could not be at the debate. Fisher spoke on her behalf. Reading from the candidate’s speech, Fisher stated that Gibbard “understands what issues at Bowdoin students actually want to see resolved.” She pledged to popularize and increase the students’ understanding of how the SAFC operates.
Von Maur stated that he would like to foster greater interaction between classes, to reinvigorate the Good Ideas Fund and Common Hour, and to make Bowdoin “the best four years for all students.”
Andrew Millar ’16, Wylie Mao ’18, David Levine ’16 and Kevin Hernandez ’18 are running uncontested for, respectively, the positions of Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Student Organizations, Vice President for the Treasury and Vice President for Facilities and Sustainability.
Voting will be open until Sunday, April 12 at 8 p.m. Cast your vote at bowdoin.edu/vote