The Story

Student Assembly Candidates Speak Out, Class of 2006

Mar. 23, 2004 | By Jane Kolb, DSJ Staff Reporter

The DoG Street Journal has followed the campaign trail and brought you a glimpse at the candidates running for the Student Assembly. All candidates were asked the same three questions:

1. What is your biggest priority if elected?

2. Why should students elect you - what unique qualities do you bring to the table?

3. How do you plan to include students in your efforts, and ensure that their needs are being addressed?

President

Jeff Frew

1. Our class is about three things: Fun, Service, and Excellence. I will ensure that we do not lose sight of this, through providing more social activities, more opportunities to serve the community and support our class charity.

2. A class president needs experience in coordinating such major events --I was the Director of the Student Book Sale, and also have experience in dealing with money (treasurer of the Mock Trial team), and fun (Promotions intern for the Men's Soccer Team). I feel that this experience, along with my motivation and my willingness to serve, would be an asset to our class.

3. Communication is an important part of serving as a class president. I pledge to make myself available as much as possible, my contact information will be readily available (email me at jdfrew@wm.edu), and I would be more than happy to meet with anyone from our class to discuss what we are doing, what's being planned, and what we can do in the future.

Nathan Miller

1. My number one priority if elected Class President is to broaden the social and philanthropic opportunities for the Class of 2006.  Not only do these offer a great opportunity for students to interact and be a part of something great, it also can help our class raise money.

2. I believe one unique quality I have is my leadership experience.  This year I served as Senator for our class, as President of the Club Ice Hockey team, and was also elected President of my fraternity.  These experiences allowed me to meet and grow close with many important administrators that I keep in contact with; I plan to use these connections to make sure that our class is heard.  The job of class President also requires qualities like creativity, loyalty, and dedication, all qualities I feel I embody. All of these qualities make me an excellent candidate for class President.

3. I feel the previous Sheppard administration did a fairly good job of listening to the students.  I hope to build on this.  However, a new problem facing the students is the adoption of new rules by the administration on our campus.  I feel it is incredibly important for the students to be directly heard by the administration as new policies regarding our social lives evolve.  Forums between the students and certain administrators would ensure that the voice of the Class of 2006 is heard.  I have been a part of these in the past and will offer the same opportunity to our class so the students can voice their concerns to the administration.

Vice President for Advocacy

Nathaniel Elberfeld

1. One of my biggest priorities will be mobilizing my class to advocate to change the Alcohol Task Force policies that have created a more dangerous and unfair environment on campus. Additionally, I will motivate my class to lobby against the "Nuisance Law" recently passed by city council. The most important flaw in these new policies is that they put students in danger. The ATF pushes parties off campus which inevitably demands a supply of designated drivers; the Nuisance law clumps everybody at a party into one equally finable group, thus increasing the risk and reducing the motivation to be a designated driver.

2. I bring a surge of energy and motivation for representing our interests. Dedicated to leading, intent upon listening, and committed to problem-solving, I will accurately advocate for our class with tremendous intensity and vigor. Having gained leadership experience in high school and at William and Mary on Yates Hall Council, I know how to effectively represent the students' needs to produce the most results.

3. Students will want to become involved when they see the Student Assembly working; everybody wants to be on the winning team. My realistic solutions coupled with my determination will help provide observable changes which will motivate my class to be more active in utilizing the student government.

Secretary

Stephanie Casler

1. I want to improve communication with my class, so that they know what their class officers are doing and so that we can know how they feel about it.

2. I am a very outgoing, responsible person who takes her job seriously and will work for the good of our class.

3. I will make a point of answering personal correspondence quickly and completely so that students know I am here to listen to them and represent them; I will also make sure to let my class know what issues we have brought up and fought for that will specifically benefit them.

Senate

Jon Adams

1. My greatest priority is to reverse what I see as a decline at William and Mary. I want to fight against budget cuts, for students rights in Williamsburg, and for the administration to be as student friendly as possible, as they are supposed to be serving us.

2. I have served in Undergraduate Council for the past year as class secretary, and I have been in contact with a large number of the people in my class, so I feel that I have a very good idea of their needs and desires, and am going to work my hardest to help them out.

3. I'm planning on putting out surveys to measure student opinion on critical issues, so that I can have the clearest possible idea as to what they want me to focus on. It will give us a mandate for issues that must be worked as soon as possible.

Jhett Nelson

1. With rising costs, it is imperative that the SA watches what it spends and be a voice to the administration for fiscal responsibility on campus. Spending over $100,000 in two hours with little student input isn't how the Senate should operate. I want to see all steps taken to keep tuition and fees low while working to better the College.

2. Students will find in me a person who is honestly seeking to make this a better place, fight for their needs, ensure their money is being spent properly, and not trying to score cheap political points.

Matt Wigginton

1. I am running for reelection because I have a lot of issues still left to tackle. My highest priority when elected will be working with others to provide the best leadership possible.

2. While I welcome the opportunity to take on big issues I don't ignore the smaller issues that affect all of us on a daily basis, such as not being able to refill your drink at the marketplace for free and the lack of drainage on pathways after rain.

3. I have an open door policy for all students, that's why I invite anyone concerned to IM me (whiggi1) or call my cell phone (540-798-3783).

The DoG Street Journal apologizes for those candidates not listed above who may be running, however it is not responsible for those who did not respond to inquiries.