The Bowdoin Orient

April 13, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 21

Students vote on representatives, referendum

by NIMA SOLTANZAD, STAFF WRITER

   April is a busy time for Bowdoin student government as officers begin to finalize plans for the next academic year and make transitions in membership.
   Yesterday marked the launch of elections for next year's Student Executive Board, SAFC Chair, and Student Congress Chair, as well as a vote on a Constitutional referendum. Elections will be held online until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 15; the web site is www.bowdoin.edu/vote.
   The following thirteen students are running for next year's Student Executive Board: Tejus Ajmera '04; Dominique Alepin '03; Cesar Aviles '04; Ned Bair '03; Lenz Balan '04; Shanique Brown '04; Jason Hafler '04; Edward MacKenzie '03; Meghan MacNeil '03; Kara Oppenheim '04; Jay Rawlins '03; Alicia Smith '04; and Michael Taylor '02.
   Two of these candidates, Meghan MacNeil and Michael Taylor, are current Board members. Students will have the ability to vote for up to nine candidates for the Executive Board. The voting web site includes each candidate's name, class year, and "Statement of Candidacy."
   Two students are running for the position of SAFC Chair: Kate Donovan '02, current SAFC Chair, and David Sohn '04.
   This year, for the first time, the student body is also electing the Congress Chair, a position that was previously voted for by the Congress.
   According to Board member Eric Diamon, the reason this change is being made is "to ensure that the Congress can establish itself as a student government organization and not depend on the Student Executive Board to dictate the Congress's agenda."
   Megan Faughnan '02, current Congress Chair, is running against Margo Woolverton '02 for the position.
   The Constitutional referendum under consideration is the largest to occur in quite some time. It proposes changes to the chartering and reviewing of organizations and clubs, as well as changes to the role of each Student Government organization. These changes are intended to make Student Government more convenient for students to use to their benefit.
   If passed, the Referendum would make Student Congress the sole legislative branch of Student Government.
   Student Executive Board would do more administrative activities, like overseeing elections and chartering and reviewing organizations.
   After the vote at Monday's faculty meeting to finalize a long-desired extension to Thanksgiving Break, the Student Executive Board seconded the measure. Beginning next semester, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving will be a holiday for a two-year probationary period. The Board appreciates and recognizes Dean Foster's role in supporting the Thanksgiving proposal.
   Board members have also announced that the new parking-towing notification service is underway. Members will notify students by phone when their cars are towed.
   The Executive Board also initiated discussion on the possibility of a Bowdoin web site that would be geared specifically to the members of the Bowdoin Community.
   Student Government is planning another forum of discussion before the close of the semester. It also plans to open future discussion on the Health Center as well as on Off-Campus Study.

The 2000-2001 Student Executive Board has recently announced that it will be notifying students who have had their cars towed so that they may retrieve them in a timely fashion and thus not be forced to pay for "storage" at Sanford's in addition to paying the $25 parking ticket issued by Bowdoin.
(Colin LeCroy/Bowdoin Orient)