Volume CXXXI, Number 22 April 19, 2002 f

Student body elects new government
FE VIVAS
STAFF WRITER

The student body elected officers last weekend to the Bowdoin student government (BSG), formerly the joint bodies of the Student Executive Board and the student congress, for the academic year 2002-2003. This election marks the first under the amended student government constitution, which replaced previous bicameral government.

There were 653 votes submitted electronically from the three class years eligible to vote; excluded was the Class of 2002 which will join the ranks of alumni when the officers take their posts.

Newly-elected members of Bowdoin Student Government pose at a recent gathering in Moulton Union. (Nick LoVecchio, Bowdoin Orient)

Jason Hafler '04, elected President, will be embarking on his third year of student government involvement. The president will be, as outlined in the new constitution, "responsible for running and setting the agenda for Student Government meetings," and representing the student body before the Board of Trustees. He praises the, "great group of individuals who have the opportunity to make a difference on campus." And said he is excited about his new role. Under the new structure of BSG, Jason said the more clearly delineated positions which are modeled after the trustee committees, are "more accessible." He said, "Students will know who they need to go to motivate action."

Colin LeCroy '04 will take the helm as Vice President of Facilities, with his goal to "dry the school's pants" by focusing on the improvement of the college's laundry facilities. LeCroy said he will also lead changes in, "parking, security, building hours, and other matters assigned by the BSG," and will serve as student representative to the trustee committee on facilities.

Pat Burns '03, the newly elected Vice President of Academic Affairs, said that he is "proud to be part of the first year of the newly reformed student congress. I will work my hardest to make sure that the new system improves upon the accomplishments of the old." According to the new constitution, Burns will be expected to, "coordinate BSG activity relating to classes, faculty, and staff," as chair of the academic affairs committee, and as the student representative to the trustee committee on academic affairs and the faculty committee on curriculum and education policy (CEP).

Conor Williams '05 will step up as Vice President of Student Affairs. He said his year will be dedicated to "a consistent devotion to addressing and integrating student ideas and concerns with the student government." Williams will be expected to work closely with the athletics department, the Judicial Board, and the house system, and to represent students before the trustee and faculty committees on student affairs.

Haliday Douglas '05 will become the Vice President of Student Organizations. According to the constitution, he will "chair the BSG committee on student organizations and shall coordinate government activity relating to charter reviews and such other matters assigned by the BSG."

Edward MacKenzie '03, the second of two rising seniors among the group, said he is "hopeful about the new constitutional structure, which should distribute tasks in a more effective and efficient manner," as he takes his position as Vice President of Student Government Affairs. His position "shall coordinate BSG activity relating to publicity, surveys, elections, the website, the budget, college committee appointments, reports from college committees, and such other matters appointed by the BSG. " He will also serve as representative to the Board of Trustees.

Rounding out the student government is Tejus Ajmera '04 who has been elected treasurer, formerly Student Activities Fees Committee Chair. The financial officer position is designed to "keep all financial records for the student government and shall prepare a budget with the assistance of the president and vice president of student government affairs."

The BSG also added an opinion poll on the plus/minus controversy to the election ballots. Of the total 653 voters, 548 (84 percent) students prefer that their transcripts remain consistent with the current ABC grading system, while 105 (16 percent) would rather have their transcripts reflect the new plus/minus system.

Meghan MacNeil, the current chair of the Executive Board, credits the high voter turnout to the candidates and the increased publicity for the election. She also cited the electronic voting system as fostering a greater ease for students to cast their votes. "The great voting system which CIS has helped us set up has played a role in the resultant high percentage of votes," she said.

MacNeil, who played a central role in cementing the new shape of the BSG, said she is "happy with the structure and group of people. They are poised to get great things done for the campus."