College Government President (1)
Emily Pearson ’20
Dear Wellesley Community,
It is with great excitement and passion that I am running to serve as the 2018-19 College Government President.
I will not be wrapping my campaign up in 3 buzzwords. I’m not pledging to fix our campus problems in a year. I am promising, however, to spend the next year passionately advocating for the student body, working to improve CG structure and efficiency, and creating policy that improves the day to day experience of every student on this campus. I am dedicating my time to listening and learning from students, then using my abilities to address these problems. I am running a reality based campaign.
I’ve seen the need for significant College Government reform – it’s ridiculous that only 45 percent of organization’s funding requests were granted this spring. I’ve seen the need for clear, easily accessible policy about spaces and resources on our campus. I’ve seen questions raised about our institutional commitment to student support and leadership development. These are all areas in which we can improve.
I have had several critical experiences that have prepared me for the position. I’ve worked as the Student Appointments Coordinator, an Executive Senator, the Student Orientation Coordinator, and as a student worker in the Office of Student Involvement. The conversations I’ve had on this campus, both with students as well as faculty and the administration, have deeply shaped my Wellesley experience. Whether I was discussing Board of Trustees restructuring with the Secretary of the Board, the educational experience of my peers at the Inclusive Excellence panel, or the need for a computer in the Lulu Resource Room with my favorite custodian Kenny, I’ve seen the need for change and know how to bring it about.
Change at Wellesley is not an overnight process. But with persistent dialogue, thoughtful policy changes, and most of all, an overarching commitment to making Wellesley a better place for everyone, we can improve our Wellesley experience.
Believe in the power of student voice. Believe in your intrinsic value. Believe that together, we can create a lasting impact on this campus. If elected, my cabinet and I will strive to help you in every way. I want you to view College Government as more than just a place for you to voice your concerns but also a place for tangible action. There is a limit to what one person can change but together, the possibilities are limitless.
The Wellesley community has transformed me into a more deeply passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated leader. It’s my time to give back. On March 15, vote Emily for College Government President. Let’s see what we can do, together.
Warmly,
Emily Pearson ’20
College Government Vice President (1)
Diana Lam ’20
Hello Wellesley! My name is Diana Lam and I am excited to announce my candidacy for College Government Vice President (CGVP). The CGVP is the Chair of the Student Organizations and Appointments Committee (SOAC) and as such, serves as the primary liaison between College Government, committees of Academic Council, and student organizations. These bodies and activities are integral to student life and I hope to use the position to evaluate and amend current practices. In doing so, I hope to create a more efficient system where student organizations and representatives can better serve their members, constituents, and the greater Wellesley community. Within SOAC, I aim to lead a committee where teamwork is prioritized, therefore fostering an environment that can be both collaborative and rewarding. Through this, I hope to create continuities in leadership, which is integral to preserving institutional memory. My platform stems from two years of experience with College Government and my subsequent observations of its activities. Since entering Wellesley, I have served in Senate and supplemented the experience through other student advocacy roles, such as the Student Representative for the Admission and Financial Aid Committee, as well as Treasurer for the Ballot Initiative involving the Lulu Resource Room. Within SOAC, I am the current Secretary-Treasurer, and have used my position to advance efforts to preserve institutional memory and fundraising. I look forward to another year with SOAC, and I hope I can earn your support for CGVP.
Chief Justice (2)
Maya Nandakumar ’19
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for the position of Chief Justice! Having served on the Honor Code Council (HCC) for two years, I believe that our unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity, and respect represents one of the most vibrant aspects of the Wellesley experience.
If elected, I hope to improve our relationship with you, the student body. The Honor Code is meant to be a resource for students, through which we can create an inclusive and respectful community.
I want to facilitate dialogue between HCC and different communities on campus. During my first year, we started a discussion on the relationship between mental health and the Honor Code. Through this experience, I realized that we should forge intentional partnerships between HCC and health, cultural, socioeconomic, and other groups on campus to ensure that we are listening to the needs of our community.
The Honor Code process is intended to allow students to advocate for themselves. It is important that we are accessible on campus to clarify the nuances of the honor code in a meaningful manner. In addition, since the HC was designed to protect students, I believe that we should communicate your rights more clearly.
Fairness is key to the HC process. This year, I have been drafting policy changes to help guide students through the procedure. The HC process can be daunting, so I will increase transparency to best support you!
It would be my honor to serve as your next Chief Justice!
Maggie Ruden ’19
Hello friends! My name is Maggie Ruden and I am running to be Wellesley’s Chief Justice for the 2018-2019 academic year. Since joining Honor Code Council my sophomore year, I have held both the positions of ALANA (African descent, Latinx, Asian, Native American) representative and Student Advocate. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of both the benefits and shortcomings of the Honor Code. From the responses to my survey about professors’ perceptions of the Honor Code and previous student feedback, I discovered concerns about both its effectiveness and its clarity. If I win this election, I will continue the outreach initiatives of our current and past Chief Justices to remedy these concerns. I will act as an accessible resource for Wellesley and try to provide everyone with a better understanding of the breadth of circumstances in which the Honor Code applies.
As Chief Justice, I will be a reliable and active liaison between all communities on campus. I believe that the relationships that I will build and those that I currently have with students, faculty and staff are a valuable asset to this student leader position. These connections will allow me and the rest of Honor Code Council to ensure that as many people as possible feel as though they are being treated with honesty, integrity and respect in all social and academic environments at Wellesley.
I am super excited to run for this position, and I hope to earn your vote throughout election week!
Director of On-Campus Affairs (1)
Iletze Porras ’19
My name is Iletze Porras and I am running to be your Director of On Campus Affairs (DOOCA) for the 2018- 2019 academic year. The DOOCA is the head of the Schneider Board of Governors (SBOG) which I have served on for two years. SBOG is responsible for planning major on-campus events like Lake Day, Headphone Disco, Fall Frenzy, LDOC and much more. I am a strong candidate for DOOCA based on my commitment both to SBOG and providing a fun atmosphere to the Wellesley student body. As DOOCA, I aspire to facilitate a safe, inclusive, and fun environment for the entire campus. I want to accomplish this through a goal-oriented platform. Advocacy: I, along with SBOG, hope to be a liaison between the student body and the administration to represent the needs of the students to increase social life on campus through town halls and open communication. Collaboration: I aim to foster partnership between SBOG and organizations on campus to create and strengthen foundations of diversity, safety, inclusivity, and enjoyment in our events. Transparency: in order for the campus to trust SBOG to represent their social needs, there needs to be an understanding of what SBOG does, how do we do it, and, most importantly, why do we do it. As DOOCA, I hope to combat stress culture with activities and entertainment that’s enjoyable for all. I would be honored to spend my last year at Wellesley dedicated to this mission. Thank you for your consideration.
Student Bursar (1)
Hanna Fernley ’19
Hello, everyone! My name is Hanna Fernley and I am running as Student Bursar for the 2018-2019 school year. I have been an active member of the Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC) for two years now, during which I have witnessed the intricate, and often tedious, process of funding organizations and clubs here on campus. The Bursar’s office is responsible for providing Wellesley with a resource to consult and understand the process of funding more easily. I am running on the platform of communication, clarity, and consistency: three things I believe would increase access of all organizations on campus to the Bursar’s office and our process of funding.
First, I hope to strengthen communications with all organizations here on campus. I want all groups to be in constant contact with me, whether it be through email or in-person, with questions and comments regarding the process of applying and receiving funding.
Secondly, I strive to provide consistency of information and funding to all organizations on campus. Despite the large number of applications we receive, all organizations should have equal access to applying and receiving funding from the Bursar’s office.
Lastly, I aspire to create a sense of clarity surrounding SOFC and our funding policies. By increasing access to resources on our website, interacting during designated office hours, and treasurer’s training, I want all individuals on campus to understand what our office does, and how it operates.
Thank you for considering me as your Student Bursar, Wellesley!
Chair of the Committee for Political and Legislative Awareness (1)
Ninan Pollack ’20
My name is Ninan Pollack and I am running to be your next Chair of the Committee for Political and Legislative Awareness (CPLA). I am a sophomore majoring in Political Science and I want to be Wellesley’s CPLA Chair to further promote dialogue and action on campus. I have been a member of both CPLA and CPLA’s Core (e-board) since my first-year. Through my role on Core, I have led CPLA’s weekly meetings, as well as brainstormed and planned logistics for CPLA events.
CPLA’s role in providing students with the resources to take action on the local, state, and national level is as important as ever in the current polarized political environment. Under my leadership, CPLA will continue to hold events for voter registration and provide training for phone banking, as well as organize social events such as Trivia Night in the Punch’s Alley and host educational lectures and discussions on politics. In addition, I want to increase CPLA’s collaboration with campus cultural and activist organizations and further engage international students. My goal is for CPLA to be a space where students with a diverse range of beliefs can engage in respectful and productive dialogue. Most importantly, I want to promote CPLA’s mission of non-partisanship while ensuring that prejudice and bigotry in all its forms are not tolerated.
I would be honored to be your CPLA Chair and work with College Government to better serve the campus community.
Ballot Initiative (1)
KSC Printer + Community Space
To the Wellesley Community:
The Keohane Sports Center Printer and Study Space Ballot Initiative aims to enhance the community study space in the KSC for all students to use. This project, in partnership with PERA, will create a positive environment in which all Wellesley students can relax, build community, study, and most importantly, print. The KSC is a facility that is utilized by many members of the Wellesley Community: last year, the upstairs fitness center was swiped into 41,000 times. In combination with fitness classes, intramural sports, and varsity athletics, this makes the KSC one of the most frequented places on campus. Many students who exercise here also use the facility to study, without there being a true study space. The addition of our Printer and Study Space Ballot Initiative would give students an innovative and modern place to work and be mindful, meeting the needs of the Wellesley Community.
This Ballot Initiative seeks to enhance the student lounge area in the KSC specifically through the addition of new technologies; for example, a state of the art USB connectable printer, multiple charging stations for smartphones and laptops, and other forms of entertainment. A vote in favor of this initiative will ensure a convenient and collaborative atmosphere for students to study, relax, and print for many years to come.
If you have any questions contact Olivia Holbrook ([email protected]) or Faye Washburn (fwashbur@ wellesley.edu).
Go Blue,
Olivia Holbrook ’20 and Faye Washburn ’20
