Every year, The Eagle interviews all Student Confederation candidates for their executive offices, and endorses one candidate for each position. This year, with Kevin Gilnack's late withdrawal from the secretary race, there are no candidates on the ballot for secretary, and so we will not be endorsing anyone as a write-in candidate. For the other three positions, however, all candidates were qualified and impressive, making it hard for us to choose between them. In the end, we chose the candidates we feel would do the best jobs at their particular positions. Comptroller: Zach Ulrich Both Ali Khan and Zach Ulrich are experienced in the ways of the SC, as Ulrich briefly served as associate comptroller under current Comptroller Moamar Tidjani before resigning and being replaced by Khan. Both candidates seem versed in how to do the job, but Ulrich seems better suited to step into the position.
Ulrich had specific, realistic ideas, including working with and holding accountable AUTO and the AUCC and fixing the SC payroll. He also advocated communication with students, planning to hold budget forums to get student input before the budget is finalized. He seems very focused and prepared for the responsibilities of the job. The experience and relationships he built in the GA will be beneficial as well. He must be careful not to be too chummy, though, as the job will require him to be tough, fair and efficient with money.
We are concerned, though, about Ulrich's resignation from associate comptroller after just a month under Tidjani. Ulrich told us that he left because he felt he wasn't doing anything materially productive for students; will he be similarly dissatisfied with the comptroller position? Furthermore, if he left due to personal conflict there needs to be the reminder that he should maintain working relationships with a variety of people.
Khan, a Kogod major, impressed us with his grasp of business and economics, but did not present us with many specific ideas for change. His plan for payroll reform did not differ much from Tidjani's, and Tidjani was unable to push through his plan in the last year. He also seemed relatively unfamiliar with the functioning of the AUCC and GA. Khan's support is strong, but he had no specific plans does not seem ready for a leadership position. He would be valuable as an officer in the comptroller's office, however. Vice President: Leah Kreimer The position of vice president revolves around programming, and Kreimer has the perfect personality for the job. She is friendly, energetic and spirited, and, most importantly, has extensive programming experience as president of the Jewish Student Association. She has presided over several successful, well-attended events put on by the JSA and worked with other clubs to co-sponsor events. Her ideas about co-sponsored events can breathe new life into the SC and increase attendance for events among students active in groups but not aware of student government goings-on. With the SC's upcoming name change, it is hoping for an image change as well, and someone like Kreimer can help facilitate that by putting a friendly and spirited face on the student government.
Kreimer is campaigning as an SC outsider, but that is not without costs. She will need to quickly learn how the SC works, and will need to work with SC insiders who can be very exclusionary to those outside their circle. The fact that she's already spoken to some in the SC is encouraging. Her programming at JSA was successful but not nearly on the scale she will be working at in the SC, and she needs to take care to not let herself get frustrated.
Adam Rosenblatt impressed us with his passion and political savvy, but did not seem to be right for vice president because he lacked programming experience and ideas. He focused more on the academic aspect of the job than the activities he could use to gain student support and respect. His platforms don't really reflect his "bring back the fun" tagline. However, he has done an admirable job in the GA, and was an instrumental pointman in the SC's successful campaign to keep fall break.
He has the work ethic, passion and experience to step up and his ideas on publicity and communicating with students would make him perfect for secretary, which currently no one is running for. If the new SC president can appoint a secretary, he should choose Adam Rosenblatt for the position. President: James Gardner Because of the stiff competition between four candidates, we would like to briefly discuss our feelings on each of the other candidates before getting into why we chose James Gardner.
Nick Johnson has been successful in the GA and brought up issues that no other candidate did, such as the lack of kosher food on campus and low funding for the Women's Initiative. However, he did not seem to have the enthusiasm or goals that a president should. He has been and surely will continue to be effective in the GA, because he is realistic and has an eye for issues that others may not notice, but he is not the man to lead the SC.
Joe Gallina impressed us with his passion and came across as a person who will go to the limit fighting for students. His main points regarded battling with administration, however, and the job requires more than that. He will do an excellent job rallying students and the president should follow through with his ideas to continue going door-to-door to hear students concerns even when not campaigning.
He could be best used in a focused job, where he can concentrate his passion in one place. The Student Advocacy Center would be well served to have a man as passionate as Gallina at its helm.
We strongly considered endorsing Kyle Taylor, who was wildly successful as director of Eagle Nights and SC vice president last year. We found him personable, organized and enthusiastic, with a lot of ideas. That he has already been looking into the feasibility of his ideas is encouraging. He is a strong communicator, and has been visible and active as an RA in McDowell Hall, attributes that would surely translate in the SC, though many of his ideas seemed to fall more under the vice president's job description.
There is concern that some of his goals may not be realistic, however. It's important to reach out to student groups, but his idea to create student boards may be too ambitious, considering even the GA has enough trouble filling its seats.
Taylor would be perfect to be the inaugural student outreach chair, though. He has all the necessary traits to legitimize the position and set a good precedent for future chairs. The SC would be wise to try to get the benefit of Taylor's enthusiasm and outreach ideas.
As Student Advocacy Center director, James Gardner has spent the year working for the students and standing up for their rights. He knows how to fight, but also knows when to work with administration. His platform concentrates on feasible goals, and Gardner seems to have the determination and focus to follow through. His Eaglebuck$ expansion idea is excellent. He is practical and even-keeled, mellow and articulate. We hope Gardner will develop more enthusiasm as well, though. One of Polson Kanneth's biggest successes has been his visibility on campus, and Gardner will face criticism if he is not as visible.
He will face a big challenge as president, but we feel his practicality, experience and focus make him the best candidate for president of the SC.
