Nick Alexander's Policy Platform

1. Meeting Student Grievances in Troubled Times:

Problem:

In the face of ever-increasing budgetary cuts, it is important that student voices have a proper and effective outlet; this, in my opinion, is the role of the SGA. After speaking with many of my peers, it has become clear to me that students feel particularly alienated by noticeable changes in the quality and standards of Middlebury’s Dining Halls.

Solution:

One of the ways I plan to make student government more responsive to student grievances is to create an SGA Food Committee, geared exclusively towards consulting students about upcoming changes, and presenting dining-related concerns to Matthew Biette on a regular basis. Not only will this take some of the weight off of Matthew Biette’s shoulders, but the Food Committee will provide students with a clear and effective governmental channel for their concerns. TOP ▲

2. Preserve Our Old Traditions, Make Room for the New:

Problem:

In a recent Op-Ed in the Middlebury Campus, a freshman named Maurits Pot wrote: “at some colleges, the past plays a vivid and integral role in the present nature of the institution, yet at Middlebury, I sense a lurking disconnect between the past, present, and future.” As Pot noted, in the race to maintain Middlebury’s competitive edge our College has lost some of its core traditions.

While students are pleased that Middlebury is a modern institution, many are yearning to connect with the past, and tread in the footsteps of 200-years’ worth of alumni. In many ways, however, the Middlebury of today bears little similarity to the institution it was in the 1980s, let alone to that of the 1800s.

Solution:

a) Preserving the Old:

It is our duty as students to ensure that this does not happen again. The student body, and indeed the SGA, must strive to protect Middlebury’soldest traditions, such as Spring-Term and Winter Carnival, as they come under increasing budgetary pressure. If elected, I will do everything in my power to preserve these traditions for future Middlebury students.

b) Making Room for New Student-Based Traditions:

The Commons System, as it was originally conceived, was aimed at providing havens for the creation and preservation of student traditions. However, for most students the Commons affiliation rarely has relevance beyond the friends and contacts they build in their freshman year. Moreover, the vast majority of students do not see any value in attending Commons Council meetings to vote on new initiatives.

In my opinion, this can be attributed to the fact that students do not feel as though they have a real stake in the Commons System. To remedy the situation, I believe it is important to introduce democratic elections into all Commons Councils. In more specific terms, this will mean that the Commons Chairs will be elected by their peers, rather than appointed through an application process by the Commons Dean.

Electoral democracy will not only increase student engagement, but it will provide aspiring student leaders with a stepping-stone to SGA governance. In addition, Commons Chairs will have an electoral incentive to deliver on their promises, ensuring that their Commons’ budget is put to good use. Finally, electoral democracy will make our Commons affiliation much more relevant to our Campus life.

Most importantly, however, through the introduction of Commons Council constitutions, we can provide an additional avenue for the creation and preservation of new, Commons-based traditions. As a result, incoming students will immediately feel as though they are part of something, and older students can ensure that their traditions will be constitutionally preserved for future generations.

If elected, I will work with Commons Heads to introduce electoral democracy and constitutionalism in all Commons Councils by the end of my Presidency. TOP ▲

3. An SGA that is Accessible to You:

Problem:

Despite the best efforts of past SGA leaders, to many students the SGA still feels inaccessible and distant. While Bobby Joe aimed to resolve this issue through the introduction of student rallies, he soon found that students’ busy schedules prevented most from attending.

Solution:

I plan to bring the SGA into the 21st century by replacing poorly attended student rallies with SGA YouTube Addresses. This way, I will be able to regularly update the student body on the SGA’s progress, and answer student questions, without inconveniencing their schedules. Not only is this a low-cost initiative, but it will help foster a relationship between Middkids and their leadership by rendering the SGA more accessible.

In addition, in order to increase student engagement I will jazz up SGA Weekly Bulletins by putting them into the far more appealing and readily accessible ‘Flash’ format. TOP ▲

4. Completing Bobby Joe’s Initiatives:

Problem:

As President, Bobby Joe made serious inroads into important new innovations such as campus-wide wireless access, online syllabi, and book lists for courses. Past presidents have also placed emphasis on facilitating institutional diversity, increasing rape awareness, and ensuring that on-campus housing is fair for all students. These projects are long-term, and require lots of time and energy

Solution:

If elected President, I will take advantage of additional credit afforded to me by my past work, which will allow me to take three classes in Fall ’09, and if necessary, I will do the same in Spring’10. For this reason, I will have much more time to help shepherd Bobby Joe's initiatives through to their completion, while giving my full attention to common SGA issues such as housing, diversity, and sexual harassment. TOP ▲

5. A More Integrated Student Body:

Problem:

Many younger students have commented on the fact that they feel the College does not place enough emphasis on integration between ‘Regs’ and incoming ‘Febs’. While much of the divide can be attributed to the different matriculation times, I believe the SGA can and should play a greater role in facilitating Reg-Feb integration.

Solution:

In order to promote integration, and properly welcome incoming Febs to Middlebury, under my direction the SGA will sponsor a large “Welcome the Febs” Ball at the beginning of J-Term. The purpose of this Ball will be to help bridge the gap between Regs and Febs in a casual and festive atmosphere by providing students with an early opportunity to meet their new classmates. TOP ▲

6. SGA-Sponsored Debates on the Pertinent Issues of our Time:

Middlebury’s international perspective and culture of civic engagement makes it the ideal campus for active debate and discussion of the most pertinent issues and questions of our time. Unfortunately, however, Middlebury has not yet established a tradition of campus-wide debates. If elected, I will ensure that the SGA sponsors regular debates on the most pressing questions facing societies and policy-makers around the globe. TOP ▲