Recent April elections for nine different positions decided the 2019-2020 SGA executive board. The Voice recently reached out to Maryum Qasim ‘20, the President elect, Hana Kristensen ‘20, elected Vice President, Conor Xanders ‘20, the new Chair of Honor Council, and Hope Murphy ‘20, the elected Chief of Finance, to learn more about their recent campaigns and their plans for the next academic year.
Interview with Maryum Qasim ‘20 as SGA President:
Why did you run for President?
Having been on SGA for two years in the past, I had gathered a bit of experience for me to handle the responsibilities that came with the position. Over the past three years, I have worked with a variety of student groups including incoming first years, the international student Association, the Muslim Student Association, the Unity House family as well as many offices across campus ranging from Admissions Office to Community Partnerships. I wanted to use my experience, connections, and skills in the most effective way and therefore I decided to run for SGA President.
What was the platform that you ran on for President?
Since I am currently studying abroad in Paris, I used the platform of social media to run a campaign.
What was it like campaigning while you were abroad?
Quite honestly, it was not stressful at all. I kept receiving messages from friends who were cheering on me. Social media really does a good job connecting us all.
What do you plan to do with your position now that you’ve won?
I have a project that I started working on last year during my semester-long role as the Chair of Equity & Inclusion that I would like to continue. The project focuses on basic self-defense class that will be offered at Conn. Ideally, it would be a 1 credit class for anyone who wishes to enroll. Moreover, I look forward to connecting different groups that I have worked with in the past for better collaboration and improve transparency between the student body and SGA. One of my main goals would be to make SGA meetings most effective while respecting time and productivity.
What do you think needs to change the most, either with how SGA runs or with the College more generally?
There is always room for change. Having been on SGA I can vouch wholeheartedly for how hard the Executive Board and the General Assembly works. However, I believe that our nature of work and the goals that SGA achieve throughout the year can be communicated more effectively so the student body is in the loop. Similarly, my experience with the administration has been pleasant in a way that most of the times I have not received ‘no’ as an answer to any student-related concern. However, I do believe that things/projects/ideas could move more quickly if directed towards the right person/office in the first place.
What are your thoughts on the voyeurism incidents this and last semester, as that is something that many students are concerned about (the future of their safety on campus)?
There is no place for voyeurism on a residential campus such as Conn home to so many of us. Comfort and safety are at the heart of positive student experience and must be prioritized. Last semester I had a chance to sit on meetings with the administration regarding the voyeurism incidents and I witnessed the administration’s best efforts and sincerest concerns for the student body. We all saw how powerful it was to see students claiming their spaces. Conn is a community and we must always keep an eye out for each other. SGA will always back up all and any student voices and make sure that the administration always prioritizes our safety on campus in all ways possible. Better collaboration with campus safety officers as well the REAL office through our Chair of Residential will be high on our priority list this year.
Interview with Hana Kristensen ‘20 as Vice President:
Why did you run for Vice President?
I have always been interested in being involved in SGA, but I never felt that I was prepared to take on a position. This year, I had a few friends that were involved with SGA, and I learned more about their positions and what they do on campus. It was the first time I really understood what role SGA actually plays and the influence students actually have on some of the major decisions made by the college. In the beginning of the nomination period, no one had nominated themselves for the Vice President position, and my friends that are currently on SGA suggested that I run for it and that I would be a good fit. Another reason I wanted to run for Vice President is because I have been taking on more leadership roles these past few years, and I thought I would be ready to take on a “bigger” position.
What was the platform that you ran on for Vice President?
When the nominations came out, I emailed the international students at Conn to let them know I was running and how they could vote if they were interested in voting. I also posted my poster on Facebook and later in the week closer to the deadline I posted on Instagram. My main goal was to let people know that there were SGA elections, and not make them feel like I was forcing them to vote for me. I definitely think the biggest help I got was from my friends, they were telling people to vote for the SGA elections and they also helped spread the word about the fact that I was running.
What do you plan to do with your position now that you’ve won?
I plan on making the dialogue between SGA, Conns Administration and the clubs and organizations on campus more constant and open. I know the college has been adamant on improving student life on campus, and I believe the main driving force of student life are the clubs and organizations. Therefore I think it is necessary that we are in constant dialogue so that their wants and needs can be met, especially in terms of funding and resources. I will also be involved with the resolution writing process, and I aim to represent and support the students during the process.
What do you think needs to change the most either with how SGA runs or with the College more generally?
Like many students, I believe that the well-being of the students should be taken into consideration whenever the college makes a decision, especially ones that changes our daily life. The administration does often let the students know about current ideas and resolutions, however, many students fail to inform themselves. I think this shows that the main struggle between the College and SGA is the lack of information, though both parties attempt to inform the students, not many engage with the long emails that are sent or attend the open forums. We somehow need to change the exchange of information so that more students are engaged with the decisions that are being made in SGA and by the College, so that student life is truly influenced by the students.
Interview with Hope Murphy ‘20 as Chief of Finance:
Why did you run for Chief of Finance?
I wouldn’t have run if I didn’t think I was qualified. My academic and internship experiences have strengthened both my analytical and interpersonal skills. I saw this position as a great opportunity to engage with the Conn community, while developing money management skills.
What was the platform that you ran on for Chief of Finance?
I intentionally created a broad platform. After noticeable budget cuts to campus services, staff, and organizations, SGA needs to be making strategic financial decisions to ensure that student experience remains a priority. I plan to examine exactly where money is going in order to make the most sustainable and equitable change.
What do you plan to do with your position now that you’ve won?
I would be lying if I said I had a set plan for next year. I’m going into this position with the intention of being really flexible. I want to assess the needs of the student body, and help design creative solutions that address the shortcomings of Conn’s budget, particularly, regarding student experience.
What was it like running for Chief of Finance as the only woman and winning?
It was great. I think it is a very encouraging sign for other women in finance on Conn’s campus. I hope more seek leadership roles. Before I take all the credit, there were many people who helped me win this campaign. I am very grateful to all of the people who supported me, whether it be by word-of-mouth, posting on social media, or simply all who voted. I would especially like to thank the members of the Women’s Rowing Team who show me everyday what it means to be a strong, ambitious, and persistent woman.
Interview with Conor Xanders ‘20 for Chair of Honor Council:
Why did you run for Chair of Honor Council?
It was honestly just a moment where I was thinking about what qualities I would want in someone in the Chair position and the thing that stuck out for me was having someone who I knew was doing his/her very best to give me a fair shake and was actively trying to fix and question things in the handbook that don’t make sense or seem to be fair to students. I realized that these qualities are things I have always tried actively to bring to the table each and every hearing I have been on, and I realized that my passion for trying to make this process as fair and transparent to students as possible meant that I really should put myself out there and try and do this. I also think because of my interest in these issues I have spent a ridiculous amount of time reading the student handbook and have an incredibly strong understanding of how a lot of these processes work because of that and my time and conversations with people on the council and past chairs. Running for chair to me is an opportunity to put this knowledge to work for students, especially in a year where the conduct process will be going under review and potential changes will be put on the table.
How did you campaign for the Chair and what was the experience like running against someone else in Honor Council?
I really, really did not enjoy the experience of running against someone else in Honor Council for this position. It’s hard to be running for a position that honestly ends up serving a role somewhat similar to a team captain when only one of you can win and both individuals are running because they each believe they can do it better. In terms of campaigning, I made some posters and put out a photo that could be shared on social media. I ended up getting much more help that way than I could have ever imagined and it really gave me confidence that this was something that I knew I could and should be running for, and that I didn’t have to feel bad for doing what I thought was right not only for me but for the entire campus community and especially my fellow students. I am glad this election process is over because now the focus can shift to doing the job I was elected for and making sure all students are heard fairly and increasing education surrounding the entire conduct process.
What was the platform that you ran on for Chair of Honor Council?
I talked about this quite a bit in my speech but I really think what I tried to make clear was that I have always tried to support and help students in this process wherever possible while maintaining the integrity of the process. Whether it’s in hearings during deliberations or answering questions regarding how the process works, I have consistently made myself available and tried to help others in a system that can feel incredibly frustrating and unfair at times. I specifically put in my speech to talk to others on honor council about my reputation because at the end of the day my words don’t mean much if the actions that accompany them don’t match. I hoped through my speech that I could make it clear that besides just being passionate about this position and working with and for students that it wasn’t just lip service and that I really do care and have the work ethic and integrity to do the things I talked about for next year.
What do you plan to do with your position now that you’ve won?
I think besides being heavily involved in looking at policies that students have voiced concerns over such as Failure to Act that my main focus next year needs to be on the educational aspect of the chair position. When I talk with people about the chair position, a lot of people don’t even realize that it doesn’t normally vote during hearings, only during a tie. That’s a problem. A lot of people don’t know how a case gets sent to honor council or deans grievance, or a one-on-one adjudication meeting. That’s a problem, but it’s also something that I am now in a position to fix, especially as the person running point on education regarding the honor code. I don’t know yet exactly what next year will look like but a combination of monthly newsletters, open forums, and potentially even office hours and going into FYS classrooms for educational modules regarding the honor code seem like good and achievable places to start. The part I am personally excited for is actually being able to help shape the discourse within hearings surrounding students to make sure that anyone in front of me is getting a fair hearing and that what is being said is being heard and considered. Since the chair doesn’t normally vote, my job shifts primarily towards making sure all aspects of a case and a person are being considered which to me is incredibly exciting as someone who doesn’t usually leave honor council hearings feeling very good about himself wishing I could have done more. This is an opportunity to at the very least make sure that the people in front of me know that I will make sure they are being heard and treated fairly, and that I will not be afraid to question and call out individuals and circumstances that threaten that principle.
