Vernon ‘10 will focus on budget
By Ann Baum, The Dartmouth Staff
Published on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Student Body President-elect Frances Vernon '10 and Student Body Vice President-elect Cory Cunningham '10.
Student Body President-elect Frances Vernon '10 told The Dartmouth that she will focus largely on budget issues during her transition to the presidency, but will delay creating detailed plans to address the effects of the College's budget cuts on student organizations until the Assembly has consulted with the Undergraduate Finance Committee. Creating a plan of action to address these cuts was one of Vernon's most frequently mentioned campaign planks.
Conversations between the Assembly and UFC members will likely begin sometime next week, she said.
"We have to start that dialogue first," she said.
A formal three-week transition period for Student Assembly was established by an April 7 amendment to the Assembly's constitution. The amendment gives the outgoing Assembly administration the option to step down after that time, but Vernon and Bode said they will co-chair Assembly meetings for the remainder of Spring term, Vernon said.
"It will all be collaborative from here," Vernon said.
In addition to outlining a plan to assist student organizations after the College's previously announced budget cuts take effect on student organizations on July 1, Vernon said that she will consider changes to the operation of the Undergraduate Finance Committee throughout the remainder of the term.
Vernon said she plans to work to create a reserve fund for the UFC -- a proposal outlined in her campaign platform and originally raised by Bode -- and to make other changes to the funding body by mid to late spring, once the UFC has outlined its allocations to various student organizations.
Student Body Vice President-elect Cory Cunningham '10 said his upcoming plans include improving Assembly morale. Cunningham is a senior member of The Dartmouth business staff.
"I really want to work to make sure the people that are on [the Assembly] are excited about being members of Student Assembly," he said.
Cunningham also highlighted the importance of educating the campus about Assembly-sponsored initiatives to increase the Assembly's perceived legitimacy. Updating and improving the Assembly's web site could help make students more aware of the Assembly's actions, he said.
Vernon and Cunningham said their close relationships with current Student Body President Molly Bode '09 and Vice President Nafeesa Remtilla '09 will help them prepare to assume their new leadership positions.
"I think it will be a really easy transition," Cunningham said, adding that his three years of experience as an Assembly member have prepared him for the position.
Bode said she expects that the transition period will allow her to work with Vernon to make the Assembly "even more productive and effective next year."
"There is not going to be a lame-duck period for either of us," Bode said.
Remtilla said she also foresees an easy transition.
"I'm excited because [Cunningham and I] worked together well in the past, so there's no reason we won't in the future," she said.
Eleni Stavrou '10, president-elect of the 2010 Class Council, said she believes Vernon will "acclimate really well" to her new role. Vernon served as 2010 Class Council president throughout the last three years.
"I think [Vernon's] going to have to learn a lot about Student Assembly policy," said Stavrou, who had served as Class Council secretary while Vernon was Class Council president.
Stavrou served as acting Class Council president during Winter term while Vernon was off campus. Stavrou said she believes this previous experience will make her transition easier.
Max Pollack '10 was reelected as 2010 Class Council vice president, while John Rutan '12 and Satoshi Harris-Koizumi '12 were reelected as 2012 Class Council president and vice president, respectively.
Pollack said that Vernon's service as student body president may help bring Class Council and the Assembly together, allowing Class Council to become more involved with campus issues.
Class Council elections for the Class of 2011 will take place during Summer term, Justin Varilek '11, chair of the Elections Planning and Advisory Committee, said.
Staff reporter Turia Lahlou contributed to the reporting of this article.