It is that time of year again. Campaigning has hit the Dartmouth campus. Walls are plastered with posters as students metamorphose from typical college undergrads into politicians. In some cases, campaign season brings out a side of the person foreign to friends and family. In others, campaigning is as second-nature as walking to class.
Will this be the year of the peaceful, happy campaign, free from vicious slurs and dirty politicking? Or will we once again see the typical degeneration into name-calling and shady campaign practices?
I considered throwing my own hat into the fray, but I realized that writing columns for The Dartmouth would be much more fun. In particular, I feel the need to share my views on this year's campaign.
Let us focus on a favorite forum for scandal, the Student Assembly. This year, the Assembly has been plagued by internal bickering. The problem reached its apex over the failed attempt to impeach president Nicole Artzer. The Assembly garners little popular support, but having served on the Assembly for two long and frustrating years, I can honestly say that the Assembly does do some good.
The problem, however, is its image. Last year, we saw the first election invalidated because the president-elect allegedly cheated a local copy store. As a follow-up, this year the Assembly tried to organize a boycott of Dartmouth Dining Services and impeach its president. The Assembly, formerly viewed as a partially-effective, overly-political organization, has now become a complete laughing-stock.
Is it too late for change? Has the Assembly sealed its fate forever in the eyes of the community? While I won't say that the damage is irreparable, it is going to take some very effective leaders and a cooperative Assembly to restore any shred of credibility that the Assembly once possessed.
The voters must elect a president who is not only in touch with student opinion, but who is articulate and intelligent. The president is called upon to deliver an address at Convocation and meets frequently with key administrators at the College. On the most basic level, the president must be someone who is sensible, reasonable, intelligent and dedicated. Students do not realize that the president is a spokesperson first and foremost.
The vice president ideally would be someone who has considerable experience on the Assembly. The vice president serves as the Parliamentarian of the Assembly and, therefore, must thoroughly comprehend the constitution. The vice president also chairs the Nominations Committee and, therefore, needs to have a firm understanding of the roles of the various College committees.
Perhaps most important, however, is whom we elect our at-large representatives. The entire fiasco that plagues the Assembly this year can be blamed on the at-large membership. This year, the Assembly has a moderate president, a conservative vice president, and a conservative Assembly. What did the vice president and a conservative Assembly faction decide to do when they didn't agree with the policies of the president? They tried to impeach her! It is crucial that we elect students who are cooperative and open-minded. Otherwise, we will have another Assembly that is factionalized and ineffective.
The Assembly can regain its stature on the Dartmouth campus. But to do so, it needs the help of the electorate. Do not be fooled by catchy campaign slogans and promises. Listen carefully to what the candidates are saying and make an informed choice.
