After filing for the Fall 2009 elections ended last night, the candidate statements of those participating were posted on the VSA website. There are 50 candidates in all for a variety of positions, including nine running for a spot as Class of 2013 President. These nine freshmen will particpate in the Fall Presidential Debate—hosted by the Board of Elections, moderated by The Miscellany News—at 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in UpCDC. Filing ends the following day, and the voting period will run until Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.. To view the candidate’s statements, see the VSA website’s Candidate’s Page, or read them after the jump.
2013 Class President Candidates:
Bob Lutz
Let’s face it: money’s tight. Vassar, like every other college in the nation, has been faced with economic hardship and forced to cut some corners. As a candidate for Class President of 2013, I don’t propose to fix things that can’t be helped at the moment. Instead, I intend to secure for the freshman class its rightful share of the budget we do have. Whether that means redistributing available funds or creating fundraising opportunities for student organizations all depends on one thing: whatever best serves the class of 2013. At my previous school, I was elected into presidency in a year where student budgets were cut by almost 50%. Needless to say, people were anxious. Clubs with few members assumed they would get less priority than others, or disbanded entirely. After some adjustment, however, most came to realize that the situation was hardly as serious as it seemed, with the appropriate amount of give-and-take. Students and organizations who showed ingenuity, elbow grease, and willingness to compromise were the ones who ultimately stood to benefit from the situation. These are the qualities I intend to bring to VSA council. Of course, this is no longer high school, but the principles of problem-solving are very much the same. So long as students and organizations are willing to put forth the effort to claim what they need—even if that means hosting events to raise funds—there should be no problem in dealing with the current constraints. To fully enable this, it will be my responsibility to inform those in need of every such opportunity available to them. As a representative for the class of 2013, I will ensure that our voice as a freshman class is heard as clearly as possible, and that no freshman student or organization goes without the representation and resources it deserves, budgetary or otherwise. It is my view that the freshman class deserves every penny it requires, and my goal to get it for us.
Clayton Masterman
Hey there! I’m Clayton Masterman. It’s time for 2013 to vote on our class council, and I’m telling you I’m the best bet for our new president. There are a couple of reasons for this. Issue by issue, I have all of you at heart. Since we’ve arrived issues have already come up and I’ve got ideas. We’ve seen the prices of our food raise—maybe it’s time to plan some class picnics. The battle to extend library hours is on—you can count on me to back our freshman in this fight. Our weekend shuttles were almost taken away; a class council that I’m president of will keep those shuttles running. Some freshman are feeling homesick and out of place—together we’ll keep freshman morale up and make sure everyone feels at home in the Vassar family. We can get kids out of the Vassar bubble and into the Poughkeepsie community. This class has a spirit, and we want to see that spirit alive. The freshmen know how to have fun, and as President I’ll take any ideas to help us make the next year the greatest we can. I’ve been a president of a club and a captain of a team. Everyone can drop by or send an email and we’ll get your ideas put into motion. Remember, Masterman has the master plan. Vote for me for Freshman President.
Joshua Rosen
Over the next year, Vassar College students will be forced to deal with some of the most pressing issues of our time – a financial crisis, two wars, a potential pandemic, among others – and all the while, embrace the academic and social experiences that the college has to offer. I submit to you my candidacy for the office of freshman Class President with the hope that you will enable me to represent the views and interests of the Class of 2013 on the Vassar Student Association council, and shape the future of our college. The formative experiences that I have had in my work with progressive political campaigns ranging from the mayoral level to some of the most contested Senate and House races in the nation, as well as my experience an elected representative in my high school, during which time I worked collaboratively with administrators and other student elected officials, have prepared me to serve you as the president of the freshman class. My analytical temperament is one that is conducive to impartial judgment and levelheaded – but never drawn-out – decision-making that will benefit our community. Additionally, I wish to impress upon you the gravity with which I approach this office – I aspire to be not only your representative, but also a resource for community and campus activism, as well as a source of information regarding campus events and issues of concern. I pledge to regularly address the freshman class, as well as allow ample time for meeting in person with freshmen to keep you abreast of the issues and concerns I am addressing. Furthermore, I pledge to be an assiduous advocate for the interests of our class, for we are all equal partners in shaping the future of our lives as Vassar students. While Vassar has grown and changed to meet new times and new situations, I believe that a number of policy changes and additional offerings are in order. In particular, in these financial times, it is necessary to streamline services – not only for financial savings but also for student convenience and organizational efficiency. In light of this, I endorse the unification of the Office of Fellowships and Pre-Health Advising, the Field Work Office, and the Career Development Office into a single Office of Career and Advanced Education Resources (CAER), so as to eliminate redundancies in graduate school and career advising, as well as to encourage students to consider options that they would not have otherwise looked at if the offices remain separate. In terms of the academic experience, I plan to initiate a comprehensive review of the freshman writing seminar requirement, among other policies, in regards to how well these courses teach students to write at the college level. I hope to include focus groups of freshmen that took different FWS courses in this review process. Furthermore, I hope to ensure that the Quantitative Analysis requirement does not become overbroad. Though it is important to ensure a similar degree of quantitative competency as we do writing competency, I fail to see how professors should be subject to a certification process for determining whether their course meets the definition of quantitative analysis. I take issue in particular with the use of anecdotal evidence as the basis for passing judgment on the quantitative reasoning required of students in a particular course. While academics are, naturally, a key component of this institution, I feel that we must also address the role of the college in activism, social justice, and student rights. First, I wish to emphasize that the VSA should work to produce a comprehensive document detailing student rights and responsibilities, above and beyond the content of the student handbook, so as to ensure that we as students understand our basic rights as they apply on campus. Also, in the pursuit of on campus freedom of expression, I would like to see a review of the college regulations on speech and student expression, which have been criticized in the national media for their restrictive, illiberal nature. In the same vein, I strongly oppose the socioeconomic discrimination inherent in making the admissions waitlist need-sensitive. It is preferable to address potential cost savings within the institution rather than restricting qualified, less affluent applicants’ ability to attend Vassar. I am a strong proponent of social justice and activism by students and I hope to encourage more of these laudable activities as the freshman class president. Even in the past few weeks, we have grown to live and thrive in a community that is not the one we were raised in, but certainly one where we can all grow as a diverse group of people united in the pursuit of academic excellence and social justice. I firmly believe in the power of students to effect meaningful change, both on campus and throughout the community – we have much to do in bettering Poughkeepsie, and I will be a stalwart leader for our community.
Matt Kramer
Vassar is a vibrant community; I arrived here and instantly felt that I was amongst friends. One cannot walk form one end of this campus to the other with seeing some one they know or receiving a friendly wave. This is what makes Vassar great. Our campus is currently suffering under the recession. There have been cuts, the library closes early, the juice bar is gone and funds are low. There is one thing though that the recession cant take form the class of 09 and that is our spirit. Much of the focused of the class government is on the funding and that is good and I will be sure to participate in these ongoing discussions. I want to be president because I think that there are ways to add to Vassar without taking anything away. Our class needs to come together; I can count on my right hand the number of events I have been to that involved our entire class. We can hold events that will later become traditions. What better way to change this community than leave it better than we found it? I want to foster solidarity among the freshman class. I am running because I see this position as a way to better this community and this class. I know the issues up for discussion, the debate over drawing one requirement, and the funding problems for the Vassar shuttle. I know that as president I’ll have the ability to implement the change I speak of.
Daniel Lempert
I went to high school in Brooklyn, NY, and I have a pretty good background in student government. I was the class president sophomore and junior year, and I was the school president senior year. My academic interests are varied, but my main interests are English and theater. Here at Vassar I am involved in improve and sketch, as well as Phil. As far as jobs I’ve held. I worked at the I-Hop for two summers. I promise that nothing is more endearing than having an old person yell at you because his omelet came with pancakes. I had to inform him that at the ‘International House of Pancakes,’ everything comes with pancakes. Pancakes come with pancakes. This past summer, I also started doing extra work on movies and TV. Look in the background of Gossip Girl, you might find me. I believe I am qualified because this won’t be my first time participating in a meeting or writing an agenda. I have had tons of experience interacting with faculty and staff and I understand that certain situations require some finesse if anything is going to be accomplished. I like working, and nothing makes me happier than seeing ideas and desires realized. At the same time, I understand there are definite limitations on what is possible. I also realize that college is a not the same as high-school. The dynamic and scale of things are much different, and because of that I can’t make any specific promises. I don’t really know how the system works. But I can promise that I will work efficiently and ensure that there is an open line of communication. Often times in situations, a little bit of imagination can go a long way. I will strive to to ensure that the group addresses issues together. I believe brilliance can only come out of a group effort. I dealt with crotchety old people for two summers. This should be cake. Thanks.
Sharon Onga
No statement.
Patty Walton
My name is Patty Walton and I want to run for president, because I am awesome and my name sounds good with President in it. President Patty, (see it sounds jazzy). Well anyways I have no qualifications that make me a good candidate, but I am fairly nice, and I love to color and make things look pretty. I am a good listener and I like to talk a lot, so I can probably negotiate stuff. Also I am keeping this statement basic and brief, so as not to waste your time. See, its already done! So Please Pick Patty for President 
Eli Berns-Zieve
Hi, my name is Eli Berns-Zieve and I am running for president of the class of 2013. I’m originally from Baltimore, Maryland but I now live on the fourth floor of Davison. I am running for president because I hold a genuine interest in politics and social justice and view this position as an excellent manifestation of these interests. During high school I participated in various activities ranging from volunteer work at the American Civil Liberties Union to the organization of a weeklong tour of historic civil rights locations throughout the south. At Vassar I would like to take my interest in politics and society to the next level and this position is the perfect step. I’m outgoing and very easy to talk to (ask my fellow group—Davison 4 north) and very excited about the possibility of being president of our class. Even though I’ve been at Vassar for less than a month I have some general ideas and goals I’d like to accomplish. As president of the freshman class my primary goal would be to smooth the transition of our class into the Vassar community. Older classes have already had a few years to develop a sense of community and it is absolutely necessary that we begin this process in the right way. My first goal is to extend library hours. If your lifestyle is anything like mine you probably more or less live in the library (in fact, I’m there now) and the longer it’s open the better. Another goal would be to talk more businesses in town to accept VCASH. Enhanced use of the VCASH system would serve to build a stronger bond with the greater Poughkeepsie community and personally I know that if more restaurants accepted it my life would be easier—imagine how much smoother those midnight restaurant visits would go! One more step in establishing a successful bond with the community is to develop a relationship of mutual respect with the security staff. This can be accomplished by something as simple as learning the names of the officers around campus. As for now I have to wrap up because the library is closing but I’m sure I’ll be meeting a lot of you in the upcoming week and don’t forget to vote for Eli Berns-Zieve starting September 22. Also feel free to stop by Davison 400E or email me at elbernszieve@vassar.edu.
Ocasio Willson
Before I start talking about myself, I want to talk a little bit about the many talents and skills I have seen among our freshmen student body in such a short period of time. Where I come from, what you see is certainly not what you get. This is the case at Vassar College as well. I’ve met talented singers, artists, dancers, poets, etc. I have met passionate and thoughtful intellectuals and activists. And I have met people who are trying to find their place in this new world. I would not expect all of this if I were looking in from the outside. I believe it is important to show all of this richness, and, more importantly, to leverage it so that our strengths can further each other in a collective progress. It sounds good, right? But what does all of this mean? As the leader of our freshman class, I intend to get to know you along with all of your concerns, suggestions, and interests. This requires you to be involved, and me to listen. Regardless of the short time we have all been here for, we have a pretty good idea about what we like and don’t like about Vassar so far. I want to hear it! We all should have a functional place in our community, and I consider it my job to be able to find that place for everyone. In doing so, we may optimize our potential, and achieve whatever we collectively decide is necessary. So, what makes me so qualified for the job? I don’t want to ramble on about all the stuff I have done, so I will try to make this short and sweet. I went to Albany High School in Albany, NY. It was a predominately black school in the inner city, shamed for its metal detectors, frequent violent outbreaks, and extremely low graduation rate. However, within the depths of this criticized institution dwelled sincere and passionate teachers, unbelievably genuine students, and a community that sacrifices everyday for the betterment of the students. This has inspired me to be a part of my community, and contribute as much as I can to it. In doing so, I have developed invaluable leadership skills that I can use as freshman class president. I have a very long history of being active with my peers, and leading many people with varying perspectives. I will briefly highlight some key activities. As the President of Key Club, one of the things I accomplished was bringing the Green Movement to my high school. The School Board is now considering using reusable trays instead of Styrofoam. As the Student Representative of the School Board, I have first-hand experience on how the bureaucracy behind education can sometimes affect the thorough consideration of all aspects of the system, and so I am in a better position to develop strategies that will help mitigate the conflict between bureaucracy and fairness. The position as Student Rep has also taught me how to voice the general consensus of a large number of people (over 2500), and so 600 will seem easy. I co-founded ‘Student Ambassadors,’ a peer-mentoring group where successful upperclassmen mentor a selected group of freshmen, to help them avoid the pitfalls of the high school experience. This will help begin to change the currently tainted image of Albany High. I have also founded Student Society of Finance in conjunction with the Albany YMCA in which we have partnered with our local financial institutions such as M&T Bank, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, and plan to partner with Siena College’s business school next year. This program not only promotes financial literacy, but also serves as a networking platform for students to connect with various opportunities in the community. My leadership involvement derives from my passion for service. Over the years, I have developed the skills necessary for this job. I am able to communicate ideas effectively, take and give constructive criticism, and build a strong team. Most importantly, I have vision. I, then, can develop objectives to achieve that vision, and break that in tasks to delegate to the appropriate people. This skill is invaluable when leading and I hope that you can relate to my vision. Put simply, my vision for us is to make the freshmen keenly aware of what is going on. So that we can really be a part of it, and begin to challenge the current social dynamic in which freshmen are looked down upon. If we are active and involved, we will be respected as a vital piece of the Vassar community. Since I have only been here for 3 weeks or so, I won’t pretend that I know about all the issues at Vassar. But what I can say is that under my administration, the issues will be heard and addressed to the fullest of our capabilities. I encourage anyone who would like to get to know me on a more personal level to contact me. I will be more than willing to meet everyone. Let’s not miss out on an opportunity to affect our school. When it comes time to vote, I’m sure you will know who is best for the job. Vote for passion. Vote for qualified. Vote for cool. Vote for Ocasio Willson.
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