September 2015 Candidates Forum Minutes

Archivist Note: Originally published on the Elections wordpress website Sep 18, 2015 @ 00:57. “September 2015 Candidates Forum Minutes”

Candidates Forum Minutes

Pensby Rep:

Candidates:

Diamond Ray

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What is your interest in running for his position?

Diamond Ray: My first year, I participated in Tri-Co and I got connected to leaders in diversity at Pensby center, and ever since then, I have wanted to learn how I could better facilitate the communication in the groups that I belong in. How can I make certain that conversations are being had and that issues are being dealt with.

Angela Motte, 2017 What skills do you think you can bring to this role?

Diamond Ray: I’m interculturally aware. Everyone is qualified to discuss diversity, but I’m particularly vocal. I think that it’s important that everyone’s voice is heard. My personality will help me with this position.

Off Campus Representatives:

Candidates:

Elizabeth Lorenzan & Sneha Soni

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What is a struggle living off campus and how would you fix this?

Elizabeth Lorenzan: One thing that I’ve noticed is that becoming aware of everything that’s going on on campus, being off campus has the potential to be slightly removed, it’s important to stay connected to the bryn mawr community. One way we were thinking of improving is creating a facebook group or virtual HA Board. Post things that are happening around campus.

Angela Motte
e, 2017 How do you think you can be accessible for ALL students who live off campus?

Sneha Soni: We live right at Mermont plaza, we’re as close as Brecon is! We’re very accessible and have a plan to have meetings during the day and we know people who live in Philadelphia, so that people who have to enter the city can meet with other people who are living off campus. that way they can get to know others who are living off campus like they are.

Haverford College Representative:

Candidates:

Marina Minaya & Rina Patel

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 Why are you interested in this position?

Rina Patel: Because I was on both campuses so much, I was able to keep my presence on the Haverford campus, but I also strongly identify as a Mawrter. I have my foot on both campuses. Because of this, I am able to represent the Bryn Mawr needs on their campus.

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What do you think are some challenges that you will face with these meetings?

Rina Patel: I think that the hardest part will be coordinating with the Haverford SGA. I had a job there last year, and it was sometimes difficult to be there when I needed to be because of the Blue Bus schedules. We will be conscious of this problem.

Angela Motte, 2017 Describe Haverford in 2 Words.

Rina Patel: Bi-college

Hannah Chin, 2019 How would you characterize the differences between BMC & Haverford; how would you utilize/reconcile these?

Rina Patel: I know Haverford has a very different approach to customs, I hope to try to utilize that. i know they have a bigger customs team than we do, while at bryn mawr we just have our two people and then the dorm leadership team. I will try to use their honors board reps and leadership team to improve Bryn Mawr’s experience.

Charlie Bruce, 2016 Have you read the position description in the constitution?

Rina Patel: I have read the constitution. I had to dig for the position description.

2017 Class President:

Candidates:

Emma Porter

Sedinam Agawu & Alexis Wiltshire

Jess Shill & Katherine Nickols

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 Why are you interested in running for this position?

Emma Porter: I’m really excited about connecting with my class! I find a lot of value with SGA, especially the sense of collaboration that it brings to campus.
Alexis Wiltshire: Seti and I really want to focus on fostering a better sense of community-focus on having teas for transfers and Mcbrides , more accessible spaces so that everyone can access them.
Jess Shill: we really want to be junior class presidents because we know that junior year is the year where everyone kind of spreads apart, especially with living abroad, so we plan to focus on us getting together for teas, sending care packages to students who are abroad, and really fostering that sense of community.

Angela Motte, 2017 Have you ever been to an SGA meeting?

Emma Porter: I went to my first one this year, because I have previously had work conflicts, but I do not have these issues this year.
Sedi Agawu: Both of us have been. I was a freshman dorm representative, which was a great position because it helped me get oriented with SGA. I think we both know SGA well.
Katherine Nickols: Last year I was afraid to go to SGA because i didn’t know what it was about but i always went to plenary and i got to know (someone) and she told about what SGA did for her and how rewarding it was.

Lin Tran, 2016 What experiences do you bring to this position?

Emma Porter: I think that I have done a lot of planning with running clubs and helping with clubs. I have lots of experience running events and event planning, both for small groups and large. I think that it’s really exciting that we have this opportunity to speak as a class, and I hope to foster that.
Sedi Agawu: Personally, I was a representative for my dorm. I also had an internship in the city, and I had to work with a lot of emails and other actions.
Jess Shill: We’re both varsity athletes, so we know the necessary time management and leadership skills. Sports have also helped us with a sense of commitment. Finally, being on a team has helped us feel really connected to the athletic community, and we’d both like to expand that connection.

Angela Motte, 2016 Pairs: How do you work well together? Emma: How is that your strong suit?

Emma Porter: I’m gonna refer to a couple of clubs in the past two years I founded two clubs singlehandedly because I am good at structuring my own time-I have a big wall in my dorm where I structure my activities, with post it notes and such, which Is why I am really good at working individually.
Sedi Agawu: Both Alexis and I are actual friends, which I think helps. that goes a long way in fostering a relationship between us. We’re similar people with a lot of the same ideas, and I think that really helps us work well together.
Katherine Nickols: We are also actual friends in real life, and although we don’t live together or have a similar major, we have worked hard to stay close even though we don’t live together.

Lin Tran, 2016 Do you have any experience with budgeting?

Emma Porter: I had a summer internship with an investment management firm, really good at excel.
Sedi Agawu: I’m a treasurer in one of my clubs right now, so I’m very experienced with budgeting.
Jess Shill: I’m an econ major!

Delaney Williams 2017 What snacks would you have?

Emma Porter: I’m partial to cookies, but I know they aren’t gluten free, so I’d also provide another snack, perhaps tortilla chips and salsa.
Alexis Wiltshire: Cookies from Trader Joe’s
Katherine Nickols: We;d probably take a vote, but Trader Joe’s would be a big feature.

2019 Class President:

Candidates:

Lillian Oyen Ustad & Nikitha Shakamuri

Precious Robinson (Not present)

Colleen Williams & Kat Phifer

Felicia Grable

Kristian Moravec (Not present)

Margaret Gorman

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What are you going to do if you don’t get this position?

Nikki Shakamuri: If I didn’t get this position, I would continue on the crew team and I would go for an environmental position, and the last time I went to a meeting I heard something about integrating horses into bryn mawr because they are only allowed at public universities (unsure?) and I would like to be a member of that
Kat Phifer:Um, so I plan to be an active member of sga and plenary, but I am also an active member of a lot of clubs, and so I plan to stick with that. I plan to found my own club pretty soon, so stay up to date with thast.
Felicia Grable: I’ll join the fencing clubs and attend other clubs. I will go to plenary and will not be resentful.
Margaret Gorman: I will definitely stay involved in SGA! Student government is one of my big passions from high school that I plan to continue in college.

Angela Motte, 2017 Have you ever been to an SGA meeting?

Lillian OU: Niki and I have been to multiple SGA meetings, both as a bryn mawr student and during in focus, when we sat through the entire big cheese(?) forum and I went when touring, I have four under my belt now.
Colleen Williams: Kat has been to the sga meetings and has been keeping in touch with that, but I actually work at uncommon during that time, so i’ll be in the back listening in, making vanilla lattes.
Felicia Grable: No, I have not been to one of the SGA meetings
Margaret Gorman: I went to the last one and really enjoyed it. I also went to the Big Cheese forum when I was here for admitted students day, and it was a big part of my decision to come to Bryn Mawr.

Lily Kay, 2019 How are you going to balance academics and extracurriculars with the commitments of president?

Lillian OU: Niki and I are both on varsity sports teams right now and were on varsity sports teams in high school, and we did Student government things in high school, I was the president and niki held various positions and leadership positions in her clubs, so we have time management down.
Colleen Williams:I was homeschooled and a university in my area offered great classes, so this is actually my third year of college, so I have a lot of experience with clubs and classes in this environment. I actually founded an arabic club at my high school, so I am organized and familiar with that.
Felicia Grable: I often am good at keeping track of things. I have been in many plays in high school and that takes a lot of time, and I was able to balance a lot of things in high school. I know that this is a little different, but this will just be another thing that I can balance in my schedule.
Margaret Gorman: I make sure to write my events and such down, and I actually work best when I’m busy. Rushing around keeps me energized! SGA will be one of my top priorities this year.

Nora Dell 2019 Why do you want to be president of our class?

Nikki Shakamuri: I was regular to decision to bryn mawr, what really changed things for me, was coming to bryn mawr and seeing the big cheese forum, there was a lady who would be completely open with my when I asked her questions, and we didn’t have that in high school, and having that connection with faculty and students is very important to me. (somewhat incomplete)
Kat Phifer: when I actually first heard about bryn mawr, it was my dad’s idea for me to tour, and I was like ‘absolutely not, no all girls schools.’ I was looking at Drexel and other large coeds at the time. As soon as I got on campus, as cheesy as it sounds, everything changed. I think it has something to do with aga, because the students are so involved, and there’s so much leadership, and I want to be a part of that. everyone around here was also so nice and so friendly, and i want to contribute to that.
Felicia Grable: Aside from the fact that I visited when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, I live in Radnor, and as the only freshman group there, we are really close and we do picnics and talk to each other, and I believe that if our whole school acted like that, it would be great.
Margaret Gorman: I think that one of the best things about Bryn Mawr is our influence with SGA. I also had a really strong voice in my high school’s SGA, and it inspired me to do better. I’m sure Bryn Mawr will have different challenges, but I look forward to tackling them too.

Angela Motte, 2017 How do you plan to be accessible?

Lillian OU: Niki and I are roommates, and she is my best friend on campus, we live in rhoads and plan on having office hours in case anyone wants to stop by, we want to keep the facebook page very active and have our emails available, and we want to use other means such as twitter because let’s face it most of us are on our phones more than we check our emails.
Kat Phifer: Well, for one thing, I started the class of 2019 facebook group, so I’m very well rounded in the class, I know a lot of people on campus, and I feel I am a very accessible person. I am totally okay with people stopping by to chat, and actually, Colleen is on my hall, and she’s also very good at being accessible, so we would give plenty of opportunities for people to talk.
Felicia Grable: Being accessible, using email, and possibly having office hours. I will not shy away from issues, and will be available.
Margaret Gorman: Because I live in Brecon, office hours there would be hard! I’d probably have some on campus, maybe here in the campus center. I’m easily accessible via email or text.

Hannah Chinn, 2019 What would you say are you leadership strengths/characteristics that enable you to represent our class well?

Lillian OU: Both of us have held similar council-like positions in the past -keeping in constant communication with all members of the class is to make sure our class knows what goes on in the SGA and the SGA knows what’s going on in our class as a whole.
Kat Phifer: I did found the chapter of the arabic club. I am a very sociable type of person and I really believe in knowing people past, what they’re going through ,and what their dreams are. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I plan to be supportive of everyone on this campus.
Felicia Grable: One of the important things is writing things down. So if anyone has an issue, I will write it down, and if i need to tell anyone anything, I will write it down. Also, I will make listening important so that I can understand what is happening with my class.
Margaret Gorman: I want to be open, and to make people feel comfortable talking to me. I was the chair of an advisory board for my hometown. That involved students coming to us and speaking about the changes they wanted to make in the school district, then us telling the district. I have experience dealing with both students and people in the community.

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What does SGA stand for? How would you explain it?

Nikki Shakamuri: SGA stands for Student Government Association: a way to communicate between faculty and students, a way to communicate, and unified.
Colleen Williams: Student government association, and it’s a way for students to make a difference in their community, and a way for them to communicate with other people in their community, and make changes if they feel that is needed.
Felicia Grable: Self Government Association- An ability to govern and trust ourselves. To enable us to be women and to enjoy campus to the full. To be ourselves as much as possible.
Margaret Gorman: Self Government Association. I would describe it as our voice in our education here. We are in charge of regulating our own behavior, and creating a space in which the honor code can be upheld. Basically, we govern ourselves.

Lin Tran, 2016 What specific goals and actions do you have planned for this position?

Lillian OU: Niki and my personal goal is to make the transition from high school to college and the next four years as enjoyable as possible by making us as close as possible so that -we’re not just people who went to school together.
Colleen Williams: I am very much a fan of a tight community, I came from a tight community, and I want to foster this here. Something I’ve noticed when working here, in uncommon, is all the food waster. I’d love to work with the dining hall to create a sustainable plan for that.
Felicia Grable: One of the responsibilities of the president is to host teas, and I would like for them to be a place where we can all take and discuss issues. I would also like to have more events, possibly in the Campus Center or on the lawns.
Margaret Gorman: I would like to foster a spirit of inclusion and support. We should all be aware of the resources on campus, not just for education but also for emotional support.

Rachel Bruce, 2018 What are some ways you hope to have 2019 work with other classes (2018, 2017, 2016)?

Nikki Shakamuri: We can all have class meetings and meet outside, we can use the facebook page, and we’re both on sports teams which have upperclassmen on them, so we can use them to reach out to other people.
Colleen Williams: One thing I’ve noticed about bryn mawr is that already there is a lot of communication between classes. Even in my calculus class, upper classmen will be like ‘here’s my email, if you need help, feel free to contact me’. But there certainly is room for improvement, one thing I think would be good is more class-inclusive teas. Another thing I think really helps with this is clubs, and I would like to see a club specifically for just mixing around and meeting people from different classes.
Felicia Grable: Upperclassmen have already been welcoming and open to the freshmen. Having opportunities to meet them in dorm events, teas, picnics, bringing problems up with the other representatives, and making sure that the underclassmen feel accepted in their classes and clubs.
Margaret Gorman: One of the things I love here is seeing the relationships between the students of different ages. It creates a sense of trust and community that lets us know the upperclassmen are friends and mentors. I hope to emphasize the duality of their role.

Member at Large:

Candidates:

Radhika Singh (Not present)

Hannah Chinn

Delia Landers

Oona Ryle

Lilly King

Nora Dell

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What does SGA stand for?

Hannah Chinn: Self-Government Association of the Undergraduate College of Bryn Mawr
Delia Landers: Yes, the self government association.
Oona Ryle: Self-Governance Association
Lilly King: Self-Government Association, but we practice self governance.
Nora Dell: Self Government Association, but metaphorically it gives us the power to affect change.

Angela Motte, 2017 Have you been to an SGA meeting?

Hannah Chinn: I actually have not, because i have a meeting that conflicts with the normal times, but i talked to rachel, and she says I can find a way to fix it, so I’ll be attending SGA meetings asap
Delia Landers: I haven’t either, I had family things both Sundays and I will attend the next meetings
Oona Ryle: I haven’t, but I’m excited to.
Lilly King: Yes
Nora Dell: I have attended, I’ve been to all of the sga meetings so far this year

Rachel Bruce, 2018 What can you bring to the position?

Hannah Chinn: I’m a freshman, I haven’t been at Bryn Mawr that long. As a freshman, I ask questions all the time, about everything, and I feel that with this questioning attitude will enable me to represent this class better.
Delia Landers: I believe that I’m good at communicating and balancing schedules, which are both integral parts of this role.
Oona Ryle:I know that a main part of members at large is communication-One thing I’ve found that really helps as a freshman is going up to people with a big smile on my face and asking questions. If you do that people generally want to talk. That way I will know what people want.
Lilly King:I have a lot of leadership experience, I work at a summer camp with 10-12 year olds, which are thankfully very different from college students, but I am used to working with many different personality types, and will be able to communicate with many different types of people as a member at large in SGA.
Nora Dell: In the past, I’ve held the position of communication director. The big thing about that is that you learn how to put things in ways that people understand, and being able to communicate.

Angela Motte, 2017 What is one duty of being a Member At Large?

Hannah Chinn: To represent the general population of Bryn Mawr who can’t be at the meetings.
Delia Landers: To go to all of the meeting and to be a vote.
Oona Ryle: To vote, to connect people and let them know what’s happening at SGA meetings.
Lilly King: To represent the community and allow them to know what is happening.
Nora Dell: To go to meetings and represent the community at large.

Lin Tran, 2016 Why are you running for this position? Why do you think this position is important?

Hannah Chinn: If you want complete honesty, I didn’t know what this position was until someone nominates me and I went to the page and looked it up and thought it would be something I’d like. I like to communicate and I think I could be or seek to be a good representative of Bryn Mawr.
Delia Landers: In the month that I’ve been here I’ve really enjoyed meeting different types of people and all different sorts of people. i’ll really enjoy that in this role you have outreach and the opportunity to connect to the community as a whole.
Oona Ryle: I actually found out about this position from a flyer on the board. I had never heard of this position, and my high school didn’t have an effective SGA and I want to be a representative.
Lilly King: I think it’s a good opportunity to transition into a larger role in SGA. It’s not as big as some, but it’s still very important. I really want to give back to the community.
Nora Dell: I didn’t actually feel like I was a part of this community until i came to sga meeting and sat down and realized that students can have a real voice and it made me feel like a real member of the community and I want to represent them well.

Charlie Bruce, 2016 Y/N: Are you going to plenary?

Hannah Chinn: Yes
Delia Landers: Yes
Oona Ryle: Yes
Lilly King: Yes
Nora Dell: Yes

Katherine Nickols, 2017 Describe what makes you a good communicator in one sentence.

Hannah Chinn: I believe that at the core of every communication is understanding and I seek to understand people as they are.
Delia Landers: I believe that I am a good listener and I am good at talking to people. I love to talk.
Oona Ryle: I’m an active listener.
Lilly King: I’m a good listener and I believe that I’m good at finding solutions to problems.
Nora Dell: I can take complex ideas and turn them into simple things.

Sedinam Agawu, 2017 What can SGA do for you? What do you hope to get out of an experience like that?

Hannah Chinn: I hope to improve my leadership skills, I have never been in one where I had to solely represent someone, and I am eager to see what this position will do to me.
Delia Landers: I’m actually on the board of an international organization, and I sometimes have trouble getting things done there. I hope that this role will help me develop my leadership skills.
Oona Ryle: I’ve never been in something like SGA before, and though I’ve held leadership positions, it;s never been a representative position before, and I think I can learn about people and how to understand people.
Lilly King: I’m in a similar position to this one but my school didn’t have anything like sga or anything like this. I’m looking forward to be a part of sga and be able to communicate with new people. i think it’s exciting just to be involved in it.
Nora Dell: At the end of four years, when I leave, I want to be able to be proud of what we’ve done.

Angela Motte, 2017 What is one thing that makes you happy?

Hannah Chinn: Ice cream.
Delia Landers: Spending time with my friends-like hannah, she’s my roommate.
Oona Ryle: My dog, pancake. she’s two, and very cute.
Lilly King: Spending time with my little sister Jessie. She’s twelve
Nora Dell: Listening to Bollywood music

Rachel Bruce, 2018 How would you try to be accessible to the community?

Hannah Chinn: I’m doing a lot of things, bryn mawr is a really exciting place, I signed up for like 84 clubs at fall frolic, I recognize a lot of people in the room, and I would check up on people, see how they’re doing and see how I can represent them more fully.
Delia Landers: I think that everyone kinda accesses information different ways, so i want to make things very accessible. Also, like hannah, I’m doing a lot of different things and have met lots of different people.
Oona Ryle: I think that I definitely use social media and email to connect with people. I would make a shirt with my name on it and wear it all the time.
Lilly King: I think that SGA is a bit of a misconception among the frosh. I’d like to spread information about what it really is and encourage more people to come to meetings and events such as plenary. I would probably communicate using social media, as well as conversation.
Nora Dell: I agree with dispelling fear about the meetings, we also have great network, and there’s no replacement for face-to-face communication. I would also use the blog.

Radhika Singh’s answers to the questions poised at Candidates Forum

What does SGA Stand for?
1. SGA stands for Self-Governance Association.
Have you been to an SGA meeting?
1. Unfortunately, I have not. I missed it due to a few prior commitments!
What can you bring to the position?
1. I like interacting with people and making new friends whether I go. Also, I prefer giving any project I do, a very creative angel to it so that it stands out and looks differently appealing.
Name one duty at being a member at large?
1. Getting to vote as a freshman.
Yes or no, are you going to plenary?
1. Yes
Why are you running for this position? Why do you think it’s important?
1. I am running for this position because I think that is really important and helps me get involved in council activities very early on. It is important to me because I like having a voice and being the voice of people in my community. And I have been doing the same back home in India, hence this is a way to get involved, meet new people and have great experiences.
What’s one thing that makes you happy?
1. Dancing
Describe what makes you a good communicator in one sentence
1. Being approachable and understanding as to where people come from and their backgrounds is something that has helped me get closer to people.
What can SGA do for you? What do you hope to get out of an experience like that?
1. SGA can help me love Bryn Mawr more and get super attached to the school. It can help me build new friendships and be exposed to the running of our school. And I hope to gain knowledge, time management, patience and friends out of this experience!
How would you try to be accessible to the community?
1. By email, phone calls, text messages and if need be – office hours.

Faculty Representatives:

Candidates:

Melanie Bahti & Erin Saladin

Questions:

Charlie Bruce, 2016 What experience do you have working with faculty?

Melanie Bahti: Okay, so i’ll speak for both of us. Erin actually served as faculty rep before, and she’s done research with people in her department, so she has a lot of experience in that area. I was a member of the honor board, and I’ve participated and communicated with faculty through that. I am also participating through the teaching and learning initiative.

Lin Tran, 2017 What do you see as a possible challenge to position and how do you plan to address it?

Erin Saladin: We were talking about how we see a desire to communicate between the faculty and students but sometimes this communication can be difficult. So we want to get started right away and begin to facilitate these conversations from the beginning.

Elizabeth Vandenberg 2016 You’ve been involved in SGA for a long time; why do you want to continue to stay involved?

Melanie Bahti: Being involved in SGA is really important to me, and I’ve gained a lot from the positions I’ve held, and even the meetings I attended as a freshman before I held a position. I feel really connected to the student community, and I’d like to feel just as connected to the faculty.