2014 March Emergency Election Candidates Statement: SGA Treasurer

Archivist note: Originally published on the Elections WordPress site. Mar 6, 2014 @ 07:41, “Emergency Elections Candidates’ Statements”

Madelaine Dubin

Hey Everyone! My name is Madelaine Dubin, Class of 2016, and I am running to be the Tresurer of the SGA for the upcoming year.

During the past academic year, I have invested time and effort into improving Bryn Mawr self-governance. I am the treasurer of two clubs—the rugby team and Bryn Mawr College Hillel—which have small and large budgets respectively. As a result, I understand the different fiscal needs of clubs and will be able to accommodate clubs based on these needs.  I am a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, which has spent the past academic year revising the Bryn Mawr SGA Constitution.  Through this committee I have learned to thoroughly understand SGA and how it is supposed to function. During this past year, I have attended many Representative Council meetings, and I have seen firsthand how people interact with and are affected by SGA. By being a treasurer of two clubs, being a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, and attending SGA Representative council meetings regularly, I now have a passion for SGA and how it affects the Bryn Mawr community.

In the past, I have been selected to organize large budgets.  Specifically, in high school, I collaborated to coordinate the fundraising and allocation of $3,000 for our end of year trip.  I arranged and budgeted for housing, food, transportation, and different activities for students. During this process, I learned how to manage money carefully and work with others to ensure that my class had a great senior trip.  In addition, this experience allowed me to see how organized and effective budgeting can make an impact.

I would love to be treasurer of SGA because I want to continue to be involved in the Bryn Mawr Community in a productive way. I want the process of budgeting and the flow of money within SGA to be clear and understandable for all students, and I want to encourage students to found new clubs by being able to give them a new club budget.

Namita Dwarakanath

My name is Namita Dwarakanath, and I am running for the position of SGA Treasurer. I believe strongly in the values of self-governance and the Honor Code, and the idea that the greatest assets in a community are trust and respect. However, I recognize that it can be difficult to see how these ideals fit into the financial side of the spectrum, where bureaucracy feels dominant over the “spirit of self-governance.” As Treasurer, I would attempt to bridge that divide by encouraging discussions about finances and the Honor Code, and by encouraging both individuals and organizations to consider their status in the larger Bryn Mawr community when planning and responding to budgets.

One of the ways I want to do this is through increased transparency and accessibility. Though relevant financial information is available, excessive jargon may prevent students from participating in the larger conversation. I want to relay information in a way that encompasses more of the Bryn Mawr community. Another ambition of mine is to examine SGA’s relationship with other funding sources, and discuss these alternate sources with organizations. Finally, I aim to improve accountability of SFC representatives by creating more definitive checkpoints and building consistent rapport.

My current position as a co-dorm president means that I am actively involved in the representative council, attending meetings and voting on critical decisions. Additionally, as dorm president, I have had experience managing a budget and adapting to inevitable fluctuations. And, as one of the Head Traditions Reps, I have been able to delegate tasks among others as a means of ensuring efficiency.

Generally, my overall goal is to make students feel legitimately represented by the position of Treasurer, and more broadly, by SGA. I really feel that SGA is presently undergoing a transformation in its relationship with the community at large. Along with the rest of the Exec Board, I hope to translate these changes into progress through increased discussion, transparency, and accessibility– all under the guiding principles that make Bryn Mawr such an important space.

Nicole Soohoo

My name is Nicole Soohoo and I am running for the position of SGA Treasurer.  I am interested in being Treasurer because I want to make a larger contribution to SGA and I feel I am qualified for the position.

I have been a member of the Student Finance Committee since I was appointed at the start of my first year at Bryn Mawr.  During my time on the committee I have been part of multiple budgeting seasons and have processed countless club reimbursements, advances, and reallocations.  I can confidently say that I am well-acquainted with the budgeting process and how to navigate the Student Finance Committee’s online resources.  In addition, as an economics major I have the quantitative skills to fulfill the duties of this position.

I also know what it is like to go through the budgeting process as a club.  Over the past academic year I have managed finances for the Asian Students’ Association as Culture Show Co-Head and Treasurer.  Knowing what it feels like from the other side, one of my goals is to make the budgeting process more streamlined, possibly by creating a guide to writing feasible budget proposals that include specific breakdowns and setting up a system of advising clubs before the budget submit date.  I also want to make the reimbursement process more transparent, as club leaders have often contacted me for clarification.  Lastly I want to continue to make sure SGA funds are put toward benefitting the Bryn Mawr community, rather than select individuals of groups.

In conclusion, my experiences in my past and current positions and my commitment to SGA make me a suitable candidate for this position.  Feel free to email me at nsoohoo@brynmawr.edu if you have any questions!