Student Body President elections

It's that time of the year again and the Student Body Presidential Elections have begun. It is during this time that students must ask themselves the important questions. Would any of their peers make a good candidate for Student Government Association (SGA) President? What do I want my President to do for me? What even makes a good President?According to the Student Government's bylaws, the Student Body President is the highest ranking official in the organization. Their responsibilities include chairing the regular and special meetings of the SGA in the absence of the Vice President, as well as serving as the Sergeant-at-Arms, or the disciplinarian in the room, during meetings. Besides having a vote on every SGA committee, the Student Body President is the Chair of the Student Life & Affairs Committee. This committee is charged with investigating and making "recommendation in response to any issues regarding dining, Seegers Union, club recognition and outreach, Athletics, and Residential Services."

Possibly the most important, if not influential, duty of the President is to serve as one of the two student representatives to the Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustee's Campus Life Committee, and the College Committee on Campus Life (CCCL). As has been noted by members of the College administration, the College allows students unprecedented access to the administration and the Board of Trustees. Access that is not so easily given at other institutions.

But who better to understand the role of an SGA President, than the current one? Jonathan Falk '10 was elected Student Body President almost a year ago. As the elections draw ever closer, Falk wishes to secure a confident successor.

"Experience and being involved on the campus is so important when finding a good candidate," explained Falk. Indeed, when Falk was a candidate for Student Body President he had already made a name for himself as well as a lengthy list of activities. Before holding his current position, Falk was President of Hillel, the largest organization on campus; the President and Founder of Mules United For Israel (MuFI); served three years as a Student Government Representative, one of which was as the Chair of the Seegers Committee; and been a Student Advisor and a Tour Guide.

"The key to success in this position," Falk explains, "is time management. Everyone warns you how little time you have for other activities, but they don't even know the half of it." Student Body Presidents have had a long history of serving stressful and jam-packed schedules. On an average week, an SGA President will meet with the President of the College, the Dean of Students, the advisor to the SGA, a random assortment of Presidential Staff depending on what projects are underway, and attend the weekly Student Government meetings. "It's much worse than it sounds," Falk said with a wry grin, "That's just the basics. Depending on what projects are going on, say the Seegers Renovations for example, I attend several extra meetings just to stay up to speed. And then, of course, I still have classes to attend."

"It would have been ten times harder to do if not for the support of my Vice President, Jordan Sones, and the rest of the E-Board," admits Falk. Indeed, the Student Body President is the only member of the executive board that is elected directly by the students. The other four positions, which include the Vice President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer and Secretary, are all elected by the SGA Representatives during the first meeting after the President has been elected. "A good President knows how to use his greatest assets," Falk continued, praising his executive board further.

Most of all, Falk hopes to have a President who will "embody vision, direction, charisma, and have a desire to make 'Berg even better than it already is.