Serafino-Marden Campaign Speech

CUSHING CENTER — Andrew Marden ’12 delivered the following remarks on Tuesday evening in the Cushing Center lobby. He is running for Student Government Association vice president, alongside Marissa Serafino ’12, who is running for S.G.A. president. These remarks were also posted on their campaign Facebook page.

A nineteenth century English writer, Charles Caleb Colton once called Time “the cradle of hope.... Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it, and repentance behind it.” Since 1889 leaders have established and believed in the mission of Saint Anselm College and began building an institution with Benetictine values. Time, has demanded Presidents, Vice Presidents, and classes to come and go, hopefully improving the life of people belonging to our college and the community, while leaving a legacy for future students to follow. And time has brought us here today, as Senator Serafino and I endeavor on a journey to implement our own ideas and complete those that float around in thoughts and conversations of our fellow peers.

Time also flies, which is a reason I stand before you today. We feel that as sophomores we will be allotted enough time in office to bring projects from start to finish, and not have to worry about graduation looming in the spring. We plan to hold the position of President and Vice President for two years if elected, and this would establish continuity and trust with the student body and faculty. If elected we have realistic goals for a few big projects to start with. Colton also said “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, hence some of these ideas will continue efforts by current President Scott Campbell and Vice President Connor O’Brien. For example changing the housing processes to promote increased active participation by student in our college community. The current process dismisses disciplinary action and those students who respect the rules. We believe in rewarding involvement with something everyone desires: good housing.

Another project we vow to complete is opening another place for students to study or be after twelve am other than upper Cushing. At other colleges resembling our own the library is available to students well past the closing time that we have of 12 am, and we believe that while Cushing is great, it does not adequately fit the need of the students completing work well into the night. Therefore, we plan to work on extending hours in the library, arc, or cafeteria, as another resource to help students to succeed academically. We have already begun working towards this goal and have received positive feedback thus far.

We believe there is no more time to waste in making a stronger connection between SGA and the student body. It is time to utilize the resources available to us, such as a daily news Student Government update over the speakers in the cafeteria and a news report played on the school’s television station that can be recorded by the students trained to use cameras at the Institute of Politics. Further, we will establish a working an updated Student Government Website. Our goal is to put faces and names to the members of student of student councils and the Student Government Association. We believe that these resources would make the members of student government much more accessible. In time with this accessibility, we strongly believe that an increase in participation outside of Student Government members will be evident. Students will know their representatives and further, to whom they would present problems and suggestions. Bridging this gap is essential to our time as leaders.

Another wise man said “If you want work well done, select a busy man [or woman]- the other kind has no time.” In our time thus far as students at Saint Anselm College both Senator Serafino and myself have strived to become highly involved on campus and in the community. Marissa has successfully been a student athlete, a member of her class council for two years, a member of the Seton Society, the treasurer of the International Relations Club, and a volunteer for English for new Americans. We both serve as Student Ambassadors, Orientation leaders, members of CAB, SBA participants, and active members of the Marathon club. She realizes she will need to cut some activities out if elected but her high participation reflects her ability to balance many things and do them well. Her work ethic is evident to all those who know her, and will be evident to the student body as a whole.

I am also highly involved on campus. Once I saw the need for changes within the school last year, I decided to run for Senator. We have learned how to productively work together and balance each other’s thoughts and opinions out. I am confident that the combination of our strengths will make us strong, united, leaders of the Student Government Association. As President and Vice President we will lead by example, and exhibit the leadership qualities we have both gained through participating in various sports, clubs, and organizations.

Our activity in all clubs has added to our characters, but our time spent in CAB is essential to the job we would be undertaking. The Constitution of the Student Government emphasizes an extremely close relationship to the CAB President. The two organizations are supposed to work hand in hand to increase attendance and overall success of the organizations. This partnership needs can be improved. Because we have been members of CAB we understand CAB’s job and the amount of work the Campus Board of Activities puts into providing activities for the student body outside academics. If elected we will attend the executive board meetings of CAB, and always be informed of the interests, needs and ideas of CAB.
In leading Student Senate meetings, I will bring a certain professional conduct that we feel is necessary to being productive and fair. Although Senate is like a business and should be held in a formal setting, we believe that Senate should be a place where people will not be shut down, when they have something to say. A mutual respect needs to be established among members, to encourage all opinions to be said. Following, the time we spent at 100 Acres for the first Student Government Retreat held this fall, we agree that all members left with a positive attitude toward our mission of SGA. Marissa and I would like to make the retreat a mandatory annual activity. We would also like to have other bonding activities such as a day hike or activity like rock-climbing, that will bring members together when bonding can take place, news can be shared, and ideas discussed. By spending this time together, meetings on Sundays will be less of time to talk to each other, and more of a time to bring forth resolutions, constitutions, and be productive. As the leaders of Student Government we want our time and the members of Senate’s time to be spent productively.

It is our belief that each one of our peers can contribute to the betterment of our school. Therefore we will begin holding types of open forums, where students will be able to add input, concerns and ideas to us. One way to do this would be having a table in Davison once a week that we will sit by and be available to talk to and take suggestions and problems. Essentially, a greater connection between the students and the President and Vice President of Student Government will have potential to develop. Both Senator Serafino and I are friendly people, who want your ideas and advice. We will not only listen to you but will do everything in our power to make your ideas reality. If elected we will work to make change that lasts well after our time at Saint Anselm.

We ask that in this election you take your time, in deciding which candidates will serve you best in these important offices. Who will go the extra mile? Who has innovative ideas to make the Student Government more effective and productive? Who has established themselves as hard-working in all aspects of life? Ultimately, who do you want representing you as the President and Vice President of the Student Government Association? We hope to be your choice next Tuesday during the election. Please give us the time in office to work alongside with you in order to create a more fruitful Student life at Saint Anselm College.

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