S.G.A. Announces Class Council Election Results

The Student Government Association announced on Thursday morning class council election results:

Class of 2011

President
Rachael Paskievich

Vice President
Matt McDonald

Secretary
Katie O'Hara

Senator
Ellen O'Neil
Regina Federico
John McDermott
Caitlin Heneghan

Class of 2012

President
Justin Colella

Vice President
Marissa Serafino

Secretary
Stephanie Chaisson

Senator
Alex Noe
Liz Maccarone
Andrew Marden
Caitlyn Donovan

Class of 2013

President
Joe Gill

Vice President
Joe Rispoli

Secretary
Linh Nguyen

Senator
Kaitlin Frederick
Marko Samardzic
Nathanael Chartier
Sarah Tebo

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Clubs Vie for Piece of Funding Pie

By GREGORY W. WALLACE
Saint Anselm Crier News Editor

CUSHING STUDENT CENTER, Feb. 24 — Student government elections are anything but mere popularity contests: at stake is control of almost two hundred thousand dollars.

Senators not only vote on resolutions and sit on student life and academic committees, but also vote to approve or deny club status for aspiring groups of students. With club status comes the privileges, including an appropriations hearing where clubs pitch a budget and request financial support from the Student Government Association.

The S.G.A. senate approved online magazine Lucubrations and La Voz (“the voice”) de la Latinoamerica, a Hispanic heritage club this semester. In October, the senate approved Club Hockey. Last spring, the senate added Club Softball, Mock Trial, Slavery Still Exists, and Students in Free Enterprise to the club rolls.

Clubs enter eligibility for S.G.A. funding after two full semesters. The S.G.A. budget, which topped $179,00 dollars this financial year, is funded through the Student Activity Fee.

While some in the Student Government Association suggest minor corrections to the club approval and funding process, many who spoke with The Crier agree that the system is sound.

“It provides an environment where people can engage in what they’re interested in,” Alexandra Puglisi, the S.G.A. club affairs secretary, said.

Scott Campbell, the S.G.A. president, takes a pro-club position.

“My stance has always been, and always will be, support the clubs now,” Campbell said. “To deny any group of students with a list of interested persons, with an advisor, and approval from the Dean of Students the opportunity to form a club while we recognize and support financially all of these other clubs would be a travesty.”

The club appropriations process culminates in a presentation before select S.G.A officials each spring. Clubs present their merits, including community service, contributions to campus, and student roster, as well as ambitions and financial needs for the upcoming year.

Appropriations are scheduled for Saturday, March 13.

“I think the model we have is a good one,” student activities and leadership programs director Matthew T. Goodwin said. The process, which includes mid-year funding possibilities, places little emphasis on fundraising, allowing clubs to “function purely as a group without forcing them to articulate what their exact costs and events will be.”

Some, including the new S.G.A. president and vice president, acknowledge a need for clubs to consider fundraising in support of their activities.

“I support the idea of fundraising and that we have to wait for a year to see how they [clubs] are doing,” vice president-elect Matthew Shaw ’11 said while campaigning for the office.

His running mate, president-elect Ashley Pratte ’11, agrees. While S.G.A can support clubs to an extent now, she says that “down the line, we can’t” without fundraising.

The new administration finds support among the senate ranks.

Sen. Andrew Marden ’11, who ran for S.G.A. vice president this year, says student government needs to ensure “that that the money of S.G.A. can be used to effect as many students.”

“I think there needs to be more fundraising,” Marden said, but the appropriations process should value clubs’ good faith effort to fundraise.

Sen. John McDermott ’11, who has served on the junior class council with Pratte and Shaw, sees a two prong approach to fundraising. Not only does the S.G.A. need to support clubs in fundraising, he says, but clubs must also pursue fundraising energetically.

“I think there needs to be a serious commitment on the party of clubs to fundraising,” senator John McDermott ’11, said.

Fundraising is currently expected in the first year of club status, before college funding becomes available, and Goodwin of the student activities office believes the process is healthy.

“It separates legitimate interest from the student body and the fads,” Goodwin said.

“[The process] builds a strong club from the outset,” Puglisi said. Puglisi is also vice president of the Mock Trial team, which required almost $1,000 to compete this year, but is not yet eligible for S.G.A funding. Team members organized donations and fundraisers, including a glass engraving and bake sale, she said.

Goodwin, and others, would like to see considerations made for clubs with unique contributions to the Saint Anselm campus.

“This year. . . we’re going to have a much more intense conversation about clubs that have a mission relating to the campus mission,” he said.

A growing number of clubs are coming to the table for a piece of the funding pie, and soon there will be no slices remaining.

“For everyone to receive the funding that they want, the funding needs to get bigger,” student activities director Goodwin said, “and that’s just not a reality right now.”

This article was published on page 1 of the Saint Anselm Crier, Feb. 24, 2010 issue.

Class Council Candidates Present Platforms

Candidate speeches are a staple of school elections, but this time, students were listening.

KOONZ THEATER, Dana Center — Candidates for class council positions filed their paperwork tonight and gave speeches to a crowd of almost 70 students, about 40 of whom are not running for election.

The candidates, for class president, vice president, secretary, and senator, offered a laundry list of campaign promises, from “having an amazingly fun time” in senior year to putting a faculty member in jail as a fundraiser and eliminating parking tickets. One speech was of the rap-slam poetry genre.

The classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013 will vote next Tuesday and Thursday for class officers. The class of 2010, the seniors, will not be electing new class officers. Each class has four senate seats; class treasurer is one among several appointed positions not covered in annual elections.

Two candidates are running for president of each class. Only one other race, for 2011 senator, is competitive, and only three candidates are running for the four senate seats allotted to the class of 2012. The two class of 2011 senators chosen in a recent special election are both running for the senate again.

Class of 2011

President
Rachael Paskievich
Brian Poznanski

Vice President
Matt McDonald

Secretary
Katherine O'Hara

Senator (four seats)
Regina Federico (currently a senator)
Caitlin Heneghan (currently a senator)
John McDermott (currently a senator)
Matt Mobilia (formerly a senator)
Ellen O’Neil (currently a senator)

Class of 2012

President
Craig Hooper
Justin Colella

Vice President
Marissa Serafino

Secretary
Stephanie Chaisson

Senator (four seats)
Elizabeth Maccarone
Andrew Marden
Alex Noe

Class of 2013

President
Joe Gill
Myungwoo Lee

Vice President
Joseph Rispoli

Secretary
Linh Nguyen

Senator (four seats)
Nathan Chartier
Evan Dell'Olio
Kaitlin Frederick
Marko Samardzic

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This article has been updated to include Matt Mobilia as a candidate for senator from the class of 2011. Mr. Mobilia, who was formerly a senator, stepped down from his seat this semester while interning out of state.

N.H.I.O.P. to Assume Political Library

NEW HAMPSHIRE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS — When the New Hampshire Political Library laid off its paid staff in early December, 2009, the future of the first-in-the-nation primary recordkeeper was uncertain. “This is just a temporary setback for us,” the Library’s board chair, Terry Shumaker, told the Concord Monitor. “We existed in numerous different forms in the past; we will continue in the future.”

The New Hampshire Institute of Politics has stepped in to fill the gap, which Mr. Shumaker said was economic. The Library board voted unanimously on Friday to affiliate with the Saint Anselm N.H.I.O.P., according to a college statement.

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In Record Turnout, Pratte and Shaw Elected Student Government Leaders

Gregory W. Wallace/CRIER

Ashley Pratte and Matt Shaw, pictured in Cushing on Wednesday night after learning of the S.G.A. election returns.

CUSHING STUDENT CENTER — Ashley Pratte ’11 and Matt Shaw ’11 have been elected president and vice president of the Student Government Association.

Pratte and Shaw took 414 votes, edging out Marissa Serafino ’12 and Andrew Marden ’12, who netted 289 votes. The 703 votes cast was a record turnout, S.G.A. officials said.

“It feels fantastic,” Pratte told The Crier’s Lauren Chooljian.

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Michael Beschloss Shares Laughs and Presidential History

Gregory W. Wallace

Michael Beschloss.

NEW HAMPSHIRE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS — Presidential historian Michael Beschloss spoke Tuesday evening to a crowd of well over 100 community members and Student Ambassadors on presidential courage.

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One Acts, Many Dimensions

It is an evening of one act plays, but you see at least twice as many shows for the price of three.

DANA CENTER — One acts are known for challenging the dimensions of space and time -- twenty minutes is short for a logical beginning, middle, and end -- but the Abbey Players evening of short plays, “Time Flies When You’re Having Fun,” challenges the traditional continuum at a new level.

The plays run Friday and Saturday nights, both at 7:30 p.m. Student admission is $5.75, including a ticketing fee.

This Is A Test, by Stephen Gregg and directed by Katie McNamara ’10, condenses an hour-long collegiate exam into twenty minutes, all while visiting dreams, A cruel world of high school-like taunting, and deep-seated fears. Alan (Brian Lively ’10) is tested not only by the multiple-choice and essay assessment before him, but by the blatant cheating of his classmates (including Lois, played by Caitlin Heneghan ’11) and the unfriendly voices in his own caffeinated and overtired head.

Ham Radio, adapted and directed by Alex Silveri ’11, explores the challenge of airing a live radio drama. From the first rehearsal through the ninth, the motley crew, including radio host Frasier Crane (Seath Crandall ’10), his brother Niles, and producer Roz (Kaitlin Smith ’11), competes for airtime and attention -- both against each other, and against the odds. Ham Radio marks the evening’s brief departure from the festival of existential questions.

Cut, by Ed Monk and directed by Robert Lemire ’10, looks for answers to actors’ most persistent questions: where does the stage start, where does it end, and who is really in charge? Caroline O’Connor ’13, Joseph Leone ’10, Tom Hill ’12, Katelyn Morreale ’13, Erin Smith ’10, Seath Crandall ’11, Laura Foley ’12, and Mr. Lively are typical actors, getting lost in their parts and thinking they’re the director. Cut is the matryoshka doll of drama.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN

An Evening of One Act Plays. Produced by Lauren Kelly ’10. This Is A Test directed by Katie McNamara ’10. Ham Radio directed by Alex Silveri ’11. Cut directed by Robert Lemire ’10. Presented by the Anselmian Abbey Players. At the Dana Center for the Humanities. Run time: approximately one and one half hour, with one intermission.
Friday, 5 February and Saturday, 6 February at 7:30 p.m.
$5 students; $7 adults; $6 college community; plus ticketing fee.

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Pratte-Shaw Campaign Speech

CUSHING CENTER — Matthew Shaw ’11 delivered the following remarks on Tuesday evening in the Cushing Center lobby. He is running for Student Government Association vice president, alongside Ashley Pratte ’11, who is running for S.G.A. president. These remarks were also posted on their campaign Facebook page.

We are Ashley Pratte and Matt Shaw, running for Student Government president and vice president. After much discussion and deliberation we decided to announce our candidacy for these esteemed positions. Since May of last year we had been debating with the idea of running for these seats due to our hesitancy to leave vacant seats in our class council. We left with hopes not only to continue to better our class but SGA as a whole. As president and vice president of our class we believe that we are prepared to fulfill the roles left behind by the outgoing administration. Throughout our time here at St. A’s, we have taken on many leadership roles and have become highly involved in the community. These roles include Resident Assistant, Orientation Leader, SBA leader, Resident Hall Council member, NHIOP Ambassador, and Student Activities Program Coordinator. These various involvement opportunities have enhanced our ability to connect with the students as well as the administration, which will be vital to making any changes within the college.

If elected our administration would serve as the voice of the students. We may not know all the issues of this school, but with your help we will be better equipped to tackle any challenges and concerns that arise among the student population. While there are many things that we would like to accomplish there are a few key items that we plan to address. First, we plan to hold weekly meetings with the Director of Student Activities, in order to establish a stronger relationship with the department enabling us to put on more successful events. Second, we will push to form a Commuter Student Council by collaborating with the Multicultural Center. In hopes that the commuter students may have a larger voice as well as become more integrated within the Saint Anselm community. Third, we will collaborate with CAB and Student Activities, as student run organizations, to ensure that all members of the campus are more inclined to participate in different events and activities on campus. Fourth, we will make the issues of the student body a guideline for our agenda because your voices are important and need to be heard. Fifth, we will hold more SGA sponsored events to create more awareness about our organization. As the only student-elected representative body, Student Government’s importance needs to be recognized in order to effectively meet the needs and demands of the students. Under our administration SGA would be dedicated to making its presence felt on campus in order to create a more united student body. Lastly, we will work to establish an Office of Student Involvement here on campus allowing us to work with the administration to ensure more student engagement at athletic events, speakers, and club events. The Office of Student Involvement would include representatives from Student Activities, Meelia Center, Multicultural Center, Campus Ministry, CAB, Athletics, and the Dean of Students Office. This Office would allow for student club cooperation with the administration of the college creating a unique opportunity for the student voice to be heard directly by the administration. Through all of these things we hope to enhance the Student Government Association by working directly with students, major departments, clubs, and organizations.

While these are some of the key topics on our agenda we have further ideas to improve SGA internally. We would like to extend an invitation to representatives from Campus Ministry, the Meelia Center, and the Multicultural Center to participate in our weekly Senate meetings. We feel as though having these organizations represented would help us to establish better relationships with them. This would help us to better serve the needs of all our students rather than the same 10 % who participate in all events. We will hold training sessions for all members involved in Student Government to make sure that everyone is adequately prepared to fulfill the duties of their respective positions.

We will make SGA our first priority. We are involved but, we also realize the importance of the positions, and are willing to make sacrifices to help you, the students of the school to have the best college experience. We realize that we are not the experts and do not know all the issues that pertain to the student population, but we hope to solve as many as we can with input from you and the college administration. We will not make promises that cannot be fulfilled, and will work to push forward a realistic agenda. We know that we can move forward with our ideas and put them into effect. If elected we hope the changes we make will leave a lasting legacy here at Saint Anselm College. Thank you for your time and please vote for us on February 9th and February 10th.

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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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Two Couples File for Top S.G.A. Positions

In announcing their candidacy, a pair of juniors and a pair of sophomores outlined their campaign pledges in speeches Tuesday evening.


CUSHING CENTER — Two tickets have filed election papers with the Student Government Association for the organization’s two top positions, president and vice president, according to the S.G.A. secretary of internal procedures.

Marissa Serafino ’12 and Andrew Marden ’12 are running against Ashley Pratte ’11 and Matthew Shaw ’11. Both campaigns filed election petitions as required by S.G.A. rules, according to the S.G.A. secretary of internal procedures, Alyssa Hatem ’12. The candidates also delivered speeches in the Cushing Lobby on Tuesday evening.

Ms. Serafino and Mr. Marden are both senators from the sophomore class. Ms. Pratte is president, and Mr. Shaw is vice president, of the junior class.

PRATTE-SHAW

Ms. Pratte and Mr. Shaw outlined six initiatives in their Tuesday speech, including weekly meetings with the Student Activities and Leadership Programs director; formation of a Commuter Student Council, in collaboration with the Multicultural Center; collaboration with Campus Activities Board and the Student Activities and Leadership Programs office to “ensure that all members of the campus are more inclined to participate in different events and activities on campus;” “make the issues of the student body a guideline for our agenda;” increase student-body awareness of S.G.A.; and create a new Office of Student Involvement.

The Office of Student Involvement office would include representatives from Student Activities and Leadership Programs, the Meelia Center for Community Service, the Multicultural Center, Campus Ministry, Campus Activities Board, the Athletics department, and the Dean of Students Office, according to the Pratte-Shaw campaign’s prepared remarks.

“This Office would allow for student club cooperation with the administration of the college creating a unique opportunity for the student voice to be heard directly by the administration,” Ms. Pratte and Mr. Shaw outlined in their speech.

SERAFINO-MARDEN

Ms. Serafino and Mr. Marden vowed to address issues with the housing lottery process, finding a place for students to study after midnight, and to accept additional suggestions through holding student forums. The housing process, for example, is backwards and should reward students who participate in activities and organizations on campus, they said.

“The current process dismisses disciplinary action and those students who respect the rules,” Mr. Marden said. “We believe in rewarding involvement with something everyone desires: good housing.”

The ticket also seeks to increase participation in S.G.A. by increasing student body awareness of the organization, and by bringing members together. They emphasize that, as sophomores, their administration would have the ability to run for reelection at the end of this term.

“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,” Mr. Marden said. “Further, we will establish a working an[d] updated Student Government Website.”

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Photos: Each ticket, pictured as posted to their campaign Facebook pages.