Elections pose questions about the role of student leaders

Filing for Spring 2005 Vassar Student Association (VSA) Elections ended April 3 at 11:59 p.m. After the recent controversy surrounding administrative transparency, these elections offer students the opportunity to choose the representatives who have the power to enact policy change in the coming year.

The first question students should ask when reviewing candidates is, “What do I expect of my student leaders? Should a student leader represent the campus as a whole, or should he or she seek to realize a more personal agenda?”

Simply put, it is not possible for a student leader to encompass the opinions of 2,400 individuals, and this fact raises the stakes for the outcome of the election. Leaders should lend an open ear to suggestions of the student body, but will not be capable of satisfying every student’s vision of the College.

Ability is as important as vision, and we, as a student body, should verify that our student leaders have the capability to realize their goals. Few decisions or actions made in a political environment come to fruition without compromise. Our student leaders should enter their positions with a “team mentality.” A policy, no matter how inspired, will not be enacted without the consent of one’s peers.

It is then of the utmost importance that the student body votes. These leaders will be presenting diverse visions of the College’s future and students should verify that each candidate’s priorities closely matches his or her opinions. After the outpouring of dissatisfaction and dissent at the Feb. 24 Town Meeting, apathy is not an excuse.

Voting does not represent the culmination of the Vassar student’s civic responsibilities, but rather, the beginning. It is our responsibility as critical thinkers to monitor the actions and decisions of our leaders. It is certainly our responsibility to speak out when we see student and administrative leaders enacting policy with which we disagree, but we must do so as informed critics. At February’s Town Meeting, there was a wealth of invective, but a dearth of knowledge about college policy and organization. We must make our leaders accountable for their actions, but this is only possible when we ourselves are informed.

A large number candidates have filed for top-level VSA executive positions. While this is certainly commendable, it is important to note that less-known positions, including those on powerful committees such as the Student Curriculum Committee and the Committee on Community Relations, also exercise great influence. Voters should not overlook these positions.

As influential as these elected positions are, it is important to remember that those who either choose not to run or are not elected to the position for which they have filed are not shut out of student leadership. There are other ways that students can make their voices heard. Student-organized events offer the opportunity for organizations to publicize their stances on issues ranging from politics to theater, and volunteering for such activities makes it known what we as a student body think is important.

Also, open office hours are not limited to professors. Administrators, including President Fran Fergusson, offer office hours for concerned students. Taking the initiative to contact administrators, professors, and other community members whose decisions affect our lives can cultivate strong relationships, helping to open lines of communication. Elected student leaders are an important factor in making student voices heard, but they are not the only options.

We stand at a crossroad in Vassar’s history. As the administration experiences a changing of the guard, the voice of the student body will become increasingly important in sculpting Vassar’s future. If there is any time for the student body to come out in force and declare its expectations of its leaders, that time is now.