CORRECTION APPENDED
In a crowded field of eight Student Association executive tickets, Kyle Williams (SFS ‘09) and Brian Kesten’s (COL ‘10) critical goals and leadership experience make them the best choice for president and vice president.
Williams and Kesten prioritize three issues that actually matter to Georgetown students: improving University security, increasing administrative transparency and dealing with bias. Their ideas on safety are sound, like pushing for pierce-proof vests and higher wages for DPS, while increasing the number of lights on Prospect Street. Monthly town hall meetings open to students should make the administration’s decision-making process more open. The ticket also plans to raise awareness of the bias reporting system.
The two are realistic about GUSA’s weaknesses while still striving to make concrete improvements in student life. In contrast, many of their competitors seem comparatively out of touch: Sean Hayes (MSB ‘10) and Andrew Madorsky (MSB ‘10), for example, proposed charging admission to Midnight Madness (see correction below).
Kesten has served as a GUSA senator for two years, so he is familiar with the Student Association’s bureaucracy. Williams is new to GUSA, but he has demonstrated his leadership abilities as a chaplain for the Gospel Choir and president of the Male Development Association, and proved that he can work with the administration to make real changes when he helped achieve an expanded College history requirement that includes a more diverse range of courses.
Lobbying administrators—including Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson, who instituted last fall’s controversial changes to the alcohol policy—on behalf of the student body is arguably GUSA’s most important task. Williams and Kesten have the experience to successfully advocate for students in talks with Olson’s office and other branches of the administration. The GUSA candidates also share a good rapport, suggesting that they will continue to work together long after the ballots are counted.
While Williams and Kesten offer students the best option for GUSA’s next leadership duo, they are not the only candidates with worthwhile platforms. Tim Brown (COL ‘09) and Dale Sevin (SFS ‘09) are running on the bold idea of a student referendum for any administration decision affecting students, but their lack of experience will make this worthwhile but unlikely idea even more difficult to implement.
This year’s changes to the alcohol policy and a shocking lack of transparency following September’s hate crime showed that Georgetown needs an effective GUSA president and vice president to make sure that student voices are heard. Williams and Kesten are the best choice to lead the Student Association, overcome its credibility problem and protect students interests.
CORRECTION: Sean Hayes (MSB ‘10) and Andrew Madorsky (MSB ‘10) clarified that the proposed $5 admission to Midnight Madness would be voluntary and used for philanthropic purposes.
