Today the tickets for the presidency and vice presidency of the Georgetown University Student Association announced their candidacies and released their platforms. While the Voice Editorial Board will provide an official endorsement before the Feb. 20 presidential elections, we feel it is important to state our priorities prior to selecting the most competent ticket.
One of the biggest strengths of the Clara Gustafson (SFS ‘13) and Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ‘13) administration has been its eagerness to take on large initiatives, effectively mobilize student support, and score landmark wins for Georgetown’s undergraduate population. Most notably, they were able to successfully raise the standard in the burden of proof regarding a majority of on-campus incidents from “more likely than not” to “clear and convincing.” Although critics note their failure to extend this standard to off-campus incidents, this was an ambitious project that required strong student support and heavy, prolonged negotiations with University officials. The next administration should be unafraid to engage in the tactics used to bring about this change.
Although Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount have done much for the University, there are many critical issues that have yet to be tackled. The next GUSA executives should not refrain from taking a congenial but firm stance in holding the University administration accountable to its promises and its duties to students.
To prevent a loss of momentum or of institutional memory, the future leaders of GUSA should focus on building on the successes of the current administration. This not only includes extending the “clear and convincing” standard to off-campus incident evaluation, but also continuing Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’s efforts to improve how sexual assaults are reported and dealt with on campus. Other issues that must be promptly addressed include reform of Georgetown’s antiquated and restrictive free-speech policy as well as its ineffective bias reporting system.
It is particularly crucial that the presidential and vice presidential successors prioritize student engagement. This includes being plugged into student movements, such as the newly launched Fossil Fuel Divestment campaign and supporting them in any way they can. Like Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount, the new executives must be committed to openness and transparency—for example, as a student-run news publication, we appreciate the current administration’s willingness to cooperate with student media.
Essentially, GUSA’s new leaders should view themselves not as administrative figureheads, but rather as advocates for Georgetown’s wide variety of student voices. Furthermore, the Voice would like to see candidates emphasize their capacity to promote social justice and social change on campus. We sincerely hope that the candidates will take the urgent student needs expounded here to heart, and expect nothing more than productive, meaningful dialogue in the next two weeks.
