Student Council organized class of 2005 elections and amended the bylaws of the Committee on Leadership Appointment (COLA) at their meeting this past Tuesday.
The Board of Elections announced that there are seven candidates for class of 2005 president, four for vice president, two for secretary/treasurer and seven for class representative.
"This year we're going to have a combined student/administrator panel [at the upcoming Candidate's Forum] firing questions at the candidates," said Fahad Kahn, co-chair of the Board of Elections. Panel members will include representatives from Academic Advising and Housing.
Another addition to freshman officer elections this year is the inclusion of video taped campaign speeches. Each candidate will get one minute to make a speech. The finished video will be played in Wolman Station and the Terrace Court Caf during meals in the days preceding the elections.
Student Council also amended the bylaws of COLA, which appoints the leaders of various events at Johns Hopkins, such as the Spring Fair. The committee consists of four elected members and one rotating fifth member, which changes for every COLA meeting. Now, that fifth member is appointed by the Executive Officers of Student Council, not the entire council.
The change is "not really that important," said Sophomore Class President Bob Alleman. "If we have a problem with a member we have plenty of time to remove that member."
Senior Class President Steve Goutman was concerned that the entire council should approve the fifth member, saying "the reason Student Council oversees COLA is because we represent the entire student body and we're here to make sure things are done right."
Executive Secretary Manish Gala said, "It still all comes to Student Council for the final vote. Sometimes we are overextended so if someone can't make it to a meeting" the executive board can quickly appoint another member for that meeting.
Academic Affairs Chair Chris Cunico announced that Dean Weiss has approved funding for student/faculty relations luncheons.
"We're working on the logistics of getting the program done. We have to put together how we're going to get the information out," said Cunico. "But we definitely have funding so that students will be able to get to know their professors, and that's great."
"Our job is to figure our what professors are willing to do this," said Junior Vice President Sarah Cummings.
Senior Class President Steve Goutman announced that class of 2002 council members are working to improve the housing situation for upperclassmen.
"We've gotten feedback from a number of students" from Harvard, University of Chicago, and Stanford, said Goutman. He added, "I'll be working with the Hopkins real estate people to figure out what the potential market is."
Sophomore class president Bob Alleman announced that all the preparations have been made for HFest on Friday, October 19th on the Beach. The event will consist of dinner and a dj. The Johns Hopkins cheerleaders and mascot will also be there.
