Let it Snow?

It's snowing.

A lot.

I'd waited for about three weeks for some proper tape of snow to send off for a project, but now that it's here, I'm too busy to shoot it, and both of my tapes are in the mail. We're crossing into that time at Williams when written work starts being due - there are essays to write, problem sets to solve (and grade), and a College Council election.

While I wish that every race was being contested, I'm especially glad that we have multiple candidates for the Co-President position. While I think Manny and If have literally been preparing for this for over a year, I'm glad that voters will have a real choice. My ra-ra WSO post after the jump.
Foster and Leon Facebook Group - Yekutiel and Inyang Facebook Group

Mr. Marchinetti's point standing, I'm still a little fuzzed that nearly no word on the upcoming election has been seen on WSO.

Let's be clear: This election matters, not just to us, but especially for all of those following us at Williams. President Falk's permanent arrival is getting nearer, and he's already visiting campus once a week to attend such august events as the Skits at last Friday's Winter Carnival. Williams has a tradition of strong executive leadership: Sawyer brought about the end of fraternities, Oakley championed tutorials, and Morty completely changed the housing system. Though I have no idea what President Falk is intending (or even if he's intending anything at this point), the fact remains that those we elect will represent the student body for the majority of President Falk's first year.

Your new CC Co-Presidents will regularly meet with President Falk and the new Dean, who will also have new ideas. Your CC Secretary will track all of the deliberations and processes of the council as it liaises with the administration. Your CC treasurer will recommend vast budget allocations for clubs, and each of the people running for class rep have their own ideas about what to make better at Williams.

A single word of advice: anyone can have an idea, but not everyone knows how to suggest and lobby for that idea. Peter Nurnberg and Jeremy Goldstein, co-presidents prior to Mike/Lizzy, were incredibly well-connected with the administration (Peter had Morty as a thesis advisor), but much of their platform was unaccomplished, and not because of any lack of effort (scroll down from that link). It's not enough that someone wants to fix something; they should tell you how they will endeavor to do so with their CC position. Many areas of school policy are not governed by CC, but actually by student-faculty committees, such as the Committee on Undergraduate Life, the Neighborhood Review Committee, and the Committee on Educational Policy; it may be that such changes can be better pursued outside of CC, or alongside CC efforts. On the other hand, the appointments committee that will select all of these students will be composed of the CC officers, Minority Concerns Rep, and Class Reps, collectively known as CC Campus.

Thus far, I've been really impressed by the quality of the ideas and the passion, especially in the freshman candidates, and good luck to all. One request to the candidates: I remember a promise from two candidates last year that they would continue to be involved in fighting for reforms, win or lose. Well, they lost, and they disappeared as quickly as they had emerged as possible leaders. Don't let a loss in this election keep you from working to help Williams - your agency as a student here is much more powerful than you might think.

So with all that said, who are you voting for? I'm pretty sure I'm going for Manning-Geist for Secretary and Barrett for Treasurer, at least....