Steven Martinez

Vote Here!

https://intranet.hampshire.edu/forms/viewForm.php?id=556



Community Council Election
Before I decided to run for At-Large Member on Community Council, I was faced with a difficult question: what does Community Council do? Actually, it was more like, what the hell does Community Council do? I asked one of my modmates if she knew the responsibilities of Community Council and she replied, “Hell no. Do you?” My answer was, “No. But I know what they should be doing.” Growing up I saw that every one of my neighbors was part of a large consensus of obligatory policy and legislation that effects them personally, but none of them knew exactly who represented them, and what the justification of those policies were, or better yet how they were suppose to benefit from them. That's why a huge part of my decision to run for a seat on Community Council is to help create transparency campus-wide and not just to those who are on Community Council's listserv or are close friends with council members. Everyone should know the voting record of each of their elected members, everyone should be able to vote for Chair of Community Council and not just council members, and everyone deserves to challenge us on the decisions we make – of course, knowing what those decisions are.

I have two independent studies, I work 15 hours a week, I'm enrolled in two courses, and I'm a signer for two groups – running for Community Council may not be the best idea right now. In fact it’s a lot more work, but the decisions made by my council members fazes me and fazes you; and lately I don't know what way to be fazed, so I've chosen to pick a side instead of remaining indifferent.

-Steven Martinez