Community Council Spring 2011 Candidates

This page list candidates running for Community Council and 5-College Coordinating Board positions for this semester. Candidates are listed by the office for which they are running.

= At-Large =

Ugyen Lhamo
Name:Ugyen Lhamo

Country From:Bhutan

Division:2 Concentration: Economic Justice through Entrepreneurial Creativity and Law.

Reason for running for Community Council: As the only student government association on campus, the Community Council serves as a platform for students to participate in college governance. Serving as an at large representative for the Community COuncil would provide an opportunity to not only gain experience in student governance but also a good opportunity to voice out the opinions of the student body.

Jake Vogel
My name is Jake Vogel, and I am a Div-III student concentrating primarily on Neurobiology. I'm from inner-city Philadelphia. I have a no experience with any sort of student government. I am not a signer for any groups. I am by and large a typical community member, and this is why I'm interested in running. I have no agenda separate from simple representation. Why should you elect me? I am highly invested in Hampshire. Its unique curriculum has allowed me to find great academic success and general happiness, and I believe in its mission. I want to defend it, and I want to ensure its community is properly represented. Because I am running as an at-large representative, I would be representing all of you that are members of the Hampshire community. I have no affiliations with any other bureaucratic process at Hampshire, but I maintain many affiliations with many individuals here on campus. I see the same things you see, I know many of the same things you know. But I don't see things the way you see things--no one does, and no one should act as if they can. That's why you have a voice, and it would be my job to listen, and to report. My agenda is your agenda.

Ilana Sufrin
My name is Ilana Sufrin and I’m running for an at-large position on Community Council. I’m a first-year student at Hampshire College. I work at the National Yiddish Book Center as a bibliographer’s assistant, I’m on the UMass Model United Nations team, and I’m a new member of Re-Rad. Right now I’m still fulfilling my Div-I requirements, but I plan to study critical social theory and creative writing for my Div-II. I’d love to get involved with Community Council now, during my first year at Hampshire. The first-year class is the biggest in Hampshire’s history and we need representation in the community. When I encounter problems in my own life, I’m always passionate about fixing whatever’s broken. The same holds true for residence life at college. I still live in the dorms and eat at Saga. I’d love to delve deeper into the inner workings of Hampshire and see what I can do about gym and weekend dining hall hours. I’ll be a strong liaison between the Council and my fellow students—I can help my peers get beyond the bureaucratic procedural language to figure out how to actually get things done. I believe in transparency in governance and strong community involvement in important decisions. I really think I can make a difference at our school. Please email me at ips10 if you have any questions!

Liz McGourty
I'm Liz McGourty and I'm a third year at Hampshire. I feel very dedicated to engaging with the Hampshire community in a multitude of ways. I'm involved with several student groups on campus such as: the Crazy Pitches and the anti-racism group that has existed in multiple forms, among others. Through my academics and during my free time I've engaged in learning about Hampshire's history. I'd love to get more involved with decisions being made. I feel committed to having more under-represented voices being heard in this context as well as in a larger setting. I'd like to be a community council at large rep and continue to engage with the community in a more involved way. I hope this is what you all were looking for. Have a great day. Liz

Nelson Hernandez
Hampshire Community! My name is Nelson Hernandez, and I would like YOU to vote me into Community Council as your at-large representative. I’m a F10 transfer student from South Florida. As soon as I got here, I began getting involved here and there, going to this meeting and that meeting! I’ve been attending council meetings as a (and the only) community member – did you know you could attend Community Council meetings?! However, as a community member, I do not have the power to vote or make motions at these meetings. Furthermore, as an official member of Community Council, I would have the authority to take on certain tasks and responsibilities! Aside from my current involvement with Community Council, I also belong to one of its subcommittees – FiCom. As you may tell, I enjoy being involved in student governance, it’s genuinely fun! If you’d like more information about me, you can visit my page on Hampedia (https://hampedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Hernandez). Thank you VERY much, enjoy yourself! -      Nelson

Nick Schachter
Dear Community Council,

I can honestly say I have no idea who nominated me for this position, nor did I at any point encourage such a thing or even so much as mention a desire to run for this position. However, given that someone saw fit to throw my name into the hat, I shall explain why I'm deciding to follow through on their initiative. Hampshire College is a unique institution that appeals to a very specific niche of students within the masses. Many of us came here with an impressive array of hopes, dreams, and goals that have been given a tremendous amount of attention and effort throughout time. This is something that should be applauded, but unfortunately it is also something that must be regulated by reality. If an idea is incredible in scope and potential, but completely impractical and unwieldy then should it be implemented? I would say no, regardless of the idea's intrinsic value, as if negative consequences can be predicted and calculated to be significantly greater than the supposed positive gains there is no reason to run headlong into a rather obvious proverbial buzz-saw. Optimism is to be admired, but it should also be tempered with realism and a degree of pragmatism. I believe I can bring those qualities to the Community Council if I am elected. Best, Nick Schachter

= Prescott House =

Candidates for house representative positions can only be voted on by students currently living in the same house

Eleanor Nalle
My name is Eleanor Nalle, but everyone calls me Nora. I am in my last semester of Division II. I study creative writing for young adults and adolescent psychology. I have been on council before, last spring I was the Enfield representative, so I already have the background knowledge as to how council functions within our community. I have also been a voting member on COCA for the past year. I fell in love with Hampshire because of the community here. Creating and sustaining an open and welcoming environment is something that I feel strongly about. I got involved with student government because I wanted to make sure that our community stayed that way: welcoming and accepting of everyone. I believe in accountability, in impartiality, in making a decision and casting a vote to actually mean something, and for it to actually represent what is best for the students, staff, and faculty. I have shown a significant amount of commitment to the community because I genuinely care about us. I feel that I'd make a strong candidate because I believe in the students here, I believe in the faculty and staff here, and I believe in the power that student government has to make real changes. best, Nora Nalle

= Dakin House =

Candidates for house representative positions can only be voted on by students currently living in the same house

Brittany Williams
As a third year student, Dakin intern, former Community Council (SOURCE) Rep, and current COCA member, it is my belief that I would serve as the best candidate for Council's Dakin rep position. As an intern and resident of Dakin, I not only understand the needs of the Dakin community from a surface perspective, but rather one that has deepened due to my increased knowledge of resident concerns. Similarly, I am very well-versed with many of the Community Council bi-laws. When voting for a Dakin rep, we must elect someone willing to do more than merely attend council meetings. We need a representative who will listen to the concerns and demands of Dakin residents and commit to emphasizing the importance of Dakin life in council meetings. It is my belief that my no-nonsense attitude and ability to advocate for students with different opinions will make me the best candidate. If elected, I will ensure Dakin is heard as Council begins changes towards a traditional SGA making it my duty to represent the various needs of the Dakin community, without hesitation. For more information about me and my commitment to the Hampshire campus, please visit my Hampedia page-- www.hampedia.org/wiki/bmw08 Brit Williams

Subhanu Khanal
Hi1 This comes as a pleasant surprise and I would be delighted to to serve on the Community Council as Dakin Representative. I am an International Student from Nepal. I like to think myself as a proactive person and quite involved into the community. I like to contribute to the community in every which way I can. Currently, I am involved with COCA and the CLA. Being nominated as a Dakin Representative is I feEl a great thing which will give me another opportunity to contribute to my community. As a member, I will be able to listen to and bring to the council's attention any concerns that our fellow Dakin members might have and address them. The thrill will be our collective effort to make Dakin house a great space for all its residents and Hampshire Community at large. Thank you so much for the Nomination again! Yours Sincerely, Subhanu Khanal.

= Greenwich House =

Candidates for house representative positions can only be voted on by students currently living in the same house

Dina Spanbock
My name is Dina Spanbock and I am really looking forward to serving on Community Council. I am an active member of Re-Rad and, through that, have learned a lot about governance at Hampshire. I have always wanted to be more involved, and now is the perfect time for me. I am 110% dedicated to working hard with other Council members on various issues and am willing and able to put in long hours to make sure things happen right. I am most interested in hearing what you have to say, what issues you would like to see Community Council work on. I want to represent my fellow Greenwich dwellers (as well as the Hampshire community as a whole) and work towards whatever you think is important. I am also very much looking forward to working alongside other members and structures in the Hampshire community, including President Marlene Gerber Fried, the Governance Task Force, and the Community Council sub-committees.

Just to let you know a little bit about me, I was born and raised in Manhattan but have been involved in various different communities. I am 21 years old, and I am studying psychology and the arts, with a particular focus on theater and music. I am interested, however, in a plethora of subjects and have therefore been involved in many activities, including the Jewish Student Union, New Leaf, Amnesty International, and am an active yoga enthusiast. =5-College Coordinating Board Representative=

Chyna Snell
I am running for the position of Hampshire College's representative on the Five College Coordinating Board because I have a sincere interest in engaging in dialogues with students from the other four institutions as a means of making joint decisions and taking collective actions to effect changes that impact the five colleges. I am currently a Division I student and would appreciate the opportunity to engage with the five college community from a position of responsibility at such an early point in my college career as an extra incentive to keep the lines of communication open between myself and my peers. As a female student of color, I also have a vested interest in voicing the concerns and suggestions of student body members who identify as students of color. I would like to see more diversity driving the discussions around the five college campus communities and their students. - Chyna Snell