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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

Presidential candidate profiles

Glenn Dym
Year: Junior
Hometown: Plainview, N.Y.
Major: Biology
Clubs/Activities: EMeRG, Student Admissions Representative, Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, American Medical Student Association
SA experience: None
Platform:
-More SA accountability
-Wireless campus
-Unite all University technology departments
On referendum to double student fee: In favor of it because smaller groups will receive more funding
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. 24-hour 4-RIDE
2. 24-hour dining venue
3. Remodel all classrooms and residence halls

“The more technologically sound the school is, the more our degree is worth.”

Dan LeClair
Year: Junior
Hometown: Grantham, N.H.
Majors: Political Science and History
Clubs/Activities: Chair of the Golden Key National Honor Society, National Residence Hall Honorary, Community Facilitator in JBKO
SA experience: None
Endorsed by: GW Ski and Snowboard Clan
Platform:
-24-hour SA hotline
-Expand dining options
-Decrease wait time for 4-RIDE, add more dispatchers
-More funding to lesser-known student groups
-Recycling in all residence halls
On referendum to double student fee: Against it because the SA needs to prove accountability
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Better professors
2. Academic building on old hospital site
3. University administrators should listen to student issues.

“The unhappiest college students in America become the happiest (when) they feel students are listening to them.”

Justin “The Lex” Luther
Year: Junior
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Major: Chemistry
Clubs/Activities: GW Crew Team
SA experience: None
Platform:
-Running as a joke candidate, for satirical purposes
-To be SA president for less than 24 hours
-Not voting for himself or campaigning
On referendum to double student fee: Not sure
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. To submerge the University and make Foggy Bottom an underwater campus
2. More money for biology department to build gills for humans so students can live underwater
3. More money for engineering department to invent weapons that can kill eyeless fish monsters that would plague underwater campus

“I am a joke candidate. It’s all just jokes … A vote for The Lex is a vote for awesome.”

Ruarri J. Miller
Year: Junior
Hometown: Landenberg, Pa.
Major: Political Science
Clubs/Activities: Community Facilitator in HOVA, former president of Mitchell Hall, founded EVOLVE and Reality Check, Residence Hall Association Member of the Year
SA experience: None
Platform:
-Allow SA to collect interest on funds
-Allow students to pay for student group events with GWorld cards
On referendum to double student fee: Against it
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Raise professor pay
3. Student group financial independence
2. Respect for the SA

“I am an enabler … I have always been a problem solver and reformer.”

Isaiah Pickens
Year: Junior
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Major: Psychology
Clubs/Activities: President of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, former member of men’s basketball team, Emerging Leaders Program, Colonial Cabinet (2002), Trachtenberg Scholar
SA experience: Vice President of Undergraduate Student Policy (2003-04)
Platform:
-The SA as an umbrella organization: SA uniting student groups and sponsoring events that will bring them together, including a talent showcase and Diversity Week
-Fundraiser Central: SA provides groups with volunteers and helps groups join with other organizations to raise money
On referendum to double student fee: In favor because it would give student organizations more funding
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Different set of rules for Townhouse Row, less strict than residence hall rules
2. Expanded dining options: more healthy choices and more kosher choices
3. Wireless access across campus

“(There’s) just a certain feeling that comes when students come together unselfishly … I want students to feel like it’s their Student Association.”

Alex Rochestie
Year: Junior
Hometown: Santa Barbara, Calif.
Major: Business (Minor in Philosophy)
Clubs/Activities: President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, founded a production company
SA experience: None
Endorsed by: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, men’s and women’s squash teams
Platform:
-Web site where students can vote on issues before Senate votes
-Having professors put textbook requirements online earlier so students can find better prices
-Online test and syllabi files
-Supports GWTV: broadcast more sports events
-On-campus recording studio
-Funding for Greek-letter organizations proportional to number of students involved in groups
-University converting to wind power
On referendum to double student fee: Undecided
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Give GW a great football team
2. Have GW stop trying to buy fraternity houses
3. Switch to wind power

“Campus life is a huge problem here. It sucks that the school shuts down with the sun.”

Lee Roupas
Year: Junior
Hometown: Palos Park, Ill.
Major: Finance
Clubs/Activities: Chairman of College Republicans, founding father of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, treasurer of the Foundation for International Medical Relief for Children, Director of the Deans Cabinet for the School of Business, helped lead Student Organizations Aligning for Rights
SA experience: Undergraduate Senator At-Large, member of Finance Committee
Endorsed by: College Democrats, College Republicans, Delta Sigma Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Foundation for International Medical Relief for Children
Platform:
-Get two student voting members of the Board of Trustees (elected)
-Provide financial aid during the summer for students who take classes outside GW
-Turn Quigley’s into a late-night dining option (first floor 24 hours), with business students managing and operating the venue
-Free DVD rental at Gelman Library
-“One-stop” shopping Web site with online test and syllabi files, book exchange, course evaluations, etc.
-Student group funding allocated based on how much the organization does, not how many years it has been at GW
On referendum to double student fee: In favor because student organizations need more money
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Improving academics by bringing in better faculty members
2. Two student voting seats on the Board of Trustees
3. Make Quigley’s a 24-hour dining venue

“I know the importance of political thought on campus.”

Joe Venti
Year: Junior
Hometown: Fair Haven, N.J.
Majors: Dance and English
Clubs/Activities: Former Director of Students for Accountability, volunteer at Planned Parenthood, member of Dance Performance Project, Voices for Choices, Washington Free Collaboration
SA experience: None
Platform:
-Make sure all organizations are properly funded
-Competitive food item prices
-Ensure Student Judicial Services is operating efficiently and rationally
On referendum to double student fee: In favor because it would give student organizations more funding
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Make sure all student organizations are properly funded
2. President Trachtenberg would take more of an active role on campus so students could talk to him directly
3. President Trachtenberg would take a personal initiative to make sure all students were involved in events and activities

“(The job of president is) 168 hours a week … I want to be someone the students can go up to with any concern and know that person is going to bring their concerns up to the powers that be.”

Omar Woodard
Year: Junior
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Majors: International Affairs and Public Policy
Clubs/Activities: President of Black Student Union, Colonial Cabinet member (2003), member of Muslim Students’ Association and Caribbean Student Association, Property Management assistant
SA experience: Former Undergraduate Elliott School Senator
Endorsed by: Black Student Union
Platform:
-Online class wait system: Students would sign up to be automatically registered for a class that was initially closed if spaces open up
-Colonial Cash review
-Residence Hall Renewal Project: committee to review and identify specific structural problems in residence halls
On referendum to double student fee: In favor because the SA will otherwise not be able to fund the growing number of student organizations
If President Trachtenberg were to grant you three wishes for the GW community, regardless of cost, what would they be?
1. Residence hall renewal at a greater level
2. University would build a student center and let the Marvin Center be a conference center, or the University would build a conference center and let the Marvin Center be a real student union
3. Mall on old hospital site that would give students job opportunities

“(GW) needs someone who is dedicated to students … I have a track record of tangible
results.”

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