Dispatches from Barnard Student Government Association

Barnard’s Student Government Association met on Monday, Feb. 23, kicking off its meeting with a visit from Dean of the College Dorothy Denburg.

Denburg spoke first on the Nexus, remembering her first walk-through last November and her most recent visit this past month. She spoke admiringly of the progress the building has made, dwelling on the construction of the black box theater. Denburg wrapped up her speech by discussing academic advising, stating that the upcoming town hall meeting in March will address any questions students might have regarding the advisor selection process.

SGA proceeded to discuss election protocol for spring 2009. The elections commission, composed of SGA President Sarah Besnoff, BC ’09, and Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees Daphne Larose, BC ’10, announced several possible changes to the process. Candidates must declare their intention to run by Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m. by submitting a message including the position for which they are running and a two-hundred-word platform. After the commission reviews the applications, confirmation e-mails will be sent out to candidates, who can then begin general campaigning, except the posting of fliers, which will begin on April 2. However, this period does coincide with Passover, which begins April 8, and Besnoff resolved to contact the president of the Columbia/Barnard Hillel to ensure continued student voting participation. Motions to allow mass e-mailing of club endorsements and to formally ban personal endorsements by sitting SGA members were rejected.