The Bond Life at Barnard: SGA’s Secret Committee

A secret, double life is more characteristic of James Bond than college students, but on Barnard’s campus, there are some who seek it out. Only they know who they are, called to secret meetings in which they appoint members of the Student Government Association. They are the members of a secret appointments committee, charged with the important task of choosing which students are admitted to the SGA’s representative council and committees.

The members of this committee are not its only secret—its purpose is also shrouded in mystery. What little information students do have comes from an e-mail that Barnard students received on Sept. 27, 2007 from the SGA encouraging applicants. But most of the students do not know about this committee, and no information about it is offered on the SGA’s Web site.

“I had no idea that committee existed until I got the e-mail, and I still don’t understand exactly what it does,” Kathleen Kelliher, BC ’11, said.

According to the e-mail sent to students, there is a strict procedure that the committee follows. When a student sends in an application to join one of SGA’s four subcommittees, it is reviewed by each member of this secret committee. Once every application has been reviewed individually by each member, the committee discusses as a group who should be appointed. The names of the applicants are blocked throughout this process to prevent any biased voting. On Monday evenings, the representative council, which is composed of the Executive Board and other voting positions, reviews the choices made by the appointments committee.

“The decisions made by the appointments committee are respected and tend to go through,” said SGA Vice President Sarah Besnoff.
Students who are apprehensive about running in elections also have the chance to become part of SGA by sending in applications to the appointments committee.

“We’re trying to increase our outreach to the students and make them feel more comfortable about the process,” said a current member of the secret appointments committee, whose name could not be disclosed.

In past years, the committee gave students who were involved in many clubs the chance to join SGA without having to dedicate much of their time. Members generally only meet when applications need to be reviewed. This year, the committee will take on responsibilities that require a greater time commitment. Besides meeting to review applications, members will plan new ways to get students involved in SGA.

“We want to provide many opportunities to students to feel connected to the club, because all Barnard students are part of SGA,” Besnoff said.

The reporter of this article can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.