Finalists for trustee named

Seniors Azalea Kim, Matt Margolin and Antoinette Seaberry, having earned the most votes from a field of 26 candidates, will compete in a runoff election for a spot on the University Board of Trustees.

The online primary election ended March 3 with 708 senior votes. Kim, Margolin and Seaberry were informed by the Alumni Council last week that they are finalists for the position.

The general election will begin in April. Members of the classes of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 are eligible to vote.

The finalists will not be allowed to put up flyers or campaign in any way because all candidates agreed not to do so at the start of the primary election. Biographies of the three candidates will be released before the election, said Adrienne Rubin '88, associate director of class affairs at the Alumni Council, who runs the election.

The winner will become a full voting member of the Board of Trustees for four years after graduation, with the same rights and privileges as other trustees.

"The position enables the board to have a more accurate view of the implications of certain decisions," Rubin said.

Rishi Jaitly '04 was elected to the Board last year. Other current Young Alumni Trustees are P.J. Kim '01, Charles Brown '02 and Olivier Kamanda '03.

Seaberry said she entered the election to get involved with the University's decision-making process.

"We're already in the position of dealing with issues larger than just going to class," she said. "Being the Young Alumni Trustee would grant me the opportunity to give my perspective on issues that students have to deal with from day to day."

Margolin said in an email: "As USG President, I spent a year working with, under and against the administration on various policy issues — if given the opportunity, I know I can be a real voice as a Trustee. I have become familiar with the administration and have developed a desire to represent my peers from within."

Kim also said she looked forward to continuing her service to her class.

"I have had the opportunity to experience leadership in my role as president of my class for the past two years and as a member of the honor committee," she said in an email. "In an otherwise unassuming 5'2" Korean female frame, I'm proud to say I pack quite a punch."

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All three finalists are involved in student government. Kim is president of the Class of 2005, Seaberry is class vice president and Margolin was USG president last year.

"The three finalists all had the advantage of name recognition," said Xiuhui Lim '05, a U-Council member who is familiar with all of the candidates.

The Young Alumni Trustee position has existed since 1969.

"It represents a significant commitment on the part of Princeton to ensure that the decisions made at the highest level are in the best interests of the constituents of the University," Rubin said.