Lenahan for USG President

This year's USG elections feature not two or three, but seven presidential candidates — running the gamut from USG veterans to a lone sophomore newcomer. Each person brings a unique vision to the campaign, and the campus only stands to benefit from the wealth of ideas that have come out of this year's contest.

But of all the candidates, one stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field. He has compiled a long list of accomplishments and earned the trust of his peers on the USG along the way. He has a genuine desire to effect change and the work ethic to make it happen. For all these reasons, we endorse Alex Lenahan '07 for president.

Not the most aggressive campaigner or the most charismatic leader, Lenahan is more of a listener than a talker. But his understated style should not be equated with a lack of substance. His track record as a senator is among the most impressive on the USG, and he has solid plans for tackling a range of issues as president. And he is a tireless worker who brings unmatched dedication to the job.

The coming year will be critical for determining the future of social and academic life at the University. The anti-grade inflation policy and the design and implementation of the four-year residential colleges stand out as the major issues facing campus. But the ball is already rolling on these issues, and it will be the administration that takes the lead in developing them. The next USG president must pay due attention to student concerns in these areas and be prepared to stand up to Nassau Hall. But all of the candidates have expressed commitment to doing that, so neither issue should be the distinguishing one in this campaign.

Instead, we need a president who will be relentless in pushing to improve student life on campus in concrete ways that, while smaller in scope, are no less important. This is Lenahan's strength. He led efforts to convert Campus to a student social space and is working to ensure that the resulting space will be student-run. He coauthored the report on the Survey on Race even before he became a senator. And he is talking to administrators to expand wireless service to all of Firestone.

Lenahan has shown, more than any other candidate, that he can get things done. His persistence and work ethic stem from a genuine desire to serve the student body, and if he is elected, students will certainly have a leader who will listen to them. He also has longstanding relationships with administrators that will give him the access to officials that is crucial to a successful USG presidency. And he will lead by example, as he has in the past. He has embraced even the most mundane USG duties, and has shown the conviction and ability to follow through on issues both large and small.

We are often tempted to divide candidates into those who have a "vision" for campus and those who will "get things done." But Lenahan defies this sort of classification. He is the consummate worker who has the best chance to achieve real results. But he also has a vision for a USG that reaches out to students and puts their interests first. With Lenahan at the helm, that vision has a chance at reality.