Sweating the small stuff

Rob Biederman '08 likes surprises and last-minute organization. Less than an hour before he sent a school-wide email promising an iPod Touch to the winner of a Dean's Date scavenger hunt, he had not yet settled on what items the winner would have to collect.

The scavenger hunt was typical of Biederman. On Easter, the USG president hid 613 plastic Easter eggs all over campus in a similar impromptu hunt and ran around dressed as a bunny.

Bunny costume aside, Biederman devoted his time in office to a broad range of issues, breaking away from the trend set by recent presidents, many of whom devoted their tenure to specific problems. His predecessor, Alex Lenahan '07, under whom Biederman served as vice president, focused on fighting the grade deflation policy. Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06, on the other hand, made encouraging student service the centerpiece of his administration's agenda.

Class of 2008 senator Aaron Souza noted that over "the past few years, USG presidents have focused pretty heavily on larger overarching overhauls." Biederman, however, has instead focused on practical campus issues that directly affect the student body.

Biederman won the race for USG president over then-junior class president Grant Gittlin '08. In an election marked by concerns about both candidates' disciplinary records, Biederman defeated Gittlin by almost 600 votes.

A "hyperactive USG"

Josh Weinstein '09, Biederman's vice president and the current USG president-elect, praised Biederman for "reminding the student body that the USG is working and is working with them in mind. Rob fulfilled this purpose and sought to improve campus life by introducing spontaneous, fun events."

Biederman admits that he had hoped to use his presidency to create a "hyperactive USG that doesn't focus on one or two issues." He said he felt that having a focused group of large goals was a luxury that the USG could not afford should it also seek to accurately reflect the needs of the student body.

U-Council Chair Sarah Langberg '09, who contested and lost this year's presidential election, explained that Biederman's leadership style was a double-edged sword. His "best decision was to be on the spot and impulsive," she said, but added that his "worst decision was to do things on the spot," as well. "Sometimes it's good to not be pragmatic and just run with it when you have the idea," Langberg explained. "Other times things need a little more careful thought and consideration. Rob worked a good balance between the two."

Weinstein added, however, that the individual spontaneous events would not define Biederman's presidency. "Rob's biggest success was not the Easter Egg Hunt, Scavenger Hunt, the significantly improved — more fun — ExCom meetings, food giveaways, USG DVD or the Yale Bulldog Pinata," Weinstein explained.

"I think Rob's biggest success is accomplishing exactly what he set out to do: making students happier by making the USG a source of fun as well as ensuring USG accountability by being directly, immediately accessible," he said.

Biederman said that he has quadrupled the number of students he has met on campus since getting elected.

"Through his strategy of making the USG more fun, he certainly increased its visibility," Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne noted.

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Biederman's efforts to make the USG more accessible did not always succeed with some students, especially those who heard nothing about it. Allison Shea '11 said "I kind of forgot that student government existed. I'm sure it's done things, but I'm not really aware of what those things are."

One of Biederman's goals coming into office was for the USG to have an unobtrusive but positive presence in students' lives. "Rob was looking for small but tangible changes in students lives," Souza said.

Laurissa Yee '09 agreed, "Even the smallest things [the USG has] done help."

In addition to last-minute surprises like free candy in Frist, Biederman had other strategies for improving campus life.

He said that another important goal was to solicit projects recommended by the student body, instead of focusing on USG-initiated pet projects.

He pushed strongly for improving Dillon Gym facilities in response to consistent complaints from undergraduates. Initial plans were to have the USG sell food directly at an informal cafe, but this responsibility was later relinquished to Dining Services.

Campus unity was another priority, Biederman said. To this effect, he founded programs like Murray-Dodge Thursdays, during which two or three campus groups host events in the Murray-Dodge Cafe, and initiated panel discussions to gauge student opinion following controversial events like the changes to the RCA alcohol policy.

Wooing Nassau Hall

Both the USG and members of the administration noted the improved relations between the student government and Nassau Hall during Biederman's tenure. "Rob had a really good working relationship with the administrators ... which was one of the huge problems that any USG faces," Souza said.

During a year that included a massive change to undergraduate life — the opening of the four-year residential colleges — the tone of the relationship could not have hurt.

"What I appreciate about him is that he served as a good bridge between the administration and students," Dunne said. "He not only brought information to me about student issues but would also bring back issues to students that we wanted to get across."

Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel agreed in an email, saying, "There has been very good communication between the USG and the administration on his watch. I think that good communication and responsible partnership are the best ingredients for the interaction between the USG and the administration."