The three seniors were chosen from a pool of 21 candidates by members of their class in an online primary election. The election started on Feb. 29 and ended last Thursday at 11:59 p.m.
University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt ’96 said in an e-mail that 572 of about 1,175 seniors voted in an election she described as “incident free.”
A senior needs 50 signatures from members of his class to enter the race for YAT. During the election, candidates are not allowed to campaign with posters, e-mails or other forms of mass communication aimed at soliciting votes. They are also not permitted to give their opinions on any issues that may come before the University Board of Trustees in the future.
Alumni from the classes of 2006 and 2007 and undergraduates from the classes of 2008 and 2009 will vote in a general election beginning April 23 and ending May 21. The results will be formally announced during Reunions on May 31.
The chosen YAT will serve a four-year term beginning on July 1, 2008 and will participate as a full voting member of the Board of Trustees. YATs attend five meetings a year for the four years after their graduation, plus additional meetings that may be required if they join any of the Board’s 10 committees.
The position provides the Board of Trustees with the perspective of a recent graduate who is more familiar with student concerns than older alumni.
All three candidates said they wanted to be a YAT to give back to the University.
Biederman, an economics major and former USG president, said he was “thrilled to be in the run-off,” adding that he feels his experience as USG president would help him be “an effective representative.”
“I spent a significant amount of my time in college thinking about the sorts of issues trustees are supposed to ponder,” Biederman said.
Gittlin, a politics major and the Class of 2008 president from his freshman year until his junior year, said in an e-mail that he was “psyched that the University gives us the opportunity to be an active part of the Board of Trustees.”
“I would love the chance to be able to serve — however is necessary — in this capacity,” he said.
Gittlin added that he was particularly honored to be chosen in light of the quality of his opponents. “It is a sincere honor to have made it this far considering that there were so many other amazing candidates,” Gittlin said, adding to the end of his e-mail, “Go Tigers!”
Petersack, a Wilson School major who has been the Class of 2008 secretary for four years, said in an e-mail that she “felt really lucky to be at Princeton these past four years.”
“I am honored to have made it this far in the process and wish both Grant and Rob the best of luck,” Petersack added.
The current YATs are James Williamson ’07, Brady Walkinshaw ’06 and Matt Margolin ’05. This year’s winner will replace Rishi Jaitly ’04.
Editor's note: Much of the previous discussions surrounding campaign rules for YAT races centered on how students and alumni ought to consider different qualities and qualifications of the candidates and what kind of campaign rules form the best context for that consideration. What are the qualities people should look for in a Young Alumni Trustee? Share your thoughts on this issue by commenting below or through a letter to the editor.
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