Williams, Bermann vie for Class of 2009 presidency

Senior elections manager Braeden Kepner-Kraus ’10 said that elections will not be “hypercompetitive” this year, with 13 competing for 10 spots on the U-Council, and two candidates, Nick Antoine ’11 and Julia Jacobson ’10, running for USG Social Chair.

Though last year’s freshman class government race saw “a lot of competition … for almost all the different posts,” Kepner-Kraus said, this year most of the freshman officers will automatically retain their spots. Michael Perl is vying for Trevor Martin’s current seat as freshman class vice president. David Levit is challenging incumbent Aditya Panda for sophomore class vice president.

No other positions in class governments are under contention. Voting begins at noon on Sunday, April 27 and runs for 48 hours.

Both Bermann and Williams noted that the senior class president can oversee a wider range of activities than other class presidents.

Williams said he believes that he has a good chance. “I know that I can lead our class government in making our senior year one that we will ... remember,” he said in an e-mail.

Admitting that Bermann “has a lot of name recognition,” Williams said that “as long as I can effectively communicate the passion I will bring to the office coupled with the awesome opportunities senior year presents us, I have no doubt that I can pull this off.”

Class officers “should try to knock on each door a couple times during the year as well, just so that they can get a better sense of what’s eating at students,” Williams said.

Bermann, however, cited his experience, including in working with University bureaucracy. “With me you have a guarantee that the vision I’m going to call for, I can actually accomplish,” he said.

Among the initiatives Williams proposed were concerts, trips and service events, along with “real help with finding jobs and housing” and activities “beyond just the occasional study break.”

Bermann proposed bimonthly class pub nights with free beer and wine to “promote class unity,” monthly discounts at nearby restaurants to “improve everyday ’09 life,” more community service events, a trip to Atlantic City and tutorials on “plan[ning] for life after Princeton.”

U-Council race

Current U-Councilors Davion Chism ’09, Liz Rosen ’10, Maria Salciccioli ’09 and Brian No ’10 are running for re-election, while nine — Jacob Candelaria ’09, Mark Gray ’11, Kate Huddleston ’11, Julia Kaplan ’11, Leif Johnson ’10, Harry Schiff ’09, Craig Shindewolf ’09, Lang Wang ’11 and John Zumpetta ’11 — are vying to secure their first terms on the U-Council.

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All four incumbents said that continuing to improve the relationship between the USG and the administration is vital for achieving greater student input, with Rosen stressing the USG’s “credibility and legitimacy” and Salciccioli explaining that the goal is to “be part of the process, instead of responding to the process afterwards.” Salciccioli also blogs for The Daily Princetonian.

Both Chism and No stressed their experience as U-Council liaisons to the administration, with Chism as the liaison for the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Life and No as the liaison for Dining Services. No is also a former staff writer for the ‘Prince.’

Candelaria echoed the importance of student input, adding that he wants to create an “appeals process for fire safety violations” and a “how-to guide for student groups to manage the recognition and funding process.”

Gray, Huddleston and Kaplan all said they wanted to get involved in making changes at the University and to contribute new ideas to improving student life.

Johnson said in an e-mail that he wants to improve writing seminars and academic advising programs, encourage study and service abroad, and allow students to apply confidentially for co-ed housing.

Wang said that he thinks “the shuttle system is not extensive enough” and could be expanded.

Zumpetta said that the USG should “provide a visible impact on student life within a reasonable amount of time,” adding that one of his ideas is to install video cameras in laundry rooms so students can see which machines are free.

— Staff writer Marissa Lee contributed reporting