Freshmen battle for USG spots

Nine students are running for president — the same number that ran for president in last year’s freshman-class elections. Five vie for the vice presidency, four for treasurer and three for social chair. Kelly Roache ’12 will run uncontested for class secretary. Voting will start this Friday at noon.

The presidential candidates offer different campaign promises and a wide array of talents, from athletics and business leadership to negotiating skills.

All nine candidates want to connect with the freshman class on a personal level. The class president “should be the ears, and perhaps the mouth, but not the brain, of the Class of 2012,” said Peter Zakin ’12, a candidate for class president.

Ashton Miller ’12 plans to create his own rap song to promote his campaign for class president. He wants to have it played in the dining halls and other central locations of campus. Should he be elected, Miller promises to introduce class-wide Wii and Rock Band tournaments to raise money for charities and promote unity.

Michael Yaroshefsky ’12, who goes by “Yaro,” created his own website, yaro2012.com, complete with three videos and an outline of goals he wants to accomplish as president of the Class of 2012. “I’ve been staying up until 5 a.m. every night preparing for this election,” he said.

Christopher Harding ’12, a member of varsity crew, also wants to take on the class presidency even though his “coach is not pleased.”

Harding convinced OIT to change his netID to “pharding,” which stands for “President Harding.” Citing his changed netID, Harding added that he “can make things happen with the administration.”

“I’m a helper,” said Sam Mikell ’12, another presidential contender, explaining that he “spent the whole summer working in a homeless shelter.” Mikell would like to expand the Honor Code to punish those who steal.

“The Princeton community should be a place where we don’t have to worry about leaving our doors open and our laptops out,” he said.

Not all of the presidential hopefuls’ experiences have been pleasant on the campaign trail, though.

“Princeton has dirty politics,” Zakin said after picking a crumpled poster with his childhood photo from the trash. “How could someone throw this out? I mean, look at my face in this picture!”