Editorial: A call for class leadership

On Sunday evening, the Editorial Board interviewed the two candidates for this position: Aditya Panda, the incumbent president, and Phoebe Jin, the current class secretary. And from either candidate, the Class of 2010 will likely see similar events and initiatives, including pub nights, movie nights, senior prom and interclass competitions. The board feels that Panda approaches the presidency with the vision, confidence and competency that gives him a slight edge over Jin.

This similarity between the candidates extends to the principle domain of class government: planning large, memorable events that bring hundreds of students together. Jin, in particular, has emphasized her desire to host big events, like a senior concert or barbecue. But she herself has not proposed such events during her tenure as secretary, though she had the opportunity to do so. Admittedly, Panda has spent more of his campaign time on other ideas, but he acknowledged to the board the important role that big events would play in his presidency as well. Essentially, there will be signature events for seniors under either Panda’s or Jin’s leadership.

Community service-oriented events — a staple of the 2010 government’s initiatives in the past — are another area in which the board ultimately sees little difference between the candidates. Panda has emphasized service events as one of the best ways for class members to both bond and give back, as demonstrated by the recent Taco Bell study break in which Panda teamed up with Ignite — a program that sends encouraging letters to children in under-achieving school. Panda claims this is one of the key philosophies that sets him apart from his opponent. And though Jin sees class unity as best facilitated through big events, she too thinks community service events have a place in her event lineup and committed to undertaking them.

But while their visions are similar — promoting big events, class unity and service — Panda’s is clearer. Panda appears to have more concrete plans for his presidency and is better able to articulate how these will be accomplished. For example, Panda has given thoughtful consideration to how to conduct the selection of the class speaker, one of the most important tasks his government would undertake. He favors a larger selection committee, soliciting nominations from the class and continued communication with the senior class on the committee’s progress. Jin claims she is also in favor of transparency but did not have her own ideas for this process, nor did she understand her opponent’s proposal.

Regardless of who wins, it is important that the officers of the Class of 2010 take a new approach to executing their duties during senior year. The group as a whole appears to have fallen into a pattern of wheeling out many of the same events. In order to execute the kind of agenda befitting senior year, the officers need to collaborate to generate ideas, seek student input and set and carry out priorities. While the board recommends Panda, whoever assumes leadership of the Class of 2010 must be ready to step up to this challenge.