by Myles Goldman
The student Association held its first meeting Monday night, focused on its plans for the year ahead.
Student Association President Ashwin Narla told SA Senators that the three issues he and Vice President Abby Bergren decided to focus on this year were Student Space, student wellness, and working with the External Relations Department to create an online calendar where student organizations would be able to publicize their events. Narla told Senators he would continue the work of his predecessors and work to reduce student fees.
One of Narla's major solutions to the student space issue that was heavily discussed in last year's SA election, is to work with Administrators to grant 24-hour access to more academic buildings on campus.
Other priorities of the new SA Executive Leadership team of Narla and Bergren include securing free HIV testing for students and expanding the Lerner Health and Wellness' hours.
Later in the meeting, the last two positions of Narla’s cabinet were filled when last year’s SA Presidential runner-up John Bennett was confirmed by Senators for VP of Financial Affairs and Larisa Ozeryansky was confirmed as VP of Graduate Student Affairs. Narla last spring had originally nominated candidates for both these positions and both those candidates were not confirmed.
"I took your advice and went back and found a Graduate Student," Narla sai, referring to his nomination of Ozeryansky.
With Student Organization Financial allocations happening in a few weeks, SA Finance Chair Alex Mizenko wanted all student organizations to know that with 50 additional groups asking for money this year and the amount of money raised from the student Association Fee stagnant, the SA has less money to give to organizations. He also said that based on Student Association by-laws, the SA can only give up to 85% of the money they have. Mizenko did reassure students that he intends to go right up to this cap.
"Students paid into the [Student Association] fee this year and the money therefore should be used this year," Mizenko said after the meeting.
The SA’s Student Organization Allocations meeting will be on Monday, October 1st. The next General Body SA Senate Meeting will be on Monday, September 24th.
This is the Old WRGW District Radio News website. As of January 13th, 2014 all of the latest GW and local DC news can be found on our brand new website at: www.wrgwnews.com!
Showing posts with label John Bennett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Bennett. Show all posts
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Narla Wins Presidential Election in Run Off
For the second consecutive year the race for Student Association President came down to a runoff between two candidates.The cheering sections for candidates John Bennett and Ashwin Narla enthusiastically chanted their candidates' name back-and-forth at each other across Funger Hall lecture room 103 minutes before the results were announced.
After 45 minutes of waiting, Joint Elections Committee Chair Phil Gardner announced the results. Ashwin Narla will be the next and 37th Student Association President at The George Washington University.
Narla won the race 53 percent to SA Finance Chair Bennett's 47 percent in a runoff election that broke a University record for voter participation with 4,385 students voting. The election took place online between Wednesday at 9 a.m. to Thursday at 9 p.m.
Narla appeared stunned and a little emotional as supporters rallied around him, hugged him, and chanted his name as soon as the results were announced.
"I'm just really overwhelmed. It feels great," Narla told WRGW. "I had great grassroots support. If I didn't have friends I wouldn't be here," he said.
John Bennett appeared disappointed but gracious in the aftermath of the results. Narla and him walked towards each other following the announcement and met at the center of the room shaking hands and trading a few words before returning to their supporters. Bennet told WRGW in a live interview following the results how much he appreciated all of his supporters.
"I just feel lousy that I wasn't able to follow-through for them," Bennett commented. "I kind of feel guilty I don't have something a little more concrete to share with them," he said.
Narla will be succeeding junior John Richardson as SA President. Richardson was elected to be a governor on the Marvin Center Governing Board in last week's regularly scheduled elections. Narla will also be the third consecutive SA President from the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He follows in the footsteps of Jason Lifton last year and Richardson this year.
Narla won a race that originally had five candidates. In last weeks regularly scheduled race, Narla received 34% of the vote compared to Bennett's 36%. However, in order to avoid the runoff one of the candidates needed to receive at least 40% of the vote.
Narla will immediately begin meeting with administrators in the days and weeks ahead along with Executive Vice President-Elect Abby Bergren who won last week. They said they're ready to get started on student issues ranging from student space to campus safety.
"I'm not going to be resting too much because there is still a lot of work to be done," Narla said.
After 45 minutes of waiting, Joint Elections Committee Chair Phil Gardner announced the results. Ashwin Narla will be the next and 37th Student Association President at The George Washington University.
Narla won the race 53 percent to SA Finance Chair Bennett's 47 percent in a runoff election that broke a University record for voter participation with 4,385 students voting. The election took place online between Wednesday at 9 a.m. to Thursday at 9 p.m.
Narla appeared stunned and a little emotional as supporters rallied around him, hugged him, and chanted his name as soon as the results were announced.
"I'm just really overwhelmed. It feels great," Narla told WRGW. "I had great grassroots support. If I didn't have friends I wouldn't be here," he said.
John Bennett appeared disappointed but gracious in the aftermath of the results. Narla and him walked towards each other following the announcement and met at the center of the room shaking hands and trading a few words before returning to their supporters. Bennet told WRGW in a live interview following the results how much he appreciated all of his supporters.
"I just feel lousy that I wasn't able to follow-through for them," Bennett commented. "I kind of feel guilty I don't have something a little more concrete to share with them," he said.
Narla will be succeeding junior John Richardson as SA President. Richardson was elected to be a governor on the Marvin Center Governing Board in last week's regularly scheduled elections. Narla will also be the third consecutive SA President from the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He follows in the footsteps of Jason Lifton last year and Richardson this year.
Narla won a race that originally had five candidates. In last weeks regularly scheduled race, Narla received 34% of the vote compared to Bennett's 36%. However, in order to avoid the runoff one of the candidates needed to receive at least 40% of the vote.
Narla will immediately begin meeting with administrators in the days and weeks ahead along with Executive Vice President-Elect Abby Bergren who won last week. They said they're ready to get started on student issues ranging from student space to campus safety.
"I'm not going to be resting too much because there is still a lot of work to be done," Narla said.
Friday, March 2, 2012
SA Runoff Election Interviews
Ashwin Narla Interview
John Bennett Interview
Audio of the Announcement of the Presidential Winner and Reaction from the Crowd
Interview with Markus Batchelor
John Bennett Interview
Audio of the Announcement of the Presidential Winner and Reaction from the Crowd
Interview with Markus Batchelor
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
SA Runoff Voting Open, Candidates to Appear on WRGW
Students can vote for SA President in a runoff between John Bennett and Ashwin Narla today and Thursday.
The two remaining candidates face off after finishing first and second in the general election race for president separated by just 130 votes. Bennett received 1,748 votes (36%), Narla 1,618 (34%), neither crossing the 40% benchmark for locking up the nomination. Bennett and Narla also spent the most money of the five presidential candidates on their campaigns: $975 and $920, respectively, according to the candidates.
Both candidates are juniors.
Bennett comes from the SA, serving most recently as chair of the senate finance committee responsible for doling out funds to student organizations. Narla has not worked in the SA. He served on Colonial Cabinet, led an Alternative Breaks trip to New Orleans and worked for GW University Hallmark Events as a summer assistant.
Tune into the WRGW News at 6 tonight to hear from Narla and Bennett at www.gwradio.com and check back for our live election results coverage Thursday at 9 pm.
The two remaining candidates face off after finishing first and second in the general election race for president separated by just 130 votes. Bennett received 1,748 votes (36%), Narla 1,618 (34%), neither crossing the 40% benchmark for locking up the nomination. Bennett and Narla also spent the most money of the five presidential candidates on their campaigns: $975 and $920, respectively, according to the candidates.
Both candidates are juniors.
Bennett comes from the SA, serving most recently as chair of the senate finance committee responsible for doling out funds to student organizations. Narla has not worked in the SA. He served on Colonial Cabinet, led an Alternative Breaks trip to New Orleans and worked for GW University Hallmark Events as a summer assistant.
Tune into the WRGW News at 6 tonight to hear from Narla and Bennett at www.gwradio.com and check back for our live election results coverage Thursday at 9 pm.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Bergren Next EVP, President To Be Decided By Runoff
Hundreds gathered in SMPA basement lecture hall tonight to hear the results of the 2012 Student Association Election. With 45 percent of the vote, junior Abby Bergren will be the next executive vice president. The next president will be decided by a runoff vote between juniors Ashwin Narla and John Bennett.
Joint Elections Committee Chair Phil Gardner took the podium at 9:50 p.m. to announce the winners of the general election. After a few moments of thank yous to all those who participated, Gardner announced the winners to the impatient crowd (full list below).
Executive Vice President-elect Bergren's camp met her with hugs and kisses after her victory was announced. Bergren said she's looking forward to starting the job tomorrow in a post-victory interview with WRGW News.
Only 130 votes separated presidential candidates Bennett (1748) and Narla (1618). The two have a long week ahead of them which will culminate in a runoff election scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 1.
JEC Chair Gardner announced that the 2012 election had the highest voter turnout in recent history with 4,806 students casting ballots. Gardner also announced that a new initiative, which bans smoking within 25 feet of building entrances, passed with 67% supporting the plan.
This year's results venue--a small, tucked away lecture hall in the basement of the SMPA building--was the object of scrutiny by those who attended the event. The poorly ventilated room heated up as hundreds of warm bodies packed together. The subterranean "dead zone"proved to be a texter's, tweeter's and radio broadcaster's worst nightmare.
Stay tuned for audio including reactions from Executive Vice President-Elect Bergren, Narla, and Bennett. WRGW also interviewed Student Association President John Richardson regarding the next steps he will take in order to ensure a smooth transition into the next administration.
Full winners list:
Joint Elections Committee Chair Phil Gardner took the podium at 9:50 p.m. to announce the winners of the general election. After a few moments of thank yous to all those who participated, Gardner announced the winners to the impatient crowd (full list below).
Executive Vice President-elect Bergren's camp met her with hugs and kisses after her victory was announced. Bergren said she's looking forward to starting the job tomorrow in a post-victory interview with WRGW News.
Only 130 votes separated presidential candidates Bennett (1748) and Narla (1618). The two have a long week ahead of them which will culminate in a runoff election scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 1.
JEC Chair Gardner announced that the 2012 election had the highest voter turnout in recent history with 4,806 students casting ballots. Gardner also announced that a new initiative, which bans smoking within 25 feet of building entrances, passed with 67% supporting the plan.
This year's results venue--a small, tucked away lecture hall in the basement of the SMPA building--was the object of scrutiny by those who attended the event. The poorly ventilated room heated up as hundreds of warm bodies packed together. The subterranean "dead zone"proved to be a texter's, tweeter's and radio broadcaster's worst nightmare.
Stay tuned for audio including reactions from Executive Vice President-Elect Bergren, Narla, and Bennett. WRGW also interviewed Student Association President John Richardson regarding the next steps he will take in order to ensure a smooth transition into the next administration.
Full winners list:
Marvin Center Governing Board Graduate Governor: Gary Wong
Marvin Center Governing Board Undergraduate Governors: John Richardson, Jordan Hill, Ian Ceccarelli, Galen Petruso
SEAS Undergraduate Senator: Neil Forquer
School of Business Graduate Senators: Greg Viola, Shashwat Gautam
School of Business Undergraduate Senators: Evan Kline and Ryan Counihan
Elliott School Graduate Senator: Jonathan Kirk
Elliott School Undergraduate Senators: Alicia Rose, Michael Morgan, Ross Rattanasena
CCAS Undergraduate Senators: Markus Batchelor, Daniel Egel-Weiss, Ian Shetron, Omeed Firouzi, Nick Gumas, Anthony Bucci III
Undergraduate Senators at Large: Elizabeth Kennedy, Hugo Scheckter
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Candidates Discuss Hot-Button Issues at SA Student Media Debate
The eight candidates for the top two Student Association posts debated last night in the 5th annual Student Media Debate. Five candidates for President and three for EVP discussed their platforms and qualifications in front of a crowd of supporters, student media members, current SA leaders and administrators.
Two separate debates were held in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom starting with the Executive Vice President Debate. The three candidates on stage in the EVP debate were Abby Bergren, Austin Brewster and Ben Leighton. The three candidates spent the half-hour debate fielding questions from a panel of three student Media journalists: WRGW News Director Joseph Rabinowitz, The Hatchet's Sarah Ferris, and GWTV's Eugenia Finizio with Hatchet Editor-in-Chief Lauren French moderating. The questions ranged on issues about how the candidates would use their role as leader of the Senate to foster cohesiveness in the governing body, to how the candidates would work with administrators on student space issues and the Gelman Library renovations.
In regards to the issue of reforming the senate and improving its cohesiveness, Bergren suggested that she would hold workshops that taught senators how to propose stronger senate bills, while Brewster suggested that the senate needed to do a better job of effectively communicating with the student body as a whole. Leighton responded to the question by explaining that his first priority as EVP would be to meet one-on-one with individual Senators and understand how their goals could be fit into the overall agenda of the Senate.
When discussing the renovations to Gelman Library, Leighton discussed wanting to expand student space on the third floor and changing the furniture in the library. Brewster commented that his focus on the Gelman renovation's would be geared toward using extra space to house the tutoring initiative all in one location. Bergren said that her biggest concern was that with the renovations going on, students would not have enough space to study and collaborate. Her solution is to work with the individual schools to make sure larger areas were open to students at longer hours of the day.
Brewster was specifically questioned at one point in the debate about how he could be held accountable since his platform doesn't contain any measurable goals. Brewster responded that his solution to this is to make himself as accessible as possible.
The Presidential candidates took the stage next. All of the candidates were wearing suits and ties except for Ben Pincus, who sported a purple plaid shirt. Jeremy Iloulian immediately took a subtle dig at John Bennett by acknowledging all of his opponents except the former SA Finance Chair.
The candidates began by explaining how their backgrounds prepared them to be President of the SA. Iloulian claimed he was the only candidate on stage with the experience of running a large student organization as the chair of the International Affairs Society. Will Thompson centered his opening remarks on his three platform issues: lowering textbook expenses, student safety and the career center. John Bennett spoke about how his experience as an SA Senator the past two years, including this year as an Undergraduate at-large Senator, "gave him an edge" over his opponents and a better understanding of how the SA works.
Pincus discussed the need for more transparency in the SA, a common argument in many of his answers. Pincus said he believes the SA does not currently have an effect on the lives of everyday students and that more transparency is the only solution. He talked about the need for a list-serve which he would use to communicate with the leaders of student organizations.
Ashwin Narla also spent a large part of the evening discussing how fostering relationships with students through community outreach was the key to solving issues like student space. He said there need to be both short and long-term goals in regards to the student space issue.
Thompson, and Bennett are both focusing on the renovation of the 4th floor of the Marvin Center as the key to regaining student space. Meanwhile, Iloulian's solution to the student space issue is to lobby administrators. He proposed that a certain percentage of every new building erected should go towards student space.
When questioned about what they would want next year's finance chair to do, each of the candidates except Bennett had a chance to talk about their plan for how student organizations should be funded. Narla discussed how he wanted the finance chair to communicate more with student organizations, while Pincus discussed how he wanted the process to extend for a longer period of time in order to allow organizations to receive more detailed explanations for the funding they received. Iloulian wants more focus paid to how student organizations access funding once the SA has allocated for it rather than the finance process itself. Thompson would add more staff members to the Finance Committee in order to expedite the finance request process.
Bennett was then given an opportunity to respond. He discussed how he has met personally with over 80 student organization leaders this year.
"There has been unprecedented levels of communication this year," Bennett said, "As for the organizations who are unhappy about funding, all you had to do was ask."
The last half-hour of the debate featured questions from the audience. Former Presidential candidate Josh Benjamin asked each of the candidates to tell the audience how much they had spent on their campaigns. Thompson spent $830, Bennett spent $975, Iloulian spent $800, Narla spent $920 and Pincus says he spent $56.25, further highlighting his outsider credentials.
The candidates became a bit less cordial to each other in the closing statements. Narla mentioned that he would work to improve student financing. He claimed that the Black Student Union did not receive the funding they needed to put on one of their events, and under his watch this wouldn't happen. Bennett maintained a look of surprise and bewilderment throughout the attacks.
Thompson, whose closing statement came after Bennett's, delivered the biggest attack line of the night.
"The only thing the finance chair has prepared you to do, John, is be finance chair," Thompson said in a slightly unsteady voice, splitting his gaze between Bennett and the audience.
Bennett was then given an opportunity to respond. He said that based on Thompson's logic, John Richardson, the current SA President, would have only been prepared to be an outsider when he ran as a candidate from outside the student Association.
Voting began today and continues tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. online. Students can vote at the JEC's website.
More information about all the candidates running for SA positions can be found at http://www.chooseyourgw.com.
Two separate debates were held in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom starting with the Executive Vice President Debate. The three candidates on stage in the EVP debate were Abby Bergren, Austin Brewster and Ben Leighton. The three candidates spent the half-hour debate fielding questions from a panel of three student Media journalists: WRGW News Director Joseph Rabinowitz, The Hatchet's Sarah Ferris, and GWTV's Eugenia Finizio with Hatchet Editor-in-Chief Lauren French moderating. The questions ranged on issues about how the candidates would use their role as leader of the Senate to foster cohesiveness in the governing body, to how the candidates would work with administrators on student space issues and the Gelman Library renovations.
In regards to the issue of reforming the senate and improving its cohesiveness, Bergren suggested that she would hold workshops that taught senators how to propose stronger senate bills, while Brewster suggested that the senate needed to do a better job of effectively communicating with the student body as a whole. Leighton responded to the question by explaining that his first priority as EVP would be to meet one-on-one with individual Senators and understand how their goals could be fit into the overall agenda of the Senate.
When discussing the renovations to Gelman Library, Leighton discussed wanting to expand student space on the third floor and changing the furniture in the library. Brewster commented that his focus on the Gelman renovation's would be geared toward using extra space to house the tutoring initiative all in one location. Bergren said that her biggest concern was that with the renovations going on, students would not have enough space to study and collaborate. Her solution is to work with the individual schools to make sure larger areas were open to students at longer hours of the day.
Brewster was specifically questioned at one point in the debate about how he could be held accountable since his platform doesn't contain any measurable goals. Brewster responded that his solution to this is to make himself as accessible as possible.
The Presidential candidates took the stage next. All of the candidates were wearing suits and ties except for Ben Pincus, who sported a purple plaid shirt. Jeremy Iloulian immediately took a subtle dig at John Bennett by acknowledging all of his opponents except the former SA Finance Chair.
The candidates began by explaining how their backgrounds prepared them to be President of the SA. Iloulian claimed he was the only candidate on stage with the experience of running a large student organization as the chair of the International Affairs Society. Will Thompson centered his opening remarks on his three platform issues: lowering textbook expenses, student safety and the career center. John Bennett spoke about how his experience as an SA Senator the past two years, including this year as an Undergraduate at-large Senator, "gave him an edge" over his opponents and a better understanding of how the SA works.
Pincus discussed the need for more transparency in the SA, a common argument in many of his answers. Pincus said he believes the SA does not currently have an effect on the lives of everyday students and that more transparency is the only solution. He talked about the need for a list-serve which he would use to communicate with the leaders of student organizations.
Ashwin Narla also spent a large part of the evening discussing how fostering relationships with students through community outreach was the key to solving issues like student space. He said there need to be both short and long-term goals in regards to the student space issue.
Thompson, and Bennett are both focusing on the renovation of the 4th floor of the Marvin Center as the key to regaining student space. Meanwhile, Iloulian's solution to the student space issue is to lobby administrators. He proposed that a certain percentage of every new building erected should go towards student space.
When questioned about what they would want next year's finance chair to do, each of the candidates except Bennett had a chance to talk about their plan for how student organizations should be funded. Narla discussed how he wanted the finance chair to communicate more with student organizations, while Pincus discussed how he wanted the process to extend for a longer period of time in order to allow organizations to receive more detailed explanations for the funding they received. Iloulian wants more focus paid to how student organizations access funding once the SA has allocated for it rather than the finance process itself. Thompson would add more staff members to the Finance Committee in order to expedite the finance request process.
Bennett was then given an opportunity to respond. He discussed how he has met personally with over 80 student organization leaders this year.
"There has been unprecedented levels of communication this year," Bennett said, "As for the organizations who are unhappy about funding, all you had to do was ask."
The last half-hour of the debate featured questions from the audience. Former Presidential candidate Josh Benjamin asked each of the candidates to tell the audience how much they had spent on their campaigns. Thompson spent $830, Bennett spent $975, Iloulian spent $800, Narla spent $920 and Pincus says he spent $56.25, further highlighting his outsider credentials.
The candidates became a bit less cordial to each other in the closing statements. Narla mentioned that he would work to improve student financing. He claimed that the Black Student Union did not receive the funding they needed to put on one of their events, and under his watch this wouldn't happen. Bennett maintained a look of surprise and bewilderment throughout the attacks.
Thompson, whose closing statement came after Bennett's, delivered the biggest attack line of the night.
"The only thing the finance chair has prepared you to do, John, is be finance chair," Thompson said in a slightly unsteady voice, splitting his gaze between Bennett and the audience.
Bennett was then given an opportunity to respond. He said that based on Thompson's logic, John Richardson, the current SA President, would have only been prepared to be an outsider when he ran as a candidate from outside the student Association.
Voting began today and continues tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. online. Students can vote at the JEC's website.
More information about all the candidates running for SA positions can be found at http://www.chooseyourgw.com.
2012 Student Media SA Debate
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