Author: Lilliane Ballesteros
The unfilled positions left by the resignation of last semester’s General Assembly Co-Chairs Laura Knuttunen (senior) and Jessica Simes (junior) have finally been filled. Occidental’s 2008 Mid-Year ASOC Elections ended last Friday with the announcement of a new Honor Board Juror and two GA Co-Chairs.
Shannon Hurley (sophomore) beat out Eric Martinez (junior) in a close election in which Hurley gathered 52% of the 199 votes cast while Martinez fell behind at 48%. No ballots were cast for the GA Co-Chair positions, which went to Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz (junior) and Noel Hollowell (sophomore), the only candidates to run for the two available positions.
Cosulich-Schwartz is aware of his undefeated victory, but is, nonetheless, hoping to invigorate the GA, which could not hold a stable attendance rate throughout last semester. “I decided to run for GA Co-Chair mostly because the GA is a special, and potentially very powerful, branch of student government that has been under utilized by the ASOC and the student body,” he said. “When I saw the opening and learned more about the GA and what it can do for students, I decided to give it a shot. Now that I’ve been “elected” (I ran unopposed) I see my role as GA Co-Chair as one of mediator between students, ASOC and the administration-a job that I think suits me well.”
During last semester’s ASOC meetings, senators discussed ways to improve the GA, one senator suggesting to reduce the number of meetings required per semester. Cosulich-Schwartz explained in an e-mail to the Weekly that he is working with Hollowell to make changes. “One big change we are considering is reducing the number of meetings per semester. This would give us time to organize more poignant and relevant meetings instead of bringing in last minute presentations to fill time, which has happened in the past,” he said. “We are also focused on finding ways to further educate the student body on how exactly the GA works, and it’s potential for effecting student-driven change on campus.”
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