Today and tomorrow, students will have the opportunity to log on to MyCourses and elect representatives to the Undergraduate Council of Students and the Undergraduate Finance Board. We encourage students to support Diane Mokoro '11 for UCS president.
Mokoro has spent the last year serving as UCS vice president, giving her experience that will allow her to be effective in the top position on the council. Brown is facing major challenges and undergoing substantial growth, and UCS needs a president who can communicate with the administration and convey students' views amidst ongoing changes. Mokoro has clearly demonstrated her strong commitment to student-administration dialogue. She played a major role in arranging President Ruth Simmons' recent State of Brown address and establishing a student group to advise the Organizational Review Committee.
We believe that Mokoro has struck the right balance between emphasizing smaller, day-to-day improvements in students' lives and remaining mindful of broader issues about Brown as an institution. Mokoro said she thought that the greatest challenge most students face is in finding sources of good academic advice. Her concern with advising shows that she is very much in touch with students' experiences. She also said she hopes to empower other UCS members to take on a wide variety of projects next year.
Mokoro's opponent Arthur Matuszewski '11, former editor-in-chief of Post- magazine brings a great deal of passion for Brown and knowledge of Brown's institutional history. But we worry that his agenda is ambiguous and that he is insufficiently focused on implementing substantive changes that will directly benefit students.
Farber '12 for UCS vice president
Of the three vice-presidential candidates, Ben Farber '12 strikes us as the one most likely to get positive things done. He spent this past year as chair of the UCS campus life committee and has a solid track record of accomplishments to show for it. Anyone who has used the new omelet line in the Sharpe Refrectory or gone to continental breakfast at the Verney Wooley Dining Hall has benefited from Farber's hard work. We especially liked that Farber said he planned to help other UCS members working on projects get in touch with relevant administrators. If Farber can play this facilitating role next year as UCS vice president, he will do the council and the student body a great service.
Evan Holownia '11 emphasized transparency and communication with students, but he seems overly concerned with the council's internal procedure. Reed Frye '11 has some worthwhile ideas, but we are wary of the fact that he has no prior UCS experience.
We encourage all students to participate in the election, and believe that Mokoro and Farber are the best choices to lead next year's council.
Editorials are written by The Herald's editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
