So, 44 comments. The funny part is they have all come from 6 IP addresses. Nice Work

If I am really David Husband, then you, Batthew are obviously the real Matt Beato. But you’re not him and I’m not David, nor am I Douglass or anyone else running for office. I just hate people like you. You’re most likely Walter McClean or Zach Pilchen. Beato actually has a good head on his shoulders. I stand by what I said about your real world avatar, since this petulant brat you use online is most likely your true form.

Well put Malter. I agree. I too will retire from this increasingly foolish forum.

It’s been fun gents, but this is just dumb. I’m not in the SA, and when we descend into bickering over pronouns we all need to take a breath.

Bye bye.

Dearest Batthew,

I am not an SA insider.

I have never held an SA position. However, after my organization got a big reduction in funding at the beginning of last year, I started to take an interest.

“If we just give everyone all the money they want for whatever we want everything will be perfect, just like the real world, right?” Of course not. We can’t give everyone everything they want. But the SA can and should give clubs a broader range of choices when applying for funds. When the Finance Code (which gets updated, so I understand I don’t have a super current version) prevents or discourages clubs from applying for some of the most common expenses, something is wrong. Clubs don’t want lots and lots of money. They just need some basic bills paid. They don’t need the bureaucracy of special events funding, they just want to run their organizations and plan in advance a little.

Oh, and I’d hope that we could rise a little above random, meaningless insults. Got an issue with a candidate? Well, talk policy with them.

Honestly? Who are you? If you’re going to call me out on something, have the decency to actually post your name. If you think I’m a tool/annoying/self-righteous and ignorant, so be it. But don’t be a tool yourself and hide behind your computer screen.

That movie kinda sucked.

Batthew Meato: Blowing up bridges, avoiding solutions. heh.

To all you bickering children,

I’m very disappointed in all of you.

This is why I love the Flat Hat. Even with this new website, they seldom delete comments. Meanwhile, the poster “Dichael Mouglass” wins the prize for the most creative and offensive spoonerism yet.

The student assembly’s childish antics can only be afforded so much tolerance. Simply declaring the SA’s continued irrelevance doesn’t achieve anything. Where do we draw the line? Will we draw it in the sand, with tickets to Harold & Kumar?

Let me make one more point: Hypocrisy. That word gets thrown around a lot, and maybe it’s lost some meaning. But I know one place where it really applies. Student Assembly Finances. It is shameful that the student assembly turns on the funding spigots for its own events, and then denies clubs funding for the exact same endeavors. The SA doesn’t give clubs money for gasoline, because it “isn’t critical”. But SA events are reimbursed for trips to Richmond with no debate. The SA doesn’t give clubs money for food. But SA events are reimbursed for uneaten food without a second thought.

And by the way, quoting the SA Code? Hmmm, that seems like a good way to understand how the Student Assembly should opperate!

You know, Dike Mouglass brings up a lot of good points. (Do you mind if I call you Dike??)

I personally am afraid of eternal damnation and have accepted the Dike as my personal Lord and Savior. Without his guidance I don’t feel like I would be able to adequately turn in students for drinking, or be a gigantic tool. Each day I pray to Dichael, asking him to give me the strength to be so self-righteously indignant to everyone I know, in an effort to prove that I really am the asshole people think I am.

Fear the Dike, for he shall smite you! And a vote against him is a vote against God…

Oh and vote for Horacio too…because surely he knows what he’s talking about?? [Not]

You know, I would have to agree with David cough I mean Demosthenes.

Unless people elect me and Horacio, terrible, awfull things will happen. Let me elaborate:

For one, we won’t be right with God. Fireballs will rain from the heavens and every first born child at W&M will be killed. Only by my parting of the Crim Dell will we be brought into salvation.

Secondly, I enjoy quoting ignorant fools (such as Alex Ely) on the internet, and if you don’t vote fore me, I can only guarantee my bitching at flat Hat reporters and threatening to turn them in for alcohol violations.

Basically, I am against bureaucracy, and though I may not have any concrete solutions proposed to fix it, I will continue to pander to as many student groups as possible in order to get elected and expand my ego.

Vote Horacio/Douglass ’09!!

Dear ‘Still Underwhelmed,’

Since when has SA Policy mattered to the SA? The level of hypocrisy present in the SA compared to their purported, tight-ass policy wonking and self-styled eponymous moral rectitude makes me want to vomit every time I sit through one of their sessions.

SA Finance Code §3.3-5.7. Sec 2.4 “In general, food or beverages shall not be funded, with certain exceptions,” with those exceptions being “1. Food or beverages for a visiting lecturer or entertainer shall be funded, 2. Food or beverage that is integral to a cultural activity shall be funded, 3. Food or beverage which is part of an approved banquet may be funded, 4. Food or beverage up to $20 for a single yearly organizational interest meeting”

Then take a look at: SB 316-067 “Having Good Elections Act,” SB 316-044 “Elections Day Act”, and SB 316-036 “Timely Repayment Act”— all of which have payments for food as one of the central clauses of the acts; the latter two were actually passed post facto (or nearly so) in order repay the SA sponsors who purchased the food (or $1000 for stickers) for the events, on their own dime. None of these events qualify, according to common sense, for any of the exceptions above.

Oooh, how about §3.3-5.7. Sec 2.3 and the SA’s Internship program? I respect all these interns and the program itself, just like I actually agree with the purchasing of the food in the aforementioned bills… but that’s not what the rules state. Democracy, at any level, requires its actors to follow the rules, or change them. If, as is the case in the SA, Senators skirt the rules, we end up with a cesspool of corruption *cough*street-justice*cough*.

‘Still Underwhelmed’... with people like the current Senate Chair in charge, SA policy is a matter of quid pro quo, that needs to change. To quote a recent Alex Ely article, “This is the same SA that holds meetings that sometimes turn into shouting matches more reminiscent of kindergarteners fighting over the yellow magic marker than elected representatives debating how best to help the College. One of the more memorable stories of SA idiocy took place in the spring of 2006, when senators threatened to sue one another over petty matters of protocol.” It was a problem then, a problem now, and with the nepotism that goes on, will most likely continue, unless people who don’t “know about SA Policy wink wink“ get elected.

I believe in Bryan Bruzic.

Batthew Meato makes a lot of good points. As someone with a lot of good points myself, I’d like to add two.

First, if I as an “anonymous” member of the SA find out who leaked the candidate list I will honor council them so hard they’ll be coughing up bylaws for a week.

Second, if the Flat Hat had taken the 30 second phone call/email necessary to contact the three “candidates” they might have been able to write a far more informational aka “factually accurate” article.

As this is apparently a confusing concept for them, I’ve attached a link for their edification. You’re welcome Flat Hat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism

All of the posts thus far are ridiculous. It’s fairly obvious that no one knows what the hell they’re talking about. (It’s also fairly obvious that I am neither Matt Beato nor Batthew Meato.)

Ryan Ruzic put his name in for fun.
Horacio/Douglass are tools.
Devin Curry put his name in just to piss off Michael Douglass because Michael Douglass is a tool.

It’s fairly obvious someone more qualified from the Senate will throw their hat in the ring before campaigning starts. They will most likely be a tool as well, but infinitely better than Horacio/Douglass any day.

Horacio’s popularity means nothing. What does he know about current SA policy? With the nature of running a College student assembly always in a flux due to the (necessary) annual elections, SOME continuity is necessary from year to year to keep good policies that are still in development (like the co-ed sexual assault program) on the table.

Also, Horacio is annoying.

The poster(s) below are not, in fact, Devin Sanchez Curry. This is the only comment by me on this board. I have never (and will never) used the phrase “k thanks”.

While I do appreciate supporters posting comments, please remember that campaigning does not start until Monday March 16. If you support me, please send me an email rather than posting it publicly online. K? Thanx.

First of all, I am very disappointed in whosoever violated the Honor Code by providing this private document to the Flat Hat. Although I disagree with the Elections Code (students should be able to discuss the election, sooner and in an open environment) and its current Commissioner (who I believe is a frequent leak to the FH), they are the rules and ruler of this particular politicized land, and we must abide by them until they are amended or disassembled.

Secondly, I offer my warmest of congratulations to all the Presidential candidates (those who are listed, as well as those who are not). I shall watch you closely and I hope my fellow Tribesmen will do the same. Although the SA and it’s President have long been reviled as snotty and officious pre-law students who “play government” because of their lack of real human connections, the fact of the matter is that they control our money, over $500,000 of it, which they can use however they see fit. This money has been used and abused for limosines, stickers, reimbursing SA members for failed events, AEDs (which the Admin should have paid for), Recycling Bins (which the admin should have also paid for), and if things don’t change, $20,000 will be spent to buy a second trash can for every dorm room, because of the “the Stop the Abuse of Dorm-Room Recycling Bins Act.”

The Student Assembly used to be responsible for securing Presidential Debates and hosting the G7, now they sqwabble over how to edit a letter of complaint to the BOV (which Michael Powell thought was a hoax any ways).

Fellow Students, I implore you— make sure we elect a leadership the will represent our “celestial magnificence.” Make sure we have a Student Assembly that we can be proud of, rather than reviled.

Devin Sanchez Curry is also an herbal man, if you get my drift.

Devin Sanchez Curry is the best breath of fresh air! He is a very well known sophomore with the connections needed to effectively run a student government. He also MAY have Sarah Rojas as his running mate. Vote for him!

I completely agree with “Student”. There is no reason why we should be forced to suffer through the same, endless farce that is every SA election. Every year, Student Assembly insiders step outside their little world for nine days of campaigning and promise to “clean up the system” or “remove bureaucracy”. And then, once they get reelected or elevated to another position, they return to their usual, petty power-plays.

We need someone with a real vision and a strong, clear voice to hammer some good solutions to the real problems we have on campus.

“It makes me nervous that, as someone who follows the SA fairly closely, I have NO idea who any of these people are.”

I actually like that I’ve never heard of any of them. Nothing against the better-known potential candidates others have mentioned here, but the SA has such a ridiculous and narcissistic culture, the self-perpetuation of hoisting one of its own from the senate to the pres position strikes me as counterproductive. All the current juniors who are SA leaders are great, no doubt, but this has been kind of an underwhelming year from the SA, no? Do we really want to just continue with the same leadership next year? If any of these SA “big names” had amazing ideas, wouldn’t we have seen them already? Again, not trying to diss them, they’re fine where they are, but do they really have anything new and/or exciting to bring to the table as president?

Ok, so obviously Pilchen’s second year as SA pres/vp didn’t, um, work out too well. But I think most people will agree his first year was a big success. And I think he, in large part, owes that to his status as an SA outsider and reformer. He had little experience and was, shall we say, a bit of an antagonist to a lot of the SA establishment. People like Rojas, etc, are neither outsiders nor reformers. I think another president who is relatively new to the SA is what we need.

That said, there is definitely some risk attached to electing a relative unknown. Electing a Rojas or Douglass would be unspectacular but it would also be safe. Electing an unknown is not as safe.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I think anyone who actually wants to be the SA pres is probably a little nuts, but let’s hope that none of these candidates is too nuts.

So why the heck isn’t Michael Douglass running? Watching the SA closely, I think that he’s electable. And he’d be a great member of the executive!

Horacio? Not popular? You need to check him out on facebook, Malter! He’s one of the most popular Juniors at this school. He’s got the kind of relationships across campus that a presidential candidate needs. But you’re right—he’s also (apparently) got a real laundry list of ideas for the school.

We’ll have to see. But I think this race is going to be fascinating.

Or ross-g for that matter, a titan? I don’t think so

Titans? Oh yes.

Ruzic is a very popular law student, who was really active at quite successful in student government at his previous college. And who’s to say that students at the College won’t look to an older, wiser voice after they had their trust violated this Fall? Meanwhile, Horacio is not a very well-liked Junior, he’s well known to be exceptionally well informed about student government, despite being an outsider to the Student Assembly.

We have a great race shaping up. And since when is Sarah a “titan”?

I also follow the SA fairly closely. Earlier in the year there were 3 names mentioned as running for SA President. They were: Sarah Rojas, Ross Gillingham, and Michael Douglass. This race was looking to be a battle of the titans. Now it is indeed underwhelming.

Well, the good news is that there’s still time for someone qualified to throw their hat into this currently REALLY uninspiring race. Seriously? Who are these people? It makes me nervous that, as someone who follows the SA fairly closely, I have NO idea who any of these people are.

Kevin Dua for 2009 SA President! Yeehaw!!

(In all seriousness, I sincerely believe that only Kevin Dua will bring the necessary skills to the job. No commies, women, or liberals are going to take that office away from me!)

Why is the Flat Hat deleting comments?

In a change of heart, the Jewish minority has been oppressed for far too long in SA Politics. Jews, represent! Zach Pilchen for SA President, and lets make Sarah Rojas his professional shopper (I mean, VP)!

Hey look, I’m Taylor Reveley! I have the ability to post anyone’s name! gasp, what a good joke!

alright meg, why don’t you do something about it?

I, for one, am extremely upset to see no women running for SA president. Did you know that the ratio of men to women in the Undergraduate Student Assembly (a body that actually exists) is 8 to 1????* Clearly the best way we can remedy this gross inequality is by electing a man to the SA presidency with a female running mate.

Also, it has come to my attention that some females in the Undergraduate Student Assembly, already an endangered species, plan to resign their positions to join a capella groups.

Women, represent!

In conclusion, Sarah Rojas for SA President. I’m actually serious about that part.

*Statistics may or may not be up to date.

If the “SA member” who provided this list is a candidate for reelection, he or she should be automatically removed from the ballot. Candidates agree on their honor to preserve the confidentiality of this list; Honor Code violators shouldn’t be leading the student body.

“Don Quixote”‘s “news coup” is more like honor porn.

I think no matter who came forward with this information it is irresponsible of this dignified news organization to make this list public. Not only is it premature, candidates can switch which offices they are running for up until 11 PM on March 16th (http://sa.wm.edu/elections/Spring_09_SA_Elections_Calendar.pdf), but it is made very clear by the Elections Commission that this list is confidential. In the past there have been many students running for office who worked for campus publications but the list was never made public.

Why would you ever decide to do so now?

Well that’s just great. The people that we’re supposed to elect and trust with tons of money and with the future of our classes and one of them goes and sneaks behind the backs of their Elections Committee and the other people just to get a story out. Just turn yourself in, you’re a pathetic person who doesn’t deserve a position.