n The Daily Free Press couldn’t have been more misguided in its endorsement of Mark DiCristofaro for Student Union president (“DiCristofaro for president,” April 12, p.10). Through having the displeasure of working with him in the Union last year, I learned that no one is more obsessed with rules, procedures and politics than he is. He will not bring the Union out of the doldrums — he’ll simply run what’s left of it into the ground.
Last year, I was censured in part for “acting unilaterally.” This caused the Free Press to call for my impeachment.
Last year, DiCristofaro often acted without telling anyone on the substance safety committee, of which he was a part, what he was doing: He was acting unilaterally. The Free Press is right when it says no one person can change the Union itself. I learned the only way to get anything done is to rise above the politics and just do it myself. I got in trouble for getting recycling bags out to people because I did it on my own, but I don’t regret it. I assume the average student thought the controversy was stupid and just another sign of politics as usual. And I doubt too many of them wish they hadn’t gotten those bags.
Only an outsider would have the courage to rise above Union politics, because once you get entrenched in the system, it changes you. Someone with a fresh perspective might be able to fight off the power of the status quo and do what is necessary to bring about whatever changes the student body deems necessary. The vice president does more than run meetings, so please don’t make it seem like such a minor position.
Giving DiCristofaro a free pass for the ineffective Brooke Feldman administration is insane, because he is as a much a part of it as anyone. He could have stepped up and tried to help her or save the ship himself. But he didn’t, or he tried and failed. It’s hard to tell because Feldman gets all the press. Either way, DiCristofaro deserves just as much blame. The Free Press says DiCristofaro has experience “while adhering to Union methods.” That’s a joke, right? He was fined $100 for cheating on his campaign last year, which he never paid. He said the Student Union Elections Committee didn’t have the power to levy such a fine because it’s a student group. Because SUEC is part of the Union, that suggests he believes the Union has no power. This is the man the Free Press thinks should be president? DiCristofaro should not even be eligible to run because he never paid his fine. Now the Free Press is endorsing him? I hope this isn’t because the paper wants to be able to write more negative editorials about the Union or report on its demise.
What the Union needs is a breath of fresh air, but the people who would be perfect for the position don’t get involved because they see it mired in constant turmoil. Those who do get involved are often overpowered by the politicians who would rather hear themselves talk than actually effect positive change on this campus. DiCristofaro certainly isn’t the man who’s going to change that.
Jonah Goldberg COM ’07, Student Union vice president ’05-’06