Candidates for Student Body President and Vice President Speak Their Minds

In continuing with The Hilltopper’s coverage of the Student Government Association elections, our team reached out to the candidates running for Student Body President and Vice President for the ’21-22′ academic year. There will be two tickets on the ballot. Richard “Rit” Flandreau and Kevin Chrisom, as well as Aidan Pierce and Jackson Peck will be running for President and Vice President respectively. Both tickets are already hot on the campaign trails and we are glad to support their runs in whatever capacity possible here at the Hilltopper.

We sent a questionnaire to each candidate and had them fill out their responses for us to deliver to the student body. Rather than summarize their answers, we at The Hilltopper would rather you, the voters, to see their actual words and answers to the questions we posed to them. Below, find the questions and ansers, as written by the candidates to the questions we saw most important to the Saint Anselm community.

What is your name, major, class, and position you are running for on the ticket?

Richard ‘Rit’ Flandreau, Finance and Accounting, 2022, President

Kevin Chrisom Politics, 2022, Vice President

Aidan Pierce, International Relations and History, 2022, President

Jackson Peck Politics & History Major, Peace and Justice Studies Minor, 2022, Vice President

What other organizations are you involved in on campus?

Rit: Admissions, Alumni Relations, SEAL, ARC

Kevin: NHIOP Ambassadors

Aidan: The Hilltopper, IR Club (Vice President), Research Assistant @ Politics Department, Student Response Task Force Member

Jackson: True Equality and Dignity Alliance (TEDA), Transitions Program, Res Life, The Hilltopper

Why did you choose to run for Student Body President/Vice President?

Rit: When Kevin and I ran last year, we wanted to collaborate with different departments to increase engagement. For our re-election, we would like to continue this, as well as the several projects in the works.

Kevin: I chose to run for SGA VP to advocate for students and seek change within the Student Government Association. I found the SGA had a lot of untapped potential that needed to be used. I chose to run because I love this institution and the many things it has to offer. To be a part of this organization is a great honor, and it’s something I will always cherish. I wanted to be a true advocate for the student body and I feel as though I have done that as VP. It would be a tremendous privilege to continue serving in this capacity.

Aidan: I chose to run for Student Body President because I believe strongly in my vision for what SGA can be. At its best, SGA can be a conduit for students to take an active role in what happens at their home away from home. I’m confident in my ability to see this vision out because I believe hard work breeds results, and I’ve been working hard on behalf of the student body since the beginning of my freshman year. I love Saint Anselm College. Because of this love, I am compelled to do all I can for it, and I see no better way to carry this vision through than as Student Body President.

Jackson: I chose to run for Student Body Vice President because Aidan and I have been working together for years to advocate for our peers and ensure that their concerns are heard, so we felt that running to represent our peers at the highest possible level would be the best way to continue that student advocacy. We have a vision for what this school could be, and we want to ensure that at the center of all decision making at Saint Anselm College is the Student Body. Any decision which effects students should involve student input, and as President and Vice President we would be able to most effectively ensure students have a say.

What do the duties and responsibilities of President and Vice President of SGA mean to you?

Rit: It certainly means a lot that we were elected to represent the whole student body, and to be liaisons on different committees and to the administration is something that I take great pride in.

Kevin: There are several duties of the SGA VP. The President and Vice President serve as the chief liaisons between the student body and College administration, meet weekly with the Dean of Students, and biweekly with the College President, sit on committees, organize initiatives, fundraise, and more. The Vice President serves as the President of the Student Senate.

Aidan: Being the President of SGA means setting the example for the rest of the student body. Now, more than ever, bold student leadership is needed to empower the student body to achieve more than ever thought possible. The pandemic has illustrated the need for this bold leadership, which comes with great responsibility. Exemplifying what it means to be an Anselmian means respecting public health rules, encouraging diversity and inclusion, and advocating for the student interest first and foremost. I promise to exemplify these ideals and more if elected.

Jackson: Stand up for students. Even if it might be a difficult, the first responsibility and duty of the Student Body President and Vice President is to stand with the student body and ensure that their concerns are met with support. Supporting our students will be our main concern, and if we meet challenges in our mission to support the student body we will overcome those challenges, because nothing means more to us than the students of Saint Anselm College.

What sets your ticket apart from the other?

Rit: Kevin and I have been in office for a year now, and have built strong connections across campus. Moving forward, we will be able to collaborate with these relationships we have created and can have a large impact on future and current classes.

Kevin: We put the College’s needs over our own. We work in a collaborative manner with College administration and are proud to do so. Our term has been a record of strong accomplishment from an unprecedented Student Response Task Force, to strides made on mental health, our administration has made long-lasting change for students. We are practical in our work and are proud of it. We have rewrote how SGA operates and have given future leaders the chance to act upon it.

Aidan: Our teamwork and experience. Jackson and I have a combined 5.5 years of experience in SGA, and I personally have served continuously in SGA since the beginning of freshman year. Furthermore, our cohesiveness as a team was on full display in the Student Response Task Force, where Jackson and I spearheaded the project discussions and the ultimate report. We were in lockstep every step of the way on this project, which is unique to our ticket. Jackson and I have the personal and professional relationship necessary for the job, and the evidence bears this claim out.

Jackson: I think the biggest things that sets us apart from our competition are our longterm friendship, our experience, and our effort to be open and transparent about what we stand for. Aidan and I met each other in 2017 while in Washington D.C., and when I came to Saint As, he was the only person I knew and we just so happened to be in the same orientation group, so naturally we became very good friends. We have been close friends for multiple years now, and in nearly everything we do on this campus, Aidan and I are a team. I think a year of experience working together is commendable, but I think that the length of my friendship with Aidan as well as our history of working together as a team is a big factor in what sets us apart. SGA was the first group that we both joined, because we have cared about this organization and its mission since the beginning. Aidan spent two years as a class Senator and now serves as the Chair of the Academic Committee. I spent a year in the Senate and a year as our class Vice President. We were two of the main writers of the Student Response Task Force Report, we’ve sought transparency from administrators through The Hilltopper, and remain active members of a few other clubs. Aidan and I have always been involved on campus within SGA and beyond, and I think that sets us apart. I’d say the biggest thing though, is that if you go on our Instagram campaign page you can look through not only the things we care about, but also the specific policy goals we hope to accomplish. What sets us apart is that if you asked us what we stood for we could give you a concrete list of the things we want to accomplish and how we plan to do it. Any candidate can say they want more of this or less of that, but Aidan and I have a plan, and we’re open and transparent about that plan. Thats something unique we bring to the table.

If during your tenure you could only push one major initiative on campus, what would that be and why?

Rit: I would like to push engagement the most, which would include the idea of collaboration, because we put an emphasis on STUDENT in Student Government Association. Our purpose is to create a positive impact on the student college experience.

Kevin: A joint Task Force between Administration and SGA to focus on problems ranging on a variety of areas. Often times, students don’t know where to go to bring information or express concerns. I would strongly push for this joint effort to meet the needs of the students as well as to forge a stronger working relationship with College administration.

Aidan: Diverse student voices must be elevated around campus. This starts with ensuring that students are able to pick their own representatives to the Board of Trustees and other Administrative committees/working groups, and creating a Secretary of Diversity and Inclusion as an Executive-Board level position in student government. Student Government must be representative of the whole student body, and this starts with making sure all student voices are heard loudly and clearly. We believe in this strongly, and is the reason why we have made what we stand for clear to the entirety of the student body.

Jackson: There are multiple parts of our platform, all of which are available to review on our Instagram page, but personally the initiative I am most excited about and the one I see as integral to the success of the college is supporting diversity and inclusion. What has SGA done to support the college’s diversity and inclusion initiatives? Not enough. Aidan and I would start by appointing a Chair of Diversity and Inclusion to the SGA Executive Board. Next, we would form an SGA subcommittee thats sole responsibility would be to coordinate efforts with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to integrate college goals with SGA activities and initiatives. We would also use the club appropriations process to incentivize club programming centered around diversity and inclusion. These policies, we feel, are important to the success of the college and we should be doing everything possible to support and strengthen our diverse student body and ensure we are as inclusive as possible as a college community.

If you could continue to push one major initiative already in place, what would it be and why?

Rit: We would like to continue to push the environmental issues. We have revived the Respect the Nest campaign, and we plan to continue with this and more.

Kevin: Continued efforts regarding recycling. The SGA Respect the Nest Committee has been reformed and rebuilt to play a larger role on campus. I would continue to advocate for the Student Senate to be more vocal in their calls for strong environmental policies across campus. The work of the Respect the Nest Committee has made a long-lasting impact and we look forward to continuing that effort in our second term.

Aidan: Respect the Nest and the recycling initiative. For as long as I have been in Student Government, the process of making this campus more environmentally-friendly has been, admittedly, disappointingly slow. This isn’t for lack of effort: student activists like the Green Queens of Saint Anselm show that there is a real appetite amongst students for bold changes to this campus’ environmental footprint. Within the first month of our administration, we pledge to push the Respect the Nest campaign to higher places than ever before, with increasing recycling accessibility at the forefront of the push.

Jackson: A few years ago, the Respect The Nest Campaign got started on campus. As Eagle Scouts, we both care a great deal about the environment and we think that supporting the Green Team and using the SGA Senate to focus our efforts on increasing education around recycling as well as recycling opportunities is incredibly important. Tyler Cullen has done a great job this year as the Chair of the Respect The Nest Committee, and we hope to capitalize on the work he’s done next year.

If you could change one major thing about SGA what would it be and why?

Rit: Kevin and I wanted to utilize the resources on campus more, and to get more student input: but we have done just that. From the Student Response Task Force to many resolutions, it has been a very productive year.

Kevin: Make SGA more engaging across campus. Many say that SGA doesn’t do anything because they are not as vocal in the community. Making SGA more of an engaging entity would surely change the institution for the better. I am committed on continuing to make that happen.

Aidan: SGA needs reformation at the level of the Executive Board. We pledge to create and fill the position of Secretary of Diversity and Inclusion as a cabinet-level position so that SGA can be truly representative of every Anselmian, regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual orientation. In my three years in Student Government, we have strived to be aware of prejudices and biases in our association, but in order to fully realize our goal, diversity and inclusivity must be treated like the executive-level priority it is.

Jackson: SGA is not as productive as it can or should be. As the President of the Senate, I would set goals for the Welfare, Room and Board, and Academic Committees to ensure that we have a constant stream of resolutions coming before the Senate. On day one, I will sit down with our appointed chairs of the three committees and ask them to work with the senators on their committees to brainstorm five issues they want to focus on, at least three of which I would expect to see a resolution on by the end of the semester. So, in summary, I would work to ensure we’re being as productive as we can be.

Where is your go-to spot on campus to interact with your constituents?

Rit: I like to go to the Student Center because I get to engage with all classes and the several organizations which are housed there.

Kevin: My office in the Student Center. I have an open-door policy and constituents are always welcome to come in and talk.

Aidan: Before Covid? C Shop, especially when there’s a live performance brought to us by CAB! During Covid, the Jean Student Center (which originated as an SGA initiative) has really emerged as a fantastic place for students to interact and intermingle, most especially in Campus Ministry, Meelia, and the Intercultural Center.

Jackson: The Student Center or Davison Hall are definitely the best two spots to stop and chat with people about their day. I can be confident that every time I walk into the Student Center I will see a friendly face, someone tabling, or the multiple offices buzzing with activity. The Student Center is the hub for student activity on campus and its my favorite place to meet and visit with people.

Is there anything we missed that you want to make known to our team as we put together our coverage of the election?

Rit: Hawks Keep Soaring, #RK2021

Kevin: N/A

Aidan: Jackson and I don’t just talk, we have the chops to really get this job done. We are both Eagle Scouts, and this has informed our prioritization of environmentalism in our campaign. For myself, as a Park Ranger, I do the work of conservation and preservation on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and I have developed years of experience serving the environment. I truly believe we are the best team for the job, and our experience speaks to this belief.

Jackson: We want to be open and transparent about our campaign and what we stand for. Our entire platform with specific policy breakdowns, all of our endorsements from groups and students, and our own statements are available on our Instagram! We’ve also been working with our campaign team to hand out stickers, hang up posters, and speak with members of the student body. We’re proud of our campaign and we’re excited for voting on Thursday and Friday!

Be sure to check out the Instagram pages of the candidates @flandreauchrisom2021 and @pierce_peck_2021 for more information on their campaigns and to stay up to date with the latest Student Body Election news.

We at The Hilltopper would like to thank all four of the candidates for taking the time to respond to our survey and let their voices be broadcast to our readers. If you still have questions you hope the candidates can answer, reach out to our Chief of Staff, Bryan Lavoie, at blavoie438@anselm.edu and we’ll get the answer and update the article as soon as possible. Be sure to tune into the Study Body Speeches on Wednesday March 24th at 8pm via Zoom. Also, you can submit questions for the candidates to answer following their speeches to SGAIP@anselm.edu prior to the event!

Flandreau and Chrisom Victorious in Student Body Elections as Hughes-Ethier Administration Comes to a Close

Voting in the election for 2020 Student Body President and Vice President concluded Tuesday with no candidate securing the majority required to win outright. At 9:53 p.m. on Tuesday, SGA Secretary of Internal Procedure, Spencer Dias, informed the student body of the inconclusive result via email. 

Article V. Section A. of the SGA constitution requires that a runoff election be held “between the two teams with the highest vote totals” in the event that no ticket garners a majority of the total votes cast. 

In the same email, Dias announced on behalf of SGA that this runoff election would result in either Rit Flandreau ‘22 and Kevin Chrisom ‘22, or  Joey Francis ‘21 and Julie Sullivan ‘21 being elected president and vice-president respectively. Finally, Dias wrote that the result would be announced: “by the end of Thursday night.” 

With no numbers provided, the only certain result of the first round of voting is that Gina Gagliardi ‘22 and Madison Hediger ‘22 received fewer total votes than the other two tickets.  

At Wednesday’s Senate meeting, the inconclusive election results overshadowed the last meeting of the Hughes-Ethier administration. Both remaining tickets were in attendance, with Julie Sullivan and Kevin Chrisom there in their official capacity, and Joey Francis and Rit Flandreau in public seating. 

The air cleared quickly, however, as student after student stood up to thank and congratulate President Hughes and Vice President Ethier. Academic Committee Chair Viger gave a moving speech, which concluded with roaring applause. Secretary Murphy, a senior, made an impassioned plea to continuing members. “I hope you don’t just think about your time here, but how you can impact future Anselmians as well,” she said. 

Later, the Senate passed a resolution calling for trash cans in Father Bernard Court without discussion and moved on to discuss ideas for outdoor seating in front of the Student Center. Other than VP Ethier’s announcement, however, that runoff election voting would be moved to the Student Center, discussion of the election was limited. 

When asked to comment on the state of the race at Wednesday’s Senate meeting, presidential candidate Francis said, “We feel optimistic, we feel good about tomorrow.” Vice-presidential candidate Chrisom and presidential candidate Flandreau expressed a similar sentiment, with Flandreau telling The Hilltopper: “It was a very exciting two weeks, very stressful, a couple of sleepless nights…but we’re really excited for what’s to come.” 

At 7:33 p.m. on Thursday night, the Student Government Association’s official email account declared Flandreau and Chrisom victorious in a message to the student body. Upon winning the election, Flandreau told the Hilltopper, “We are here for the students. We have some big shoes to fill, but we are very confident that we can maintain and keep going with this organization. It was a long two weeks, but completely worth it.” Chrisom added, “We’d also like to thank both the Francis and Gagliardi campaigns for running a clean and competitive race, and wish them all the best going forward.”

Hilltopper, Crier Partner to Host Student Body Candidate Forum

Pictured from left to right: Gina Gagliardi ‘22, Madison Hediger ‘22, Joey Francis ‘21, Julie Sullivan ‘21, Rit Flandreau ‘22, Kevin Chrisom ‘22

On Sunday, candidates for Student Body President and Vice President gathered in the Jean Center Auditorium for the first-ever Student Body Candidate Forum, presented by the Saint Anselm Crier and The Hilltopper. The candidates participated in an hour of spirited, if sometimes redundant, discussion about diversity, leadership, and campus issues. 

The three tickets were each seated at their respective tables in the Melucci theater, with the Crier’s Alex Dooley, and the Hilltopper’s Jackson Peck moderating. The event was well attended, with an audience of thirty to forty spectators, comprised of current SGA members, candidate’s supporters, undecided voters, and Dean of Students Alicia Finn. Questions were directed to either presidential or vice-presidential candidates, with certain questions being directed at specific candidates. The forum was broken up into five main segments: diversity and inclusion, campus activities, campus issues, leadership, and audience Q&A. Two segments were strictly devoted to vice-presidential questions.

The forum began with questions for individual candidates regarding diversity and inclusion at Saint Anselm College. Much like in speeches on Thursday, candidates struggled to provide specifics on how they would foster inclusivity, mostly speaking in generalities. Presidential candidate Gina Gagliardi ‘22, when asked how she would support the visibility of minority communities on campus, reiterated her point from Thursday regarding “an approach on mental health as a whole.” Presidential candidate Rit Flandreau ‘22 briefly mentioned SGA collaboration with the Intercultural Center’s Wayne Currie, stressing; “two organizations are better than one.” For her part, vice-presidential candidate Julie Sullivan stressed the importance of “accessibility for all Anselmians” to her and her running mate Joey Francis’ ‘21 campaign, saying, “we would start resolutions right away.”

The vice-presidential candidates, in particular, were asked what they believed made them best qualified to lead the Senate. Vice-presidential candidate Kevin Chrisom ‘22, emphasized his background as the only politics major on stage saying, “That knowledge is gonna be a huge boon,” adding, “I’m able to talk to all students here of any race, color, or creed.” Vice-presidential candidates Julie Sullivan ‘21 and Madison Hediger ‘22 both stressed their SGA experience and the importance of upholding the constitution. Hediger added that “we need someone…who can make sure that all voices are being heard in Senate, not just the loudest voices.”

Mr. Chrisom concluded the segment by beginning a major theme of the night. Namely, arguing that he and his running mate Rit Flandreau understood the importance of  “not promising things that we know cannot be accomplished.” Ms. Gagliardi agreed about the importance of being realistic but added that it was crucial to “dream of what can be accomplished” as well. 

Mr. Flandreau, in one of the few specific proposals of the night, suggested improving the printing system on campus. He called for printers in dorms, saying, “I’d like to do a trial run in a dorm, so possibly LLC.” He added that he believed this to be a “low cost, attainable goal.” 

The candidates were then asked perhaps the night’s most profound question: In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing Saint Anselm College? “You gave me a hard one,” said Ms. Gagliardi, who paused to consider the question. “I think if we had more parking, closer parking, that would be fabulous,” she said. “Again I don’t know what the role of SGA is as far as actually creating a parking lot, but I know that this building we’re all sitting in,” referring to the student center, “is actually an SGA resolution, so I’m not gonna say that it’s out of the picture, I would say it would be a long term goal.” 

Later, during audience Q&A, Sean Bentley ‘22 seized on Ms. Gagliardi’s frequent doubts about SGA’s purview. “You’ve mentioned multiple times you’re not sure what SGA’s role is on specific issues such as parking, so how can you run for president if you don’t know about SGA’s role in these issues?” Ms. Gagliardi agreed that she and all of the candidates would have a lot to learn, but clarified that she was referring to being realistic and taking things step by step. 

Ms. Gagliardi’s running mate Ms. Hediger, added that the second biggest issue is food. “We have all been in Dave at twelve-thirty, and it is a long wait,” she said. Hediger stressed that improving food options, variety, and health should be a long term SGA goal. 

Mr. Francis, on the other hand, argued: “the biggest problem facing Saint Anselm College today is the physical accessibility to all areas of campus for people of all abilities.” He went on to describe the experience of witnessing a relative of a student struggle to enter a building with no ramp. Ms. Sullivan echoed her running mate, adding that as leader of the Senate, she would change the language used in relevant Senate resolutions to “accessibility for all Anselmians.” 

The candidates for vice president were then pressed for similar detail when they were asked which resolutions they would like to see the Senate pass under their leadership. Ms. Hediger called for getting rid of straws in Davison Hall saying, “I don’t understand why we’ve gotten rid of straws in C-shop but not in Dave.” Ms. Sullivan highlighted plans for an accessible ramp connecting Saint Benedict Court to the rest of the campus and continued support for the “Respect the Nest” campaign. Mr. Chrisom suggested a renewed focus on recycling as a centerpiece of a Flandreau-Chrisom administration. 

When the presidential candidates were asked what differentiates them from their opponents, each ticket explained what they believed made them the best choice. Mr. Flandreau stressed his running mate’s experience as an active member of SGA and his own experience as an outsider. Mr. Francis explained that both he, and his running mate Ms. Sullivan were both “very bubbly” individuals and that he was “not above walking up to strangers in Dave and striking up a conversation.” Ms. Gagliardi explained that she would strive towards “an open door policy” and added that as a nursing major, she’ll take the time to listen. “I will care about you, I will care what you have to say,” she said. 

In his speech on Thursday, Mr. Francis claimed that the best approach to passing Senate resolutions was “slow and steady.” However, the Senate passed just three resolutions in the previous academic year. When asked to clarify if he still believed slow and steady was the best approach in light of this slow progress, Mr. Francis doubled down. “I think that as opposed to rushing through resolutions that might not be up to par, I’d rather see resolutions that are 100% going to benefit all Anselmians,” he said. 

The night ended with an unexpected display of unity between all three tickets. The candidates were asked about the ongoing legal dispute between the monastic community and the Board of Trustees, and whether they thought that the college’s Catholic identity was under threat, or that certain changes needed to be made. While it is possible that candidates were uninformed about the details of the legal proceedings, each of them nonetheless maintained an explicitly neutral position in the conflict. “I know that the SGA Executive Board has taken a neutral position, which I think is probably the best idea,” said Mr. Flandreau. “The important thing to keep in mind at the end of the day,” said Mr. Francis, “is that both the Board and the Monks do have our best interest at heart.” 

Throughout the forum, candidates largely kept true to the platforms they outlined in their speeches on Thursday, even when challenged. That said, there was often universal difficulty in describing specific policy proposals, particularly when it came to issues of diversity and inclusivity on campus. Nonetheless, each ticket outlined a unique case for their candidacy and held strong under both moderator and student questioning. 

Saint Anselm College Students are encouraged to vote Monday 2/17 or Tuesday 2/18, either at Davison Hall or the Coffee Shop. A valid student ID is required to vote.