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!

Student Senate Seeks Greater Transparency From College Administration

At the third Senate meeting of the Spring 2021 semester, Sophomore Senator Christopher Demarkey presented a resolution regarding clarity around the phases of reopening. The resolution states the following, “Be it resolved, that the Student Senate, requests that school administrators provide information regarding the necessary conditions and/or requirements in order to transition between the colored operating phases implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Senator Demarkely verbalized that there is “no information what-so-ever” on the guidelines to move out of Phase Orange and into a new phase. He also argued that it would be helpful for Saint Anselm students to know what these conditions are so students can know what to advocate for and encourage their peers to do. When Dean Finn, the advisor to the SGA, was asked if she had any comments on this resolution, she told the Senate that she “didn’t have anywhere to point students to” regarding any sort of guidelines and she wished to provide no further comment on this resolution. 

After President Rit Flandreau and others expressed concerns that Covid-19 is just too unpredictable for a set list of conditions to move phases to be created, Welfare Committee Chair Tyler Cullen replied, “All we are asking for is a rough sketch… no definitive numbers. We are completely in the dark right now.” Vice President of the Class of 2022, Jackson Peck, expressed a similar sentiment and said that “there is no benchmark.” Academic Committee Chair Aidan Pierce pointed out that it is the Covid Analytics Team (CAT) that evaluates what phase the campus should be on and one of their major concerns is the quarantine and isolation rooms filling up. Given the limitations of available quarantine and isolation spaces on campus, if cases continue to rise it will only reduce the potential for loosening of restrictions and movement between phases. The resolution passed through the Senate with 18/20 Senators in agreement. 

When Senator Demarkey was asked, “What made you want to create this resolution and propose it to the Senate, he responded, “I wanted to create this resolution since many people, including myself, have no idea how we can advance out of the orange phase. I figured the Senate would be the best forum to voice this concern while also letting administrators know that we are always checking out what is going on and what they say and do. In bringing this to the Senate and discussing it with a member of the higher-ups at this school present, I was looking to apply pressure for some change.” In speaking about his resolution, Senator Demarkey also said,, “What I think and hope will happen is this news will be relayed to CAT, who will begin to provide some rough outline of what the standards are. As I said when discussing the resolution, I don’t expect nor do I care if there is/isn’t a phase change immediately- I just wanted more information about the process CAT goes through.” 

Students Advocate For Students: Student Response Task Force Publishes Report To The College

In an email to students sent out on Monday, the Student Government Association announced that the Student Response Task Force (SRTF) had completed its work and had published its findings in a report entitled, “A Report on the Student Response to the College Policies Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The SRTF was formed in early October under the purview of the SGA by Student Body Vice President Kevin Chrisom. The task force, composed of 12 SGA members, met twice a week through October and November in order to gather student feedback through listening sessions, Instagram polls, and an anonymous submission form in order to then draft their report for the Saint Anselm College administration.

All students were invited to participate in two “Student Listening Sessions” on October 28th and November 4th where students were asked for their opinions on a wide variety of topics related to the college’s COVID policies. Students had a lot to say. The report states that approximately 40 students took the opportunity to make their voices heard, and said things such as, “I have always felt that Saint A’s has supported their students except for this year. It is beyond frustrating to see the school hosting tours and weddings yet I am not even allowed to have my mom or my friends to my apartment for lunch.”

A total of 448 students participated in a series of SRTF sponsored Instagram polls which demonstrated the collective feelings of many students. Out of the 448, 95% of student participants favored extending the hours of the Jean Student Center, and 94% of the respondents also favored some form of intervisitation policy being reinstated. When asked whether or not the college had done enough for student socialization, 74% of respondents said that it had not. Unsurprisingly, 73% of student participants responded that they did not think that online or hybrid classes were as productive as a typical school year. Finally, despite a rather large portion (28%) of students claiming that their experience at Saint Anselm had been negative in the fall semester, 95% of student respondents said that they felt safe on campus.

The SRTF also provided an anonymous feedback submission form for students who were not comfortable attending the listening sessions or providing their feedback in person. 45 students chose this option. Of those students, 9% were from the class of 2021, 33% from the class of 2022, 33% from the class of 2023, and 15% from the class of 2024.

The twenty-two-page report paints a detailed picture of the fall 2020 semester and the effects it had on the students of Saint Anselm College. It highlights some of the measures that students found beneficial such as President Favazza’s Town Halls, a well-designed move-in plan, and quick and effective mitigation of campus outbreaks, as well as some significant areas of student concern. The report lists 27 specific issues that students voiced to the task force, ranging from a lack of enforcement of COVID policies to overbearing course loads. 

Although the student body only recently received the finalized report, the Student Response Task Force met multiple times with President Favazza and Dean of Students Finn to discuss their findings and provide recommendations on how to improve the experience of students in the spring semester. When asked how he would characterize the SRTF’s meetings with Favazza and Finn, SGA Vice President Chrisom said, “I am very appreciative of the level of thought and care both Dean Finn and President Favazza showed to us during our work.” He added, “On a more personal note, I would like to thank both of them for the job they have done throughout the year and look forward to continuing working with them in advocating for the students.”

The publication of the report and its subsequent delivery to the student body marks a major milestone in the task force’s work, and the question now becomes, “Where will they go from here?” When asked, Chrisom said, “There are several avenues to which we could go,” but that the direction of the Task Force will rely largely on the environment and circumstances of the upcoming semester. Chrisom then mentioned that “the task force plans to continue listening sessions and encourages students to continue attending them and voicing their opinions. When the Student Senate reconvenes, the expectation is that many resolutions will be coming up for discussion and for a vote on areas regarding dining services (the reopening of the pub), intervis, etc. The task force was pleased to see students partake in the decision-making process for the upcoming second semester, and will continue to advocate for their involvement.”

A Report On The Student Response To The College Policies Regarding The COVID-19 Pandemic

The following statement was sent to the student body of Saint Anselm College on Monday, January 11, 2021 by the Student Government Association:

“Dear Saint Anselm students, 

The Student Response Task Force has completed its work in collecting student feedback regarding COVID-19 policies for the fall 2020 semester. This group, under the purview of the Student Government Association presents a comprehensive report on the student response to the college policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Student Response Task Force was established in order to give Saint Anselm students a forum to voice their thoughts and opinions regarding Saint Anselm College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was this Task Force meant to efficiently collect and present student feedback to the administration, the Task Force was created and run by students so as to allow fellow students to express their opinions and concerns in a more comfortable setting.  Furthermore, the Task Force has come together to supply student feedback to college administrators, so that they might use the student body’s perspective during preparations for our upcoming return to campus. The Task Force plans to be a continuous presence on campus, to work with the school administration, the student government, and the student body as we adapt to the strange time we find ourselves in. Readers will find the full report prepared by the Task Force attached directly below along with a short summary of the report’s recommendations.


Firstly, the Task Force recommends changes in a variety of college policies. For example, the reinstatement of intervisitation on campus. The Student Senate has already unanimously approved legislation endorsing the revival of limited intervisitation for students within dorm halls. The Task Force supported this legislation, and will continue to push for action from the Student Government on this, as well as other issues ranging from building hours to a reexamination of the academic calendar. 


Second, the Task Force found a need for more student representation in the decision-making process. While it is understandable that the college was faced with a high-pressure situation to return students to campus, it is regrettable that students were not consulted initially. Moving forward, the Task Force recommends the administration continue to prioritize student input on decision making committees in regards to decisions being made on COVID policy which affect the student body. Be they from athletics, student government, or another student program, a variety of students should be consulted throughout the spring semester. Thirdly, the Task Force has placed an emphasis on the need for transparency from the college administration on COVID policy. This may be in a variety of forms, such as expounding upon policies that are chosen by the school, as well as a formal notice to students regarding any and all policy changes. Transparency will be a necessary step for continued student engagement with the rules that are enforced, and an ongoing mutually respectful partnership between administrators and students.


The Task Force is encouraged by the engagement we have already received from the student body, and if this is the first you are hearing from us please feel free to reach out, as we will be active on campus for the foreseeable future. This will be in various capacities, through the Student Government Association, social media, and various other avenues should the need arise. We look forward to working with the administration as a conduit for student feedback and as a partner to craft policy moving forward. 


The entire report is attached to this email for review by the reader, and if you have any questions regarding this report, please reach out to us at sga@anselm.edu. The Student Response Task Force wishes you all well, and looks forward to returning to campus for the spring semester.”

SGA Welcomes New Members

Amongst the confusion and chaos of adjusting to a new reality on campus, a select few students decided to become leaders of their respective class. The 2020 Class Council Elections were supposed to happen in March of 2020 with an info session already having taken place back in February. Despite the chaotic timeline of events, on September 2nd, the representatives of the Classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023 took the stage and were inaugurated. 

The process for these candidates was fairly simple: first, they attended an info session and asked questions where necessary; second, they had their classmates sign their petition for candidacy (fifteen signatures were required this semester); third, they signed a waiver recognizing the rules of the race; finally they began their campaign. The last course of action for any candidate are the speeches which are held traditionally the night before the first day of the election. This year, speeches were  held in The Melucci Theater while onlookers and potential voters watched from Zoom. Broadcast Club was brought in to assist as well. 

As for interest in the Class Council elections, it’s been average. The Senior class kept their elected members from last year, Juniors have an entirely new council made up of all males (all races went uncontested), and the Sophomores had the one contested race out of all classes for Senators with six people running for four spots. In past elections, there have been times when some ballots have empty positions with no one running which leads to a special election some time later – luckily this didn’t happen in this election. Voting interest has been sporadic to say the least. With the upperclassmen elections concluded, the senior class cast less than 30 votes, the Juniors cast around 60 votes, and the Sophomores cast over 80 votes. This is, unfortunately, average for Class Council elections excluding Freshmen. 

When it comes to the SGA and its responsibilities, the average student would say “But Spencer, SGA doesn’t do [insert whatever you want here]”. This statement is incorrect by all means. It is this statement that may cause the low levels of turnout that is seen every Class Council Election. The Class Councils and the Student Government Association as a whole do a great deal. For example, members of the SGA not only sit on SGA committees such as Room and Board, Academic, and Welfare, but also sit on SAC administrative committees such as the Traffic Committee which oversees appeals for tickets, and even in the very near future the Board of Trustees. These two examples are not alone and represent two extremes. In terms of what originates from the SGA, the class presidents represent the class to the Administration whenever necessary, the SGA Appropriations Committee controls the money flow to clubs and organizations, SGA Club Affairs approve of clubs and control the process of creating clubs, and SGA officially speak on behalf of the student body on all issues and projects. In the end, the SGA does do much and those 30 to 60 members of your class are deciding who represents you for these decisions. 

The Freshmen seem to take this memo well and have sent their best to the election. With all positions contested they are bound to have much interest with the voters (not to mention the fact that one of the Senate candidates got endorsed by Mr. Mosby). They will follow the same election procedures, just with a later timeline.. Voters will be able to cast their ballot today and tomorrow from 12p – 6p. The location for voting is Davison Hall’s entrance. If you have any issues, comments, or questions, feel free to email sgaip@anselm.edu 

Incoming Administration Manages Unprecedented Challenges, Selects Executive Board

The official announcement from the Coronavirus Preparedness Task Force on March 13th that the campus would close left the college community scrambling to figure out how to proceed. Caught at a particularly inopportune moment, was the Student Government Association. The transition between the Hughes-Ethier and Flandreau-Chrisom administrations, the upcoming class elections, club appropriations, and other pending SGA business were all derailed by the sudden evacuation of the campus. 

The most immediate issue facing SGA was simply who would be in charge as deadlines passed while events were postponed. For several days, it appeared that Secretary of Internal Procedures Spencer Dias would effectively assume the roles of both president and vice-president at the conclusion of finals. This decision was made after the incoming and outgoing administrations determined that the inauguration ceremony would likely need to be postponed until September. 

In the event of a vacancy in the vice-presidency, the Secretary of Internal Procedures is constitutionally obligated to carry out the roll in the interim as “Chairperson.” This provision exists to keep the office of vice-president filled in the event that they are “unable to carry out the office,” as Secretary Dias explained in an April 6th email to the Hilltopper. In this unique and unprecedented case, however, both President Hughes and Vice-President Ethier would have simultaneously been rendered “unable to carry out the office.” As a result, Secretary Dias was set to de facto assume both roles upon the conclusion of final exams. Asked what he would prioritize in this new and substantially more powerful role, Dias said, “the elections, and just that.” He added that “The grand majority of my powers will not be touched.” 

As the relative permanence of the Coronavirus pandemic set in, however, the entire issue was rendered moot. In a March 9th email, Dias updated the Hilltopper that, “It appears my emergency position will not be needed, an online swearing-in on zoom will occur soon.” 

Regardless of when they would formally take office, the incoming Flandreau-Chrisom administration was nonetheless hard at work preparing to enter their new roles. When asked how the campus closure had affected the transition, President-elect Flandreau remained optimistic, saying that his administration is carrying on. “We have developed our E-Board, and have been training with Josh and Jacob through emails and texts,” he wrote, referencing the outgoing administration. “We are extremely impressed by how fast people are adjusting to the new routine and remote learning,” he added. 

In an April 11th email to the Hilltopper, Vice-President-elect Chrisom provided the names of more than a dozen nominees selected to fill the new administration’s executive board. These are: 

Chief of Staff: Caleb Kruger ’22 

Secretary of Internal Procedures: Spencer Dias ’22

Secretary-General: Joshua Pratt ’22

Secretary of Public Relations: Delaney Flanagan ’23

Secretary of Club Affairs: Connor O’Brien ’21

Assistant Secretary of Club Affairs: Guy Parenteau ’23

Chair of Welfare Committee: Tyler Cullen ’22

Chair of Academic Committee: Aidan Pierce ’22

Chair of Room & Board Committee: Ben Mickens ’23 

Organizational Outreach Liaison: Jenoyce Laniyan ’21 

SAAC Liaison: Meredith Budds ’22

Assistant SAAC Liaison: Cole Corcoran ’22

Secretary of Programming: Sarah El Khoury ’21

Assistant Secretary of Programming: Brenna del Llano ’22 

Secretary of Finance: Peter Simeone ’21

“The Board consists of a diverse group that represents all areas of campus,” Chrisom wrote, “We feel very confident that this Board will do some truly wonderful things and cannot wait to work with all of them to meet the needs of the students at Saint Anselm.” Chrisom also noted that while these nominations are final, they are subject to confirmation by the Student Senate. 

The Vice-President-Elect also outlined the administration’s plans for the postponed class elections, originally set to be held in late March. “We have been in constant communication with Dean of Students Alicia Finn and the Secretary of Internal Procedures Spencer Dias about setting up a plan for the elections to take place,” he said, adding that more information regarding these elections would be available soon. Chrisom was, however, able to confirm that the incoming administration intended for sophomore, junior, and senior Class Council elections to be held in late September. 

While there are plans in place to ensure the continuity of all aspects of student government, much remains uncertain, least of all when students will return to campus. “We need to have an amazing year, even more so with a short ending to the Spring semester,” Flandreau said. 

Despite the incoming administration’s optimism and preparation, Flandreau conceded that “Other than continuous communication with each other, Dean Finn, and our board, there is not a lot we can do but plan plan plan.” 

When asked if he had a message for the student body during this time, the President-Elect wrote: “Every student is doing an amazing job adjusting, and we understand how difficult the transition has been. However, Kevin and I are forward thinkers and are thrilled to be back in the Fall! Even though we will not be in our office in the Student Center, our email ‘doors’ are always open, so please do not hesitate to contact us! Be well, and go hawks!”

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.”

Special Election 2022: Tyler Cullen, Candidate for Senator

Tyler Cullen is an idealistic and motivated candidate to represent the Class of 2022 in the Student Senate. Calling for accountability and transparency within SGA, as well as an increase in volunteerism and civic engagement, Tyler is confident that the upcoming term can “be the best year yet for our class”. Tyler hopes that if elected, he can help the Sophomore Class Council to “be vocal and visible, and we’re going to have a full roster of officers that really care about the people they represent.”

Photo courtesy of Tyler Cullen

Although Tyler has many ideas when it comes to being a leader for his class, he explained that none of that leadership would be possible without the input of his peers. Students approaching and informing him of their concerns and issues is how he hopes to be a representative and effective Senator. One way he suggested that the class council could more effectively communicate would be to create a new position within their administration; a position Tyler referred to as the “Constituent Outreach Chair”. This position, as Tyler envisions it, would “allow us to streamline electronic communication and provide for a dialogue on all issues, big and small.”

When asked whether or not Tyler had heard of any issues from his peers thus far, he responded by saying: “I’ve spoken to many who are aggravated about wait times in Davison. Obviously, student government can’t make hiring and operational decisions, but I hate the idea of doing nothing because it is a valid concern.” Tyler went on to say, “I’m very interested in looking at some specific data about activity levels throughout the day and brainstorming with Dining Services management to see if there’s a solution to be found.”

Tyler also took the opportunity to talk about events he would like to see the sophomores host. He suggested that rather than traditional entertainment style or fundraising events held on campus, the Class of 2022 should utilize its large size to participate in service-oriented events. He said, “that’s a great deal of manpower that can be put to good use for worthy causes.” One issue faced by Class Councils every year is how exactly to motivate those large numbers of students to engage with SGA and their coordinated events. Tyler optimistically said, “I hope to see record levels of student participation and I expect that we will all be aggressively trying to get more people involved.”

Tyler feels he is the person who can accomplish this ambitious goal, due to his prior involvement in high school organizations as well as his position as a NHIOP Ambassador. Serving as the Student Representative to the School Board his Senior year in high school, Tyler’s job was to represent the needs and interests of his peers while organizing and planning events as a part of his Student Council. This experience, he feels, will serve him well in the Senate and as a member of the Class Council; where he will be responsible for planning and executing events similar to those he has done in the past. 

Tyler is one of two candidates running to represent the Sophomore class in the Student Senate. Voting will be held Monday and Tuesday in Davison and CShop.