What makes Colby College yours? Academics, athletics, clubs, diversity initiatives or any combination these or others aspects of our community? Colby is something different for everyone, but we, Sam Andler and Raymond Rieling, want to make it the best Colby for all. 

Sam is a junior from Swampscott, MA majoring in the atypical combination of economics and Spanish. Hailing from Great Falls, VA, Raymond Rieling is a junior government major.

Taking advantage of the many opportunities at Colby, including the Student Government Association (SGA), hall staff, athletics and recreational activities, Sam and Ray are well involved in the Colby Community. During his time, Sam has served as the Student Co-Chair of the College Affairs Committee, CA in a popular dorm damage area and Hall Staff Liaison to SGA. 

Raymond has been equally involved, holding positions such as Dorm President of Leonard, Co-Chair of the Housing and Facilities Advisory Committee (HFAC) with the task of improving housing on campus, and serving as a member of the Student Security Advisory Committee and SGA Publicity Committee. 

Together, we are on the varsity swim team, three-year class council members and participate in Adults Reading to Children. All the corners of campus we’ve been involved in have allowed us to view many sides of Colby. Where we lack insight we strive to stay informed by attending various events and engaging in conversation with as many as students as possible. 

 With this broad perspective of the College, we have seen what we think this campus needs and what we think SGA can do to meet those needs. We are running to broaden the scope of student engagement in SGA. As past and current members of SGA, we have been a part of the creation and funding of countless clubs, the crafting of housing proposals and dialogue about the various issues facing our campus. 

As members of SGA, we have also seen our shortcomings. We know that many students do not feel engaged with the SGA. Many students on campus don’t utilize SGA and sadly some may not even know what we do. We are running to engage all students with the Student Government Association.

Student is the first word in SGA and we would like to make all students feel that way. The current SGA has done tremendous work creating positions such as the student gender diversity and sexuality resource officer, and forming task forces that are looking into socio-economic equality and learning differences. HFAC is currently pushing gender neutral housing and current SGA president Leslie Hutchings and Vice-President Athul Ravunniarath are continuing their efforts for a third gender option. 

These commendable and important efforts are ones we plan to continue in the future, but we’d also like to see SGA address issues that matter to you. Raymond is currently working on changing social culture on campus through his work on reforming the registered party policy. Sam has been working with Campus Life to create solutions to improve the relationship between students and PPD on issues ranging from installing cubbies in dorms for winter boots to programming that will improve relationships with the custodial staff. 

We want to give the campus back to the student. These are just two of the issues that we care about, but what matters most to us is hearing and addressing the issues that you care about. 

Taking on new ideas may seem like a challenge, but by harnessing the energy that this year’s SGA has produced we want to streamline the process through goal setting and accountability. From the beginning of next year we will work to set concrete goals with class presidents, dorm presidents and every committee. In conjunction with systems of accountability, this will allow us to work towards tangible accomplishments. 

We know that many students believe SGA hasn’t done much. By setting goals, holding ourselves accountable and engaging the entire campus, we want you to feel like a part of SGA.  The Student Government Association is for the students. We want it to be a resource that students turn to for help with their clubs, activities, events and ideas. 

SGA should be a unifying factor on campus motivating and facilitating students to create their Colby. If elected Sam, Ray and you will work to make it happen. Let’s start working now, contact us at Sbandler@colby.edu or Rrieling@colby.edu or stop and chat with us around campus with questions or ideas.