The Road Ahead
by: Basil Panton ‘11The Tiger talks with newly-elected SBP Ken Simon about election night and his ideas for H-SC
“The results show that hard work paid off,” answered the new President of the Student Body Kenneth Simon, when I inquired about his triumph in the recently-concluded election. Is that quote an inspiration for individuals or is it just another of those victory scripts? You might not know what you can gain by listening to those smart words of the new SB president.
The election on Thursday, March 4th, just one day before we departed for a well-deserved spring break, ended in disappointment for some; and for others as Kenneth, the victory signaled that “people want to hear and know your plan.” Indeed, Kenneth’s style of campaigning was unlike many of prior years. Those who preceded Kenneth who ran for offices of the student government solicited votes from students by highlighting their achievements and accomplishments and by emphasizing the positions they occupied while they tried to assume office. On the contrary, although Kenneth underscored his wide-scale involvement on campus, from being on Committees, to being on the Senate, to being involved in other areas in the student government, he focused his campaign on “what he wanted to do [for the students]” and his goals. Kenneth believed that this difference from his rivals was the key element that set him apart in the elections and ultimately secured the win.
The night of his victory was as strategic as his electioneering. Before Kenneth knew the results, he was fidgeting like all the other candidates; he was not relaxed: “I kind of knew the results were coming in at 9, so I kept on updating myself by checking my blackberry.” This anxiety soon transformed to “relief and joy” by exactly the time Kenneth himself mentioned that he had expected the results. Such rapid change in emotions came at such moments—when one expects results of any sort and learns that the results are favorable—so Kenneth’s reaction is quite forgivable. That night, he was waiting the results out with a few friends—the celebration did not mature to any extravagant event, but Kenneth did receive countless calls, e-mails, congratulations, and best wishes from colleagues, administrators, and alumni.
Kenneth understood that despite these wishes from others, there was “work ahead,” as he neatly put it. Kenneth has already assumed his responsibilities. In fact, our new president has appointed a number of capable students to various positions, including just about fifty assignments to multiple boards and committees. The last several days has justified the tight schedule that a president of our SB has, as these selections have taken up some amount of quality time. This is so because our new president wanted to select “guys who would do a solid job in their new positions, those who are not only friends, but also capable ones.” Kenneth emphasized that he chose students based, clearly, on “trusting my judgments and the basis of ability.”
The new president also chose some “normal students” to the presidential advice committee for clubs, although Kenneth affirmed that “I am very hesitant to change things.” This committee will analyze clubs on campus and determine their specific needs to gauge the clubs that need to be paid attention to. The formal make-up and duties and responsibilities of the committee, of course, will be in the catalogue in the upcoming academic year. As part of his decision to lead a proactive SB and to be open to the voices and concerns of the students, our new president has also instated or plans to install a second committee—Committee on Sustaining Traditions (COST). And he determined that he will attempt to sustain this committee at any cost. One reason for the president’s insistence on such a group is that “We need to define traditions here,” and we need to continue to uphold those values that have both elevated the school and that we are proud to be aligned to. An example of this tradition is the Honor Code, something Kenneth will seriously deal with during his one-year term.
While Kenneth is occupied now with his duties and excited about the prospect of serving the student body, he stressed that his elevation would not have been without the contribution of a number of individuals and groups. First, the new president is thankful to “everyone who has given him an opportunity and all the people who have supported him throughout his sojourn at H-SC.” Kenneth sent kind words not only to the students who voted him into office, but also to the students who participated in the election process. Kenneth said, “I have been tremendously appreciative and lucky.” The new president also paid gratitude to Tommy Ribaric, whose Facebook group, Kenneth declared, encouraged students to vote for him. Kenneth Simon also acknowledged Hosea Jones, who lent Kenneth enormous loyalty, and his close friends since freshman year J.B. Potter and Matt MacFarland.
Kenneth closed our interview by urging the students “to take an active interest in the institution and how things work.” The new president cautions that one cannot simply state disagreements, but must be willing to work together. As we chatted at the baseball game, and I was leaving, Kenneth received one of those friendly phone calls from an alumnus, applauding his success. From the start our entire interview, he had been receiving several of them. But our engrossed president could not leave without some advice for students who desired to partake in future elections: “Anyone can run for and serve in any office. Rely on plan, not on previous accomplishments.”
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