How to be a Freshman Representative
Nick Kelly – First Year Rep 05 - 06
What should happen:
1. You should shadow one member of the board, who holds a position you are interested in, to learn about their position. “Shadow” does not mean following them around everywhere; however, it does mean that you should sometimes have lunch with their shadowee, discuss the position, and do some of their tasks to get the hang of it.
2. You should eventually get a defined position with a little less-responsibility than the normal board positions.
3. You should heavily participate in two (or more) events in the fall and lead one event in the spring.
The general being of a Freshman Rep:
This is a great position because you have tons of freedom. You should and are given a great amount of freedom to participate (or not) in Dems activities. Besides postering and other weekly duties, you have little responsibility, and that’s a great thing. You can pick and choose to participate in what interests you. This makes your work and your experience much more worth while.
However, by the middle of the semester, you should have an idea of what you would like to participate in, and you should co-lead an event or two when the year is out. You are a freshman representative, meaning you have to do something significant by the end of the semester. Elections for these positions are usually pretty competitive, and you therefore have a duty to perform well for your class.
So, this is not a bs position. (If it seems to be that way, if the board is excluding you from positions, tell them to stop). It is also not a position laden with responsibilities. But it is a flexible, great way to get introduced to the Democrats and discover how you want to get involved in campus politics. Getting elected to the board freshman year is wonderful, because you have immediate access to one of (if not the) most powerful, and rich, progressive groups on campus. Make use of this great opportunity. Don’t stress; the future of the organization rests on your shoulders, that’s all.
