Community Building | ktoyforpresident

Building Community

Organize a student leadership retreat

There is a workshop with a similar idea already being planned for this spring by the Posse Foundation, but I would like to have a Middlebury hosted retreat in the fall for all student organization and sport leaders on campus to discuss ways to address inclusivity on campus and promote student-to-student understanding.

Create better communities within majors and classes

Majors and classes are a ready-made community that is severely underutilized at Middlebury. JJ Moser ‘16.5 is already working on creating better class communities at Middlebury through his Thinking Buddies program (contact him at jmoser@middlebury.edu if you’re interested!). But academic majors are different story. In my own IP&E department, I am working to create more events for students to meet each other and get to know their professors better. I realize that many of the smaller departments already have this, but I would love to help and support anyone who wants to create community in any of the departments/majors!

Start the tradition of a Staff Appreciation Day

I want to use this opportunity to promote a great idea that is already in progress! I hope to work with the MCAB traditions committee to start a day where we show service staff appreciation (specifically public safety, maintenance, custodial, dining services, and library staff) for the work they do for us. The administration already hosts a staff appreciation day, why don’t students?

Cable and Working TVs in all of the Dorms

Watching T.V. together can be a great way for freshmen to build community. During my freshman year, gathering in the B2N lounge to watch a game or a new episode of Breaking Bad every Sunday night was a really great way to meet and connect with new people. Unfortunately, a lot of the community spaces on campus lack working TV’s, a cable connection, or are missing a remote. As president I promise to investigate this issue, and work towards ensuring that everyone on campus has access to cable and working TVs.