Vote Karina Toy

SGA Director of External Affairs, Founder of MiddConsulting, Former President of Umoja, Former Co-President of the International Students' Organization

I have had the honor of knowing Karina since my very first days at Middlebury, in the most luxurious of dorms - Battell Hall. Having lived a couple of doors down and working closely alongside her in the First-Year Committee, I witnessed firsthand the dedication she puts into her work. As the years passed, her dedication grew stronger. I witnessed her taking even more initiative in the SGA and working to take it to new places. Since her first year in office she has been a consistent advocator for financial aid transparency and has also been dedicated to brand new initiatives, such as Staff Appreciation Day. These examples, along with so many more, are all testaments to how real Karina is. I have also had the honor to speak with her for nearly two hours regarding her platform and have come to understand why the other candidates would also vote for her had they not been in the race themselves.  She has taken ample time to reflect on her experience in office and navigating the complex path of the Middlebury College Experience, and has crafted a platform that can yield great, attainable results for the campus. I have confidence in Karina's ability to lead our SGA and regain the trust of the community it serves.

Sophomore Senator, Co-President of ASIA, Internal Affairs Director of 180 Degrees Consulting, MiddView Trip Leader

As a first year at Middlebury College, Karina was one of the first people who genuinely cared about my interests and my concerns. After I was elected First Year Senator, she not only helped me feel welcomed to the SGA but also passed down her prior experience and advice to me and my Co-Chair when leading the First Year Committee. Throughout my time in SGA, I have worked side by side with Karina on many initiatives, ranging from Financial Aid to Strengthening Students - Dining Hall Relations, and I can promise you she is a woman of her word. She listens to students, administration, and faculty. She advocates for students and works to make sure their voices are heard. She follows through on her promises. Her character, work ethic, and experiences are incomparable. And this is why I hope you can join me in voting for Karina Toy for SGA President on April 18th!

Co-chair of the Student Investment Committee, Student Consultant at the Technology Helpdesk

Karina will make an excellent SGA president because of her dedication to improving the Middlebury College community, her extensive experience in the SGA, her incredible work ethic and her experiences abroad. Over the past month, she has spent countless hours every day meeting with various student organizations and campus leaders. She takes the time to understand how the SGA could meet the needs of these organizations as well as of the larger Middlebury College community. Her invaluable contributions towards upgrading Middlebury College’s student IDs and the on campus laundry system are further evidence of her willingness and ability make effective change on campus. Having seen Karina’s work outside of the SGA, whether as part of the Middlebury College Model United Nations team or her independent research on the use of renewable energy in Jordan, in addition to the hours she puts in as a junior senator in the SGA while taking a (more than) full course load, I know that Karina will be able to put in the time and effort that the SGA presidency requires and deserves. As an international student, I also know that Karina’s extensive experience studying abroad in Jordan, and her gap year in China lend her a valuable perspective on issues that international students face, such as the adjustment to Middlebury’s social and academic landscape.

The Middlebury Model United Nations wishes to endorse Karina Toy as SGA President. Karina’s vision for Middlebury has truly impressed us as being optimistic and yet doable. As the candidate with the most experience, Karina Toy will be best prepared to get her proposals passed through and implemented throughout the college. As a club that truly believes in inclusivity and diversity, we believe that Karina will be best candidate to bring the college together.

Disclaimer: This opinion does not represent the opinion of every member of Middlebury Model UN.

We, the board of the Middlebury Mountain Club, would like to offer our support to Karina Toy, candidate for SGA President. We enjoyed talking with Karina this past week about her vision for Middlebury, and were impressed with her three years of service as an SGA Senator.  As the largest student organization on campus, we particularly liked her idea of hosting a student leadership retreat to discuss issues of inclusivity on campus and to strengthen inter-club relationships. We are also proponents of her initiative to make the SGA more transparent by sharing weekly meeting agendas with student organization leaders so everyone can be more informed and involved with campus decision making. Finally, we appreciate Karina's involvement in Mountain Club trips and events and we feel that her appreciation of our activities makes her uniquely qualified among candidates to represent MMCs needs.

Posse Scholar, Event Coordinator of Distinguished Men of Color, SGA Athletic Affairs Committee, Alianza

At first, I was very hesitant to endorse any candidate running for SGA president. However, after much consideration and Thursday’s debate, I have made the decision to endorse Karina Toy. I have known Karina for only a semester and have the upmost respect for her. I have heard from upperclassmen that she works dedicatedly for others. I have seen first-hand Karina work towards an inclusive community here on campus. She is realistic with her goals and has the right plan to achieve them. Although she has set certain goals, I do not believe that these tasks will limit her in any way. I expect Karina to go beyond the expected in order to build the best environment for all students here on campus. I am voting for Karina and I hope you, the reader, consider voting for Karina. Another thing you should consider is that the other three candidates have said they would vote for her if they weren't running. It is clear who the right candidate is.

MiddSafe Advocate, CTLR Peer Writing Tutor, Political Science Research Assistant

Karina has the experience, dedication, and passion for this job. She is an active listener and has an amazing ability to get things done in a way that makes sense for the community. I so admire how approachable and accomplished she is: she’s smart, organized, and believes in Middlebury. Most importantly, though, she is pragmatic. Her platform makes sense and I firmly believe she can accomplish what she sets out to do. I am voting for her because I think we need an SGA president like Karina.

Dolci President, Brainerd Commons CA, Center for Social Entrepreneurship Fellow, Former Brainerd Senator

Voting for Karina is a no-brainer. Competent, personable, and determined, once she sets her mind on a goal, she achieves it. Having worked with Karina on SGA to get new student IDs, I can vouch for her marvelous ability to balance student desires with administrative constraints. Her three-year-long record of listening to what her constituents want is reflected in the upgraded laundry system Middlebury is installing next year. If you want a president who gets stuff done, vote for Karina—I know I will.

Mischord Business Director, RIDDIM World Dance Troupe Member

I am endorsing Karina Toy because her platform is ambitious yet attainable. She is focused on listening attentively to the Middlebury student body and will do everything in her power to bridge the gap between the students and the administration to create positive change. Throughout my time at Middlebury, I have seen how our community has come together to overcome adversity yet we still have a ways to go to truly create the inclusive community we all desire. Karina will fearlessly lead us toward our goal of a more inclusive campus by focusing on communication and transparency. She has prioritized the important changes that need to happen on campus but will always put students’ opinions, ideas, and goals first.

Ross Commons FYC

I endorse Karina Toy for SGA President. In the past two years that I have known her, Karina has demonstrated a never ending commitment to three things: her friends and family, her school work, and, appearing last in this list for emphasis only, the Middlebury community.  I have watched her stay up late and wake up early for weeks on end, working to make her constituents’ voices heard in the SGA Senate. She always manages to bring 100% of her excitement and dedication to every meeting, personal and professional. She is kind, funny and bold. There is no one I know who is more committed to or capable of doing whatever needs to be done to represent the student body and address our concerns. If you are looking for someone to listen and act, Karina is your candidate. 

President of Chromatic, Commodore of the Sailing Team, Former Ross FYC

I'm voting for Karina because she truly cares about this community and I know she has the skills and dedication to affect change. Having known Karina for the past three years, I've seen how dedicated she is to achieving her goals. Karina doesn't shy away from difficult conversations or situations, and is not easily daunted by administrative hurdles and roadblocks. In addition to setting admirable goals and working relentlessly to achieve them, Karina is an excellent leader and knows how to make a group of individuals work as efficiently and effectively as they can. But don't take my word for it, check out go/toy for Karina's previous experience and platform!

Sophomore Senator, Atwater Commons RA, Club Sports Funding Committee Member

Precise. Honest. Tactful. These are all words that immediately come to mind when I think of Karina Toy. Karina knows, more than anyone on campus, how SGA functions. She knows its potential and limits, and she works effectively within those bounds to make substantial change. She has made fantastic impact to the Middlebury campus in her three years as a Senator. Our ID cards are a perfect concrete example of something that Karina has helped accomplish. Even when legislation passes through the senate that isn’t her own, she helps to improve it, to shape it into viability.

No SGA president will ever be able to accomplish everything they desire, but I wholeheartedly believe that Karina will come very, very close. Check out her platform. Investigate her SGA experience. Please join me on April 18th in voting for Karina for SGA President.

Posse Scholar, Ross Commons CA, Foreign Affairs Campus Coordinator for U.S. Department of State

Dear MiddKids,

I am beyond excited to endorse Karina Toy for Middlebury’s next SGA President. I have the pleasure of knowing Karina in both academic and personal contexts. Her extensive involvement in Middlebury's SGA as a Class of 2017 senator for three consecutive years in addition to Middlebury Gap Year Students, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, and Model UN make her highly qualified to handle the responsibilities that come with being SGA President.

In addition to her various roles on campus, Karina is someone who genuinely believes in bringing the Middlebury community together. Her platform focuses on connecting students within their major departments (and at large), increasing the transparency of SGA plans and actions, working with Student Financial Services to make applying for financial aid smoother, and bringing back WetheMiddkids in order to give students a greater voice in SGA conversations. These are all critical to ensuring that students are given more agency over their own Middlebury experience and feel supported while doing so.

Lastly, as a caring, dedicated, and diligent individual, Karina is committed to making the Middlebury experience better for students by making herself available to speak with people individually. She is passionate about hearing people’s experiences and concerns about Middlebury as well as making sure that they are properly addressed. This is a quality that every SGA representative should possess, and knowing Karina, I cannot think of anyone more qualified, compassionate, and focused to represent the Middlebury student body. Vote for Karina, vote for a better Middlebury. 

Campus Sustainability Coordinators Board Members

Hello Friends, 

Kathleen and Esteban, on behalf of the Campus Sustainability Coordinators Board,  would like to endorse Karina Toy as our SGA president! Karina is an inspiring exemplar of leadership. She is a relentlessly hard worker with an extensive record of student leadership and community building. She genuinely cares and listens to those around her, and uses her role as a leader to exalt their voices in order to create change. Go check out her platform go/toy!

Co-Founder Brother-to-Brother male mentoring group, Former Ross Commons FYC, Peer Writing Tutor

I first saw Karina in action when we were on the First Year Committee. As one of the committee's leading members, she helped turn a dozen bumbling first years into into an effective community-building organization. Karina knows how to delegate tasks without being overbearing, incorporate the creativity of those around her, and is not one to let loud voices dominate a conversation. Karina's extensive contacts among the administrators and students make her excellently placed to link the two. This is the kind of president Middlebury students need as we make our campus more inclusive and accountable in the coming year.

Brainerd Commons FYC

I’m supporting Karina because of her passion and dedication towards building the Middlebury community.  I worked with her personally on the First Year Committee, when she was our Freshman Senator, and she always pushed us to achieve our goals we set as a committee. She always listened to our opinions, and always pushed to make our wants a reality. I believe she will do the same as SGA president in assuring the voices of all students are heard. I strongly believe Karina will do all of the amazing things her platform details. She is passionate about making important changes to make Middlebury a better place for all students! ​

Former Debate Society President, 2015 Middlebury Extraordinary Emerging Leader

Karina has been a massively influential voice and friend to all at Midd. Whether it is her consistent dedication to SGA for three years and trying to make our Middlebury experience more enjoyable, safe, and conducive as a learning environment or her tireless efforts to always have open ears and a warm heart so all can feel welcome approaching her, she is truly an incredible leader. Midd would be lucky to have her as SGA president. She never - wait for it - Toys around