Grayson Lambert CLAS II Major: Undeclared Hometown: Columbia, SC Activities, Positions, Associations: Jefferson Literary and Debating Society (Sergeant-at-Arms) Club Golf Reformed University Fellowship
Current Position: UJC Counselor; Issues Subcommittee, Co-Chair
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
A UJC representative's first responsibility is to serve as a judge in trials. To fulfill this role, a judge must understand the structure and system of UJC while having the discretion to equitably judge each case. Secondly, UJC representatives are responsible for the work of the Committee as a whole, such as changes to the bylaws, education and awareness programs, and interaction with other CIOs and University officials. I am qualified for these responsibilities because of my vast experience with UJC. I have served as a first-year judge, a counselor and as co-chair of the Issues Subcommittee. These offices have allowed me to see every aspect of UJC, from the work of a judge to the work of a support officer to the work of the committee.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
There are two pressing issues with UJC right now. The first is the lack of community awareness as to what UJC does. To solve this problem, I propose major education programs, targeted not only at first-years, but also aimed at other organizations on Grounds. The second issue is the lack of professionalism. UJC serves an important role in the University community, and everyone who is part of UJC must take it very seriously. This year, the Issues Subcommittee is working on standards of professionalism. Once these are adopted, I believe they must be actively enforced to ensure the success and efficiency of UJC.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
In addition to my work with UJC, I have been an active member of the Jefferson Society, working specifically with the recent debates involving multiple organizations on Grounds and groups from other schools. My work with the First Tee Program through Madison House allowed me to use my interest in golf to help others. I also was vice president of Kent House Council last year, in which time I worked to foster dorm unity and create an enjoyable first-year experience.
Merriam Mikhail
CLAS II
Majors: American Politics and History
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Activities, postions, assocations:
Counselor, UJC
Former Vice Chair, First Year Judiciary Committee (2005-2006)
Member, Agape Christian Fellowship
Madison House tutor
Current Office/Position: Counselor (UJC)
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
An elected UJC CLAS representative sits on trial panels for cases that are filed with the UJC. I served my class as the vice chair of the First-Year Judiciary Committee, elected by my peers to serve as the trial chair for cases filed with the First-Year Judiciary Committee and to sit on the nine-member Executive Committee of the UJC. My experience on the Executive Committee under two administrations, along with my recent training as a counselor for the Committee, helped me gain valuable insight that I would utilize if elected as a UJC CLAS representative.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
Besides the term VSOC, too many students on Grounds are not familiar of the University Judiciary Committee. I would like to see the Committee reform its education efforts to not only list the standards but to provide students with resources to ensure that they do not break them. The UJC hears cases involving hate crimes, but I would like to see the Committee take a visible stance in preventing incidents of hate crimes before they occur. The UJC must also address the issue of safety within our community. The Committee has the power to sanction guilty students to ride-along shifts with Safe Ride, but I envision the Committee advocating Safe Ride as a preventative resource to avoid drunk driving. As an elected representative, I would bring these issues to the forefront of our community by creating new UJC subcommittees to address these areas. I would reform our education materials to reflect these important issues as we prepare to welcome in a new class of first-years into the community.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
Jefferson envisioned a community founded upon students learning from one another. As a first-generation Iraqi-American, I bring a diverse background into my involvement at the University. Throughout my term as the Vice Chair of the FYJC, I ensured that the sanctions my classmates received were educative, because I sincerely believe that students at the University can and must learn from their mistakes.
Dean de la Peña
CLAS III
Major: Physics, Economics
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
Activities, positions, associations:
First-Year Seminar, Facilitator
Third-Year Council, Social Chair
Jazz Ensemble, informal asst. director
ITC Help Desk, Consultant
Current office: University Judiciary Committee, CLAS Representative
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
Representatives, often referred to as judges, must first and foremost set trials to determine the guilt or innocence of those accused of violations of the U.Va. Standards of Conduct and to craft appropriate educational sanctions when necessary. My interpretation of the responsibilities inherent in this position, however, include working to improve the professionalism and transparency of the Committee, and to help educate the student body on the inner workings of the Committee so as to promote its welfare and needs. As an incumbent representative with nearly three years of service under my belt thus far, I know the bylaws and constitution of the UJC inside and out. I know from experience not only how to match appropriate sanctions with particular violations, but a long list of reasonable sanctions that will actually educate guilty students, not punish them. Perhaps most importantly, after three years I have identified key deficiencies -- communication and education, to name two -- that I believe are remediable and am prepared and excited to work to fix next year.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
The most important issue facing UJC currently is the lack of general student knowledge regarding its policies and procedures. To remedy this problem, I propose that we first enhance the "dorm talks" aimed at educating first-years about UJC and Honor. As these are cooperatively led by UJC and the Honor Committee, our educators need to work with theirs to create a more balanced presentation that will ensure first-year understanding of who we are and how we handle violations of the Standards of Conduct, not just defining the single sanction. I also want to spearhead an effort to advertise fall support officer and First-Year Judiciary Committee recruitment much more heavily, so that we might attract more students to learn about us and get the most qualified student support available. Finally, I hope that we might create a liaison between UJC and Honor, which does not currently exist (and should!), to help with first-year education, to smooth logistical problems arising from our sharing of space and facilities and to discuss policy initiatives to better both committees' operations.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
I am something of a diehard when it comes to the University of Virginia and have always tried to help out in whatever small way I can, whether by planning and executing events for the class of 2008 with Third-Year Council, working with Reunions to bolster alumni support and their connections to the University, or to help first-years understand the University better and create for themselves a better experience through the First-Year Seminar. Certainly my most important duty has been my time with the University Judiciary Committee, during which I have always done my best to keep it running as smoothly as any one representative could manage. I have also, since first-year, participated heavily in the music performance department at the University and still actively contribute to the arts environment on Grounds through my work with the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Chamber groups.
John Thornton
CLAS II
Major: Government and Economics
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Activities, positions, associations:
UJC Educator and Alumni Relations Chair
Varsity Football
Residence Life
Phi Delta Theta
Madison House
Current office/position: UJC Educator and Alumni Relations Chair
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
The responsibilities of a UJC representative are to provide a fair and impartial representative on all UJC trials. A representative should work to educate the public about UJC, and it should work to support the University's goals of education. As a member of several different organizations, I have had the opportunity to meet students from all walks of life. As a first-year judge, I gained experience in the court room. Also, as an educator, I have worked to increase the awareness of the University about the policies and procedures of UJC.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
I would like to further the efforts of the UJC to address hate related crimes. UJC needs to stand out as an example of multicultural awareness, and this can only be accomplished by educating students about its importance and the consequences of hate crimes.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
Throughout my two years at the University, I have given my time and efforts to educating students about UJC, helping first-years adapt to new living arrangements as an RA, improving U.Va. athletics and volunteering to coach youth soccer and basketball. Hopefully, next year I can continue to give back as CLAS UJC representative.
Connor Sullivan
School: CLAS
Year: 3rd
Major: History, Economics
Hometown: Cleveland, Oh.
Activities, positions, associations:
University Judiciary Committee
University Guide Service
Phi Delta Theta
Current office/position: Vice-Chair for First-Years
What are the responsibilities of the position you are seeking, and why are you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities?
I am seeking reelection as a representative to UJC from the College. I have served as the chair of the First-Year Judiciary Committee, as a Representative to UJC from the College and as UJC's vice-chair for first-years, with two full terms on the Executive Committee. I have the experience, passion, and competence to serve again as a representative to the committee.
If elected, what is the most pressing issue that you could realistically address, and how would you do so?
I would like to increase significantly the degree to which people are aware of how UJC can make their lives safer and better, while increasing the diversity of the pool of applicants to serve as support officers for the committee. I'd undertake to solve this problem by reaching out directly to underrepresented groups and organizations and targeting first years for education, as well as through general initiatives like placing a box in The Cavalier Daily with regular information about our cases.
What positive contributions have you made to the University community?
Inside UJC, I believe I've done a lot to make the committee fairer and more efficient, both for those who work for it and for those who come before it as accused students. Outside the committee, I like to think that I've done something to make all the organizations to which I belong more fun and more effective at doing their jobs.
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