The Alumni Council has welcomed 21 new transitional andpermanent representatives.
Transitional members are elected from the senior class, by thesenior class, in an effort to blend the transition for newalumni.
The members, elected from the Class of 2004, are Nikhil Abraham,Josh Belkin, Joe Coletti, and Mitch Lunn.
"I was thinking about ways to stay involved with Tufts after Igraduated," Abraham said. He said being on the Alumni Council wouldhelp "maintain my connection to the University."
Abraham recommended more social events to allow current studentsand alumni interact. "A lot of them have really interestingstories," he said. "It's interesting to see how Tufts has changedover the past 30 or 40 years."
Applicants for the spot have increased every year since theprogram's inception in 2000, with 20 candidates this year.
Permanent members are elected to the Council "by a nominatingcommittee of members of the alumni association around the world,and then there was an election in which all alumni were authorizedto vote online and by paper ballot," Alumni Association presidentAllan McDougall said.
There are approximately 200 members of the Alumni Council.
Permanent and transitional representatives are elected for fiveyears. At the end of their term, transitional representatives maychoose to run for a permanent position on the Council.
The permanent representatives elected this year are DavidBackman (LA '94), Catherine Carrington (J '00), Kathleen Devigne (J'96), Betty Hinkley (J '63), George Hirsch (LA '74), Ellie Kleinman(J '92), Rebecca McCaskill (J '96), Amy Newman (J '93), ClaudiaScholtz (J '95), Jeffrey Stewart (LA '90), Courtney Wang (LA '78),Thomas Williams (LA '92), and Leverett Wing (LA '90).
Elected from the graduate and professional schools were KateKaplan (G '95), Robert Steck (F '81), Dara Chira (J '89, D '93) andKathleen Marc (J '73, M '80).
The transitional representative program is unique to Tufts,McDougal said. "Among universities, it is very unusual for thesenior class to be electing directly to board," he said. "We put avery high value on intelligence and initiative of young alumni, andstudents as well, and this is why we have this arrangement."
McDougall said the transitional representative system "gives usa source of energy, and an insight into the requirements of young,recently graduated alumni that we would not get otherwise."
The transitional representative election occurred simultaneouslywith senior week tickets.
Requirements of members are the same for both positions andinclude service to the University and being part of an ongoingsupport system for all Tufts alumni and students.
"Alumni council members are expected not only to be loyalalumni, but to be active in supporting members of the Universityfamily," McDougall said.
Abraham said he understands he must continue to support Tuftsfinancially. "I feel very comfortable giving back to the school,"he said.
The Alumni Council governs the Alumni Association. The councilmeets at least twice each year and develops a budget. Members arerequired to attend one meeting each year and to continue servingthe University in another way.
This can be as a member of the Board of Trustees, an activeparticipant in an alumni chapter around the world, or a member ofone of the three co-ops the council funds.
Committees on the council include Homecoming, alumni weekend,awards, nominating, and student issues.
In addition, McDougall said, members must be "active financialcontributors" to the school and to the Alumni Council's loyaltyfund. He said the fund is "the major source of funds for operatingthe Alumni Association."
There is no minimum contribution that Council members arerequired to make.
