Editor's note: The following is a transcript of the speech Brandon Rattiner delivered to the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate meeting on Sept. 20.
Starting a speech is the worst part of the public speaking process. You could try humor, but I'm not funny. You could try shock and surprise, but with this cold I sound pretty unintimidating. You could try straightforward, but that will put people to sleep. So, hoping to get some inspiration from old friends, I e-mailed a few former TCU presidents and looked at the beginning of their speeches, and here is what I got: embezzlement; huge freedom of speech crisis; economic meltdown; around $1,000,000 of recovered funds to spend. Nothing too applicable, but I did realize something pretty quickly.
This might just be a pretty boring year. Without any school-wide scandal or absurd amount of money to burn, it looks like the TCU Senate might be able to spend the whole year focused on the little things: hearing our constituents, identifying problems, solving them with teamwork and innovation. TCU Senate, welcome back to reality.
And I am comfortable with that; in fact, I am pretty thrilled. It's really about time that senators reconnect with the student body and start doing the things we are best at. I understand that the challenges of the past put us in a pretty weird spot, but focusing on abstract conversations or unachievable projects is a waste of everyone's time. As student leaders elected to make life at Tufts better, we must again immerse ourselves in the lives of students and simplify our mandate. This year's Senate has the rare opportunity to do that — to focus on what's important, to fight for what we believe in, to be an advocate for all types of students, to defend and improve different versions of the student experience.
But none of this can happen without first getting the student body's trust. Right or wrong, last year's debate and subsequent decision to build the Trips Cabin in New Hampshire sparked a firestorm on campus that showed how disconnected the body was from student input. This year's executive board has learned from the past mistakes, and we vow not to make them again. Utilizing the Web more effectively will increase our transparency, but more importantly it will allow the Senate to publish our agendas publicly prior to meetings, thus ensuring that no true surprises ever sneak up on the student body again. More effective and frequent polling will also keep the Senate honest and more in touch with the needs and desires of students. This year's Senate is committed to being approachable, forthcoming and easily accessible.
In terms of priorities of this year's Senate, here is a preliminary sketch. However, before I proceed, I want to be clear that this is only a very loose framework. The entire Senate will come together at retreat to create a clear, itemized agenda and set of priorities.
1. Creating a better communicative network for student leaders and clubs. Too often student leaders and clubs think of themselves as islands, or, even worse, as competitors. Establishing new traditions — like a networking dinner for all club presidents — and new communication vehicles — like an online workspace open only to club leaders — will infuse a spirit of teamwork into the student body. More effective co-calendaring and co-sponsorship will result, allowing student groups to use their resources and time more effectively.
2. Bolstering intellectual life on campus. The TCU Senate plans on making professors more accessible through our After Hours Conversation Series, a bi-monthly speaker series that will allow students to discuss research and academia with professors intimately and informally. The whole semester has already been confirmed with great speakers, from Dean Bosworth to Daniel Dennett. We also will keep working on making research more accessible, while trying to get syllabi online prior to course registration.
3. Re-engaging upperclassmen. Programs like our off-campus programming grant will encourage clubs to move some of their activities offcampus, into the houses of upperclassmen right around school. Additionally, block parties and other options will be explored to try and create a stronger connection on our streets.
These three priorities were all discussed last spring, but a new challenge has arisen over the summer, and it too will be tackled by the Senate.
4. As evidenced by Fall Ball ticketing, social life at Tufts is now being closely monitored by the administration — specifically, the student body's use of alcohol. Over the summer, a task force on alcohol policy was established, with over 10 student representatives, who will make suggestions to an also-new steering committee on alcohol. I sit on this steering committee, and we will all adopt and refine the task force's suggestions and change the alcohol policy appropriately.
However, I want to be clear about one thing. The administration is committed to changing things, and although I agree that improvements must be made, change ought to be slow and deliberate. This year's TCU Senate will not stand by if reactionary and unfair decrees are made from members of the administration. As representatives of the students, we will not be a mere rubber stamp of student approval. The TCU Senate is committed to working with the administration as partners in re-evaluating alcohol use on campus. But the adoption of huge changes without proper student consultation — like the recent move to have first violation offenses lead to Probation 1 — is disingenuous and shows a lack of respect for student input. If we are to be partners, let us be partners. My biggest concern is that while student input is articulated on the task force, the powers that be make changes due to a variety of other factors, thus usurping the task force and negating student input. Be assured that the TCU Senate will not allow this.
But on the same token, it is important that the student body re-evaluate its own behavior. The administration has only reached this point because we have pushed them there, and at the end of the day, their concern for our safety is more important than our desire to drink. We must be partners in this dilemma too. But I want to thank the student body for a terrific and safe Fall Ball. I think we sent a message loud and clear: With enough facilities and security, students can behave themselves, so long as those necessities are provided for. This is going to be a tremendously exciting year for all those involved in the TCU, and I hope that all of us, as elected senators, do the best we can to ensure this campus reaches its potential. I hope that senators learn to work together, learn to understand that projects and programs are not owned by committees but rather that they are owned by the whole body. I hope we all realize that as a Senate, we are one team — that individual worlds and ambitions must be integrated into a larger dynamic, capable of succeeding at anything.
Ending a speech is the best part of the public speaking process. Because if you have done your job in the speech thus far, you can just string a bunch of clichés or imperatives together, ennunciate them a certain way and expect the crowd to be inspired. This is our year. Now is the time. Go big or go home. But like I said before, this year is going to be a little different. It's just back to reality. Back to doing the small things that make a difference at the school. Back to working together for the greater good. Back to keeping things in perspective and realizing that we are just students, too. Back to being a student government, trying its hardest to make Tufts better. If we can just remember that, remember our simple goal, we will have a year met by success. And we might even have some fun doing it. Thank you all for listening, and I could not be more excited and honored to start working for everyone at this whole school. Be assured that I, this E-Board and the entire Senate will be there for you.
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TCU President Brandon Rattiner is a senior majoring in political science and philosophy.
