Special Election Candidate Platforms
Quinn Capper ’28
Hi, I'm Quinn and there are a few reasons why I'm running for student senate. My main point is specific enumeration of free speech for postering and other physical mediums. In the Reed College guidelines on dissent, they state that "The exercise of the right of dissent is not something to be grudgingly tolerated, but actively encouraged." Moreover, in their policy for Public speaking and solicitation, they say they are "committed to the principles of free inquiry and free expression". However, when you go to their guidelines page on Publications and public occasions of expression, notice that only "publications supported wholly by Student Body funds" or something to that effect, are free from censorship or editorial control by the college. This initially seems like a mistake, and I might be inclined to agree with you if it weren't for past censorship at Reed as well as censorship I have personally been subject to in relation to postering. I'm going to be sparse on details here, for the sake of space, but the censorship that I was subject to was explicit, with an encounter with Reed College janitorial(?) faculty suggesting that my publication—that abided by college guidelines for posters— was "graffiti", and when I refuted the claim, was then deferentially called 'something that we can't have up there' or something to that effect (for lack of my remembering the exact phrasing). This seems to be a recurring theme, with Quest publishing featuring both an article mocking the lack of postering guidelines, as well as a serious review of poster policy remaining unchanged after events of censorship, where it outlines that policy has not been updated (The articles are named as follows if you're interested, respectively: "New Poster Guidelines For Student Body", and "Details on Updated Poster Policy Remain Light"). As such, my appointment will mark the re-review of this policy and hopefully a solution to the censorship that I faced and what others have faced. Moving away from this particular point, I also hope to reform community ideals and raise awareness on how biased and discriminatory speech, from both faculty and students, negatively affects our community and specific ways to combat this (maybe informal platforms if official means can't bring accountability). This is my promise of accountability and trust to you, and I hope to earn your vote in the future. - Quinn Capper
Sam Kuo ’28
My name is Sam Kuo, I’m from Edmonds Washington, and I’m running to be one of your next senators! My favorite things to do are karaoke, watch sports (go hawks!), and cooking. For those who know me well, I’m the type of person who gives 110% to anything I want to do in life. I don’t like to leave things wishing I could have done more. That’s why I didn’t run for senate my first three semesters – I wanted to make sure I could fully dedicate myself to this position. I currently serve on Mock Trial Leadership, the APISU board, and participate in Reed College Chorus + Collegium. Now nearing the end of my sophomore year, I feel ready to represent students like you for this spring and upcoming fall. In fact, I’ve already been representing you (mostly) unknowingly. Every Monday at 4:00 PM you’ll find me at Senate Public representing student voices and concerns. While anyone could attend these meetings, I made a commitment to hear what each senator has been up to every week, something no other student at Reed consistently makes time for. Being a person of color at Reed can be challenging. While the college has great programs like PMP and spaces like the MRC to give POC safe spaces to hangout and study, awareness about these resources is lacking. I know many of you reading this don’t even know what the MRC is! As a senator, I will work to spread awareness of these places and programs because everyone deserves a safe space to eat, chat and study. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at kuosam@reed.edu or just come say hi! I’m doing this for you and your voice deserves to be heard. Vote Sam for Senate. Love you guys!
J. R. Wallingford ’27
Hi y’all! My name is J.R. Wallingford, I’m a junior political science major, and I’d love your support this election! I don’t have much experience with student government, but I am committed to Reed’s community and dedicated to serving it the best that I can. For me, my most important issue is focusing on maintaining and increasing student body autonomy from the Administration. In recent years, we’ve seen repeated encroachment from Admin onto rights and privileges held by students. I seek to try and find the best ways for us to push back against these encroachments together as a community. As a member of the Senate, I would be focusing on increasing student engagement with the student government, as I think that bringing the student body together is the best way to maintain our autonomy. During my time at Reed, it has often felt that many people are ambivalent towards the student government, or simply do not know what the Senate does. Because Senate is meant to function as a representative of the whole student body, we must reach out to and engage as many students as possible. I believe the best way to maintain autonomy from Admin is by having more support from the student body. I want to work on increasing the Senate's interaction with students, focusing on making interactions through elections and events more inviting and easily accessible for the student body. Providing free food at Senate events, creating an easy hotline for students to express their wants and needs to the Senate via online form, and cooperating with election czars to have in-person voting events to boost voter turnout are all projects I want to pursue. I am committed to fostering a student government that can engage and serve every student at Reed College to ensure that our voices are heard. I hope to have your support in this election and look forward to being able to serve.
Justus Woell ’28
Hello! I'm Justus, a sophomore spring transfer student from Michigan. As a Senator, I'll bring a fresh voice and perspective to Senate, and previous experience in student government to my representation of you. I hope to improve the student body's relationship with Student Senate and improve channels of communication and representation, both systematically and by being a friendly, neutral face to come to. I worked on solidifying these things at my last school, by serving as a member of the communications committee to strengthen ties to the student body, and by aiding a senate restructure to increase representation—particularly for underrepresented demographics (identity groups, commuters, first-years, club council). I want to bring this ethos to my Senate seat at Reed. I think it's important to have a space for students to be heard on every issue, no matter how minute. Reed's emphasis on student autonomy drew me here, and I will champion its protection. I have extensive experience advocating for students to administration that I'll bring to the table to help stop its erosion. Last but certainly not least, I'll push to add motion sensors to dorm hallway lights, adding to campus sustainability and subtracting from the annoyance of the light coming under your doo