SRB Elections are coming up on April 9-13! Per the HLS SRB Constitution, your student representatives need to get at least 5% of you to vote for them even if they are running unopposed, so please don’t forget to vote! The candidates for the following positions are:

President/Vice President: Lisa Lana/Andrew London

Director of Student Organizations: Dahoud Askar

3L Representatives (4 spots): Amanda Mindlin

2L Representatives (4 spots): David Dorfman; Paul Suitter

Check out their candidate statements below!

Dahoud Askar

J.D. Candidate 2015

Director of Student Organizations

The Student Representative Board can facilitate meaningful discussion between the student body and the administration, it can do a lot of important work and I want to be a part of that. I believe that the student organizations can be helpful in identifying specific issues at Harvard that require attention. They represent a phenomenally diverse student body and it would be a pleasure and a privilege to work with them.

I am a first year student and I’ve been especially lucky in this first year. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people this year and it has truly been a humbling experience. It would be an honor to serve as your Director of Student Organizations.

Thank You,

Dahoud Askar

Amanda Mindlin

Hi almost 3Ls! My name is Amanda Mindlin, and I really enjoyed being your 2L Rep and Event Coordinator last year.  I think the group that comprised SRB last year did a fantastic job of reforming the organization and we learned a lot in the process. I hope you allow us to continue! As for what I accomplished personally, I believe I managed to squeeze as many drink tickets as possible out of our budget at all of our events, and invented new “holidays” like Halfway Through Harvard. I also tried my hardest to bring my friends’ and classmates’ concerns and complaints to the table at SRB meetings.

Thank you for your consideration and I hope to have your vote!

Amanda Mindlin

David Dorfman

FADE IN

INT. CRIMSON NEWSROOM – DAY

An eager young reporter reads straight into the camera.

NEWSCASTER

In other news, David Dorfman, wanted for stealing

Dean Minow’s salad, was captured today outside

of Austin. Previously convicted of attempting to

organize section reunions during 2L year, assaulting

 Helios during the registration process, and abetting

 an attempt to facilitate intra-Harvard events, David

is being held at Wasserstein Correctional Complex.

INT. COURTROOM – DAY

A traumatized law student, DAVID DORFMAN, weeps from the stand.

PROSECUTOR

Why ‘d you do it? You had so much promise.

DAVID

I was hungry!

PROSECUTOR

That’s your excuse? Why didn’t you go to the Hark?

DAVID

(sobbing)

It was a Friday afternoon. The Hark wasn’t open!

The courtroom lets out a collective gasp. The jury nods in sympathy.

FOREMAN

In light of these mitigating circumstances, we think

serving another year as an SRB representative is the

appropriate sentence.

Do you agree with the jury’s verdict? If you do, I’d appreciate your support. As Section Four’s SRB Rep this past year, I’ve worked hard to make sure our voices were heard by the administration. If you agree that 1) 1L sections should receive additional funding to host reunions during 2L year, 2) the course registration process is needlessly complicated, 3) HLS is too insular, and 4) the time is now for Hark reform, then get out there and Dorf the Vote!  Thanks!

Paul Suitter

Hello,

My name is Paul Suitter. I am currently a 1L in Section 6, and excited to run for a 2L position on next year’s Student Representative Board. I’ve really enjoyed serving the SRB this year, working with students across 1L sections and graduation years on issues that are important to our fellow students. With the experience gained this year, I’m ready to jump in and hit the ground running on a number of issues this fall. I love talking to my classmates, and I’m always happy to bring their concerns to the table at SRB meetings.

Some specific things that I intend to do next year:

1.)  Assure access to Tivli is brought back to campus.

2.)  Increase communication between the SRB and student body, both in terms of what the SRB does, but also in relaying information from the administration to the study body.

3.)  Expand and improve upon programs available to 2Ls sponsored by the SRB such as “Halfway through Harvard” events and section reunions.

4.)  Work on small—but concrete—issues that can really improve student life. (For example: getting enough microwaves in the Hark that are powerful enough to cook a meal quickly.)

5.)  Work to establish a community-wide social event or competition in the spring.

6.)  Continue and expand professor lunches started by the SRB this year.

7.)  Relay any concerns of classmates as they come up.

Thank you, and I hope to have your vote for the SRB in the fall.

-Paul

Election Commissioner

• Elections for SRB in Spring – need election coordinators (no one who is running for office)
  • Tara Norris and Emily Cusick

Admitted Students Weekend – volunteers requested from DOS

Financial Aid Committee

• 1L rep Committee that works on financial aid for the law school
  • Valerie Duchesneau would like to represent international students
  • Paul Suitter

Student polling:

• SRB must send out a poll to the student body concerning big issues. Email Lisa Lana with ideas about what should be included on the poll (facilities issues, registrar issues, source interest for possible initiatives).
• Ideas:
  • Calendar @ Law update
  • Does anyone read News @ Law?
  • Color of the pub?

Money for Sections

• Andrew and Lisa meet regularly with DOS and requested money to be budgeted for section events in second and third year – $500/section each year starting this year.
• To be reported to the treasurer; must have a critical mass of section members attend.
• Restrictions on type of event remain the same as those applied to 1L sections (with regards to alcohol, etc.)

RA/pub updates

• Adding more food in The Pub at 3pm-8pm.
• Put up board across from the pub to better publicize hours.
• Pending: attempt to get somewhere to be open 2:30pm-5pm for coffee and snacks due to the lack of available coffee during that time.
• Coffee machine in The Pub so that lattes and other coffee drinks are available to students.

Refrigerator in tunnels

• There is a refrigerator in the tunnels underneath Lewis – by a microwave and vending machines.
• Convenient enough location? HLS attempted to place it in an area without much traffic.
• Cleaned frequently enough?

Computer locks in library

• DOS agreed contingent on library agreement

Academic issues (Ben)

Lunches with professors

• Small group lunches for sign-up.
• When: early March.
  • Doesn’t conflict with Ames brief due dates for 1Ls.
  • Professor contact list?
    • Email list currently being compiled for SPIF auction.
    • Can bring letters to mail room.
    • Better to contact assistants for scheduling purposes.

Registrar’s Issues and Concerns

• Extending the add/drop period by another week.
  • Should at least be extended past the firesale.
  • How can the registrar make their communication more effective?
    • Section 3: got the elective list wrong last semester and included electives that conflicted with Section 3 classes.
    • Complaints over the LRW schedules for 1Ls that conflicted with Negotiation Workshop.
    • Cross-registration information:
      • Would be helpful to have a lunch-hour information/teaching module “How to Cross Register.”
      • Updates on course offerings: registrar could create a subscriber listserv about course offerings and registration issues.
      • Counseling available for choosing classes?
        • Programs on study available, but don’t seem very effective/comprehensive for all programs on study (i.e., international).
          • Many 1Ls don’t understand how they work.
          • Programs on study fair?
• Perhaps having a go-to person in the Registrar’s office.
• Professors from 1L sections have given that kind of information, it would be useful if they compile it.

1L information synthesis and evaluation:

• Provide link to student handbook
• Schedule a time during which to go through the 1L information.
  • Bring any materials given within sections about 1Ls.

Calendar @ Law update: do people like it? Put on survey to student body.

Section 6 would like to know about the Pub Night that they won.

Possible Community Fair Grant from January Meeting?

• Not applied: liability issues to have children present on campus.
• Plan for other SRB events with available funds
  • Pub Night at Queenshead – March 7
  • Trivia?
  • Don’t want to conflict with Parody

ABA Conference on February 23

• Students from all different law schools will be at the Harvard campus.
• Food available.

Other thoughts/items from Board members

• Tivli channels no longer available to law students – limited to undergrads.

Present Members:

Emily Cusick

Jennifer Chan

Lisa Lana

Andrew London

David Husband

Paul Suitter

Valerie Duchesneau

Dina Guenther

Gustavo Ribeiro

David Dorfman

Afton Cissell

Dahoud Asker

Ben Apple

Next meeting?

• February 25 at 8pm

GOP Blood Drive For Hurricane Sandy Victims – Thursday, 11/29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Milstein West AB. The Red Cross has been running a deficit in their blood donations due to Hurricane Sandy, so we hope to make this drive big enough to help them in their post-Sandy efforts.

Restaurant Associates Info Session – FREE FOOD – Thursday, 11/29, noon in Milstein East B. Come talk with Restaurant Associates (the catering company that runs the Hark and the Pub Servery) about who they are, what they offer, and how they can improve upon student experiences. You’ve gotta eat lunch so you might as well come get some free food –and they really want our feedback!

Restaurant Associates-Student Committee (Aka The Grub Club) - SRB and Restaurant Associates are seeking HLS students to participate on a committee that will meet MONTHLY beginning in January to discuss concerns about food, service hours, etc. Food and drinks will be provided at the meetings. Please email me a brief (couple sentences) statement of interest at studentgov@mail.law.harvard.edu by 5 pm on Friday, November 30 if you are interested in joining.

Graduate Student Council - The Harvard Graduate Student Council is seeking four HLS representatives to sit on their committee. The GSC plans various cross-school events and meets bimonthly on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm. Please email me a brief (couple sentences) statement of interest at studentgov@mail.law.harvard.edu  by 5 pm on Friday, November 30 if you are interested in joining.

Student Organization And Journals Committee - The SRB is still seeking applicants for participants for the SOJC which will advise the SRB on  potential institutional changes in procedures for funding organizations, coordination of activities and collaboration among groups, and procedures for the development of new organizations. We are now particularly seeking students in leadership positions on journals or student orgs. To apply, please email the SRB Director of Student Organizations, Valerie Duchesatneau atvduchesneau@jd14.law.harvard.edu with a list of your involvement with student orgs and journals ASAP.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at last week’s Thanksgiving Charity Dinner and making it such a success. We’re still in the process of totaling the money raised, but we’ll keep you posted on that.

Join the SRB and DOS for the annual HLS student body Thanksgiving Dinner – Sunday 11/18, 6-9pm in Milstein. Tickets will be $12 a person and will be available for purchase from SRB Representatives and at tables outside the Hark during lunch hours beginning later this week and continuing next week until we sell out. Tickets are limited so get them quick. The event will include the traditional American Thanksgiving fare, pies lovingly donated by DOS, and raffles for all kinds of fun items.

In continuing our HLS Thanksgiving tradition, proceeds from the event will be donated to a charity chosen by the student body. PLEASE VOTE FOR THE CHARITY AT THE FOLLOWING LINK NO LATER THAN THIS WEDNESDAY, 11/7 BY 5 PM. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hlscharities

Also note that the 1L Section that purchases the most tickets will win an SRB-sponsored pub night later in the year, so 1Ls, hunt down your Rep later this week!

 SRB Kickoff Pub Night

SRB is excited to officially announce our presence on campus with our Kickoff Pub Night on Friday, 11/16, 5-7pm in the HLS Pub/overflowing into the Lounge. Come meet your Representative Board and have a drink and some snacks on us as you’re getting pumped up for Harvard-Yale football the next day…see this really is a “kickoff” event! Drink tickets available until they run out. Don’t forget your student id.

Call for applications for the Student Organization and Journals Committee (SOJC) 

Dear Students,

We are excited to call for applications for the Student Organization and Journals Committee (SOJC).

The SOJC works with the Director of Student Organizations and the Student Representative Board (SRB) to represent the interests of student organizations and journals. This could be a great opportunity to advise the SRB on potential institutional changes in procedures for funding for organizations, coordination of activities and collaboration among groups, and procedures for the creation of student groups.

We are calling for applications for the following roles:
1. At least one member who is on the executive board of a student organization;
2. At least one member who is on the upper masthead of a student journal, and;
3. Possibly two students who fall in neither category, for a total of at least four (4) students.

To apply for any of the above positions, please email your Director of Student Organizations, Valérie Duchesneau, atvduchesneau@jd14.law.harvard.edu, with a list of your involvement with student organizations and journals (position and name of student org and/or journal). Applications should be received no later than Thursday, November 8th, at midnight.

I look forward to working with you this year!

Valérie Duchesneau

Update on SRB’s Hark Hours Initiative

In response to student concerns about afternoon availability of food, Restaurant Associates has agreed to keep additional lines open in the upstairs Harkness Café until 2:30 pm on weekdays and make additional items available at the Pub Grille at 2:30 pm.

The following stations are now open until 2:30 pm in Harkness Café:

Deli, Soup, Action Station, Hot Line, Salad Bar, Dessert

The following stations are available at the Pub Grille at 2:30 pm:

Salad Bar, Dessert, Soup, Quick Pick Sandwiches, Pizza Slices

The SRB welcomes your feedback on how these changes are working out as we will be in ongoing contact with Restaurant Associates regarding student response and desired changes to hours.

 SRB Office Hours

If you have any ideas or concerns, we’d love to hear from you!  Come talk to us during our office hours.

• When — Tuesday (11/13) from 12pm – 1pm
• Where — In the Pub
• How to Find Us — We’ll have an SRB sign