It’s been easy to forget that ASG president Claire Lew has less than two months left in office before the next administration takes over. North by Northwestern sat down with Claire to talk about what she learned from the “three unrelated” debacle, the high points of her term and words of wisdom for the next president.
How is the process of drafting an amendment to the “three unrelated” rule going?
The process is going really well. Ethan Merel (the ASG External Relations Vice President) and I have been actively reaching out to students, aldermen and other parties to get input on how this ordinance should be amended, and what the City Council would actually be open to passing. We are really committed to putting something forward that carries real legitimacy and will be implemented by the City Council, and so that this ordinance no longer negatively affects students. By early Spring Quarter, we will have presented this ordinance amendment to City Council.
What was your impression of the student body reaction, on the whole, and specifically with regard to the town hall meeting?
On the whole, it’s great to see so many students caring about this issue. In regards to the Town Hall, I definitely understand students’ reaction and anger. However, the way that concerns were voiced were not solution-oriented or constructive at all. Moreover, the tone could have been so much more respectful. I think that despite how outraged we as students may feel, we have to maintain a level of civility.
What else does ASG need to do to strengthen town-gown relations?
We are pushing forward a lot of really important projects to work toward strengthening town-gown relations. This includes hosting City Officials for a dialogue with students in Senate on Mar. 2, planning for reNUvation, which is an annual neighborhood clean-up event we do in Evanston in May and helping the Wildcat Welcome Office plan the new community service day event to be implemented this fall.
On a more personal level, what do you take away from the experience?
The biggest thing for me was the importance of keeping the big picture in perspective. In that kind of situation it’s essential to maintain a focused mindset to ensure that everything you’re doing is in the best interest of the people you serve.
What did you do on the snow day?
I essentially hibernated in my room, caught up on school work and answered emails.
If they were making a movie in Hollywood about ASG, what celebrities would play you and some of the other folks in the administration?
I hope that never happens because that would make for the most boring movie ever. But in the event that times turn desperate, I’m pretty sure I would want Beyonce to play me. Does she even count as an actress because she’s only done a few movies?) I just think she’s the coolest person ever. I also think it’d also be amazing if it were in musical style and with impromptu singing and a grand finale dance number because the unintentional comedy would be off the charts.
Looking back, what are some of the proudest moments or accomplishments of your presidency?
We’ve been fortunate in being able to accomplish a lot of the goals we set out with — improving cell phone reception at the Library and in Tech, setting up the Book Swap program, coordinating after school activities for CPS [Chicago Public Schools] kids. I could go on and on. But there is still a lot left to be accomplished.
What does that include?
There’s always room for improvement. Improving cell reception is an ongoing process. We’re working a comprehensive off-campus housing guide. We have plans to start distributing a campus-wide newsletter, as well as for a more intuitive, effective student website. In the long-term, we’re keeping the dialogue open on the new student center initiative. These are all improvements that our administration can definitely make happen before April.
Do you have any regrets about your presidency or was their anything that caught you off guard when you first came into office?
I’m glad to say I have no regrets. But there’s really nothing that ever could have prepared me for the sheer workload that you assume when you take this office. This is a 24-hour commitment, and it never lets up. I was lucky in that I’ve been involved in ASG since I was a freshman, and I had some great people, past presidents, to work with and learn from.
What’s the best piece of advice you can offer the next president?
That’s a tough question — there are just so many things that come to mind. I guess the single most important thing is also a simple thing: Never forget that you represent 8000 people. It’s your job to serve them and work for their interests. Sometimes you just need to stop and reflect. Is there anything I can do better? Have I done my best? You only have a short time to capture a slice of the concerns of students and make a difference. Work with a focus.