By Saiham Sharif and Carter Howe
sharifsa@grinnell.edu &
howethom@grinnelll.edu

SGA Senators were recently elected. They ran campaigns, and some of us voted. So who are our senators, and what are they about? The S&B’s Saiham Sharif and Carter Howe investigated. They talked to senators Henry Bolster, Warren Schweitzer and Jonathan Rebelsky. All photos by Mahira Faran.

The S&B: What made you want to run for a senator position?
Henry Bolster: I have hitherto taken for granted the flux of activity that constitutes a day at Grinnell. Who organizes the clubs that I participate in? Who decides how much money goes toward events on campus? Who sets the tenor of student life? I was – blissfully perhaps – ignorant of the answers to these questions. Was it the invisible hand of the market? Was it the twinkle in Bob Noyce’s eye? The crane? Now though, I’m beginning to get answers. Since becoming a senator, it’s as if the curtain has been pulled back and I see the gears of the machine working in well-oiled concert. And as senator I hope to pull back that curtain for my constituents – together we can glimpse the clockwork system that keeps our school ticking, together we can become clockmakers ourselves.
Do you have any key issues you hope to fix?
HB: I want to us as students to realize our agency in creating the culture of this school.
If you had a mascot or symbol for your cluster, what would it be?
HB: The U.S.S. Friendship.
How long have you lived in the cluster that you now represent? Do you have any particularly fond memories in your cluster?
HB: I have lived off-campus for almost four months now. We had a party at our house, 1008 High St., with all the alumni for their fifth year reunion. It was delightful to see current and former Grinnellians mingle so beautifully under the full Iowa moon.
What’s one unrealistic change that you wish you could implement, but don’t have the resources for?
HB: I’d like to put a big ol’ swimming hole right in the middle of campus. Give everyone three days off of work and worries in early May. Make it a few degrees warmer. Call it a Splash-o-rama,.
If you could change one thing about this College, what would it be?
HB: All institutions, probably, could benefit from a fair amount of change. For this one in particular, I’d like to see a reinvigoration of the notion that students can have an active say in the shaping of our College.
What does it mean to you to be a senator?
Warren Schweitzer: To me, being a senator means being a leader in the cluster community. I have the responsibility of taking the concerns of residents to Campus Council and to help foster a better cluster community through events.
If you had a mascot or symbol for your cluster, what would it be?
WS: If JaMaLand had a mascot or symbol, I’d probably think it to be a squirrel.
How long have you lived in the cluster that you now represent? Do you have any particularly fond memories in your cluster?
WS: I lived in James for a few months last year, and moved because of mental health issues that I had. I moved back this year and am very happy to be here.
What’s one unrealistic change that you wish you could implement?
WS: An unrealistic change I’d implement is air conditioning throughout campus.
What does it mean to you to be a senator?
Jonathan Rebelsky: To be a senator means to represent the cluster. My responsibilities are to help the residents of Smounker with whatever I can, and to keep SGA fiscally sound.
What’s something unique about your cluster?
Something unique about my cluster is its close proximity to the construction.
What’s one unrealistic change that you wish you could implement?
One unrealistic change I’d like would be the construction to be finished.