Welcome

August 9th, 2010 Comments off

As we transition from the 2012-13 Council to the 2013-14 Council, please excuse the construction on the site. We are updating it to better serve you!


Send YOUR opinions to opinions@wso.williams.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!
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A Message from College Council: We’re Following the Bylaws!

March 14th, 2013 Comments off

Greetings, Williams!

As the dust from this past election cycle settles and we all bid farewell to the fun known as midterm season and approach Spring Break (!), the 2013-14 College Council is excited to begin working on the projects that matter to you!

First, Max and I want to thank YOU for the honor of serving as your Co-Presidents this year.  We’re so lucky to serve in this capacity and are both excited to work with you, attend your club meetings, cheer you on during your different sporting events, and, with your help, make your Williams experience that much better.

We want this email to serve as a quick introduction!  Very soon, you’ll receive an email from us with all of the student-faculty committees that we hope you want to be a part of for the upcoming school year.  This school has many different avenues for getting involved and changing Williams for the better; we hope you decide to apply to one, or two, of even seven of them.

Before we end this message, we want to remind you of several ways to keep us “in the know”.  You can:

  • Come to our meetings on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm in Hopkins Basement (001);
  • Stalk us.  Facebook us.  WSO us.  Text us.  We want to know what you’re doing and how we can serve you better;
  • Read “You’re In the Know,” College Council’s bi-weekly bathroom newsletter (which will be nicely displayed in a bathroom stall near you VERY SOON!)

Additionally, we’ve been working hard to implement the new vice presidential structure many of you voted in favor of this past fall.  As a reminder, they’re a resource for you too.  If you have any questions about a particular issue on campus, please email Max (mdh2) or I (rac1).  Or, additionally, email any one of the following CC Officers

  • Matt McNaughton (VP of Operations)
  • Erica Moszkowski (VP of Student Affairs)
  • Teddy Onserio (VP of Student Organizations)
  • Kate Flanagan (VP of Academic Affairs)
  • Emily Nuckols (VP of Community and Diversity)
  • Emily Dzieciatko (Treasurer)
We’re beyond excited and cannot wait for where this year will take us.  We’re all on the same team and we promise we’ll work hard to cultivate a (stronger) community.
To continually following the bylaws,


Max and Adrian
CC Co-Presidents
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A College Council Farewell

February 24th, 2013 Comments off

Dear Williams,

We are writing to thank you. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as your College Council Co-Presidents.

We are happy to report that the state of the College is strong. This year on Council was marked by change and careful attention to actual demonstrated student need and interest. We listened like we never have before. We took our stewardship of the student body’s money seriously, and as a result, we were able to fund your student organizations more generously, co-sponsor a multitude of all-campus events, and formulate a plan to spend down our cumulative rollover. We knew that the composition of College Council did not adequately reflect the students that it represents, so we restructured it to allow for equal class-year representation, a designated vice president for four specific and pervasive interest areas (academic affairs, student organizations, student affairs, and community and diversity), and the addition of an Assistant Treasurer. This Council prepared for some of the more glamorous work on the issues affecting our community to be done by future Councils, and we are excited for their leadership.

We had tangible changes and improvements to the student experience in mind: providing ACE Concerts with funding for Macklemore; working with Dining Services and our Food Committee student chair, Tyler Sparks, to extend late-night hours and to open Lee After Dark; creating Community Matters, a forum for honest discussions relevant to every Eph; the strengthening and institutionalization of SuperFan; thoughtful and careful work surrounding mental health and campus resources; and many of your Great Ideas. One of our Council’s priorities was focusing on how well we provide for our student organizations—a responsibility that stems from a long history of empowering students to take charge of their own affairs here at the College. This Council has also collaborated with other groups of students engaged in important community-building work to insist that conversations about diversity, inclusion, and community belong and are respected in every corner of this campus.

College Council taught us to balance our LOVE for this place with an ability to look at it critically and to pinpoint precisely where it might improve, or get safer, happier, healthier, or easier. We were fortunate to partner with staff and administrators—particularly, Vice President Klass and Dean Bolton—who are on our side; Williams is better because of relationships like these. We also need to thank and acknowledge all of the members of College Council 2012-2013. We’ll miss our Wednesday nights together, but we can’t wait to see what you get up to, at Williams and in the world.

The long-standing legacy of selfless service to the College is alive and well. Williams students care. It doesn’t matter if you have never been to a meeting in Hopkins basement. What’s important is that you know and trust that CC is working hard and advocating to make your experience better. We believe in College Council and in the work that it does, and in the two thousand of you.

We are all invested in Williams. In the last three and a half years, we’ve been to your events and performances, we’ve cheered for you at your games, and we’ve sat in on your group meetings. We’ve studied next to you in the library and we’ve been part of countless conversations about ways to make this school better. We’ve seen how hard you are working and how much it matters to you. Thank you for making this such a fun and worthwhile place to be. We could not be prouder to have represented you!

We are grateful for your engagement and support this year. Though we are done with this ‘job,’ we are by no means done with this work. We care deeply about this school and this community every day.

Yours,
Krista and Peter

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College Council Election Results

February 17th, 2013 Comments off

Williams:

Thank you for your thoughtful participation in and engagement with these College Council elections. 1,386 of you voted– that’s 65% of the student body– and the results are below. For a complete report of the poll results, follow this link:

https://www.bigpulse.com/pollresults?code=29229dyQx8SefT54U8kY2Pif 

Congratulations to the new Council! We are excited for your leadership.

Without further ado, we present your elected representatives!

Co-Presidents
Max Heninger and Adrian Castro

Treasurer
Emily Dzieciatko

Vice President of Operations
Matthew McNaughton

Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kate Flanagan

Vice President for Community and Diversity
Emily Nuckols

Vice President for Student Affairs
Erica Moszkowski (spring) and Michael Williams (fall)

Vice President for Student Organizations
Teddy Onserio

Assistant Treasurer
Brian McNamara

Class of 2013 Representatives
Brandon Abasolo
Laura Calloway
David Michael
Samantha Teng

Class of 2014 Representatives
Ben Fischberg
April Jenkins
Stefan Lainovic
Gia Recco

Class of 2015 Representatives
Ryan Barry
Clyde Engle
Shannon Hsu
Rani Mukherjee

Class of 2016 Representatives
Abigale Belcrest
Jessica Bernheim
Jesús Espinoza
Alphayo Nyarera

Class of 2015 Honorary Degrees
Ben Augenbraun
William Earle

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Run for College Council

February 17th, 2013 Comments off

Williams:

Although we would LOVE to be your Co-Presidents forever, it’s that time of year again: spring College Council elections!

WHY SHOULD I BE ON COLLEGE COUNCIL?

Students at Williams have a voice. The student body has a rich legacy of engagement and service. The most consistent and visible apparatus for effecting positive change on campus is College Council. Members of CC better this community by communicating with their peers about various College issues, initiating or supporting campus improvement projects, representing the needs and desires of Williams students to the administration, and taking a critical look at the campus with an eye toward setting and achieving realistic goals for its advancement.
There are positions available for all class-years (including seniors), no experience necessary.

 

IN THIS EMAIL, YOU WILL  FIND:
a.) A description of College Council
b.) A list of positions for which you are eligible to run
c.) A College Council Elections timeline

Remember that there are many ways to meaningfully engage with and to effect change in this community. It takes 2,000. Click here to access a comprehensive list of student groups at Williams.

If you are considering running for a position on College Council, please come by the Student Activities Resource Center (the room with the computers and the color printer upstairs in Paresky) to the College Council office on Sunday, 2/3, any time between noon and 3pm. Ask questions and/or think through your decision or approach with current members of CC. If you can’t make it (isn’t there a football game that day or something?!), email/Facebook/call/text/whatever your favorite Council member and any of the 26 of us will gladly meet with you. #CCnerds

Self-nominations are due by email at 11:59pm on Monday, February 4th. Please send them to runforCollegeCouncil@gmail.com. Candidates may officially begin campaigning at midnight on Tuesday, 2/5, and no sooner. Nominations have a 500-word limit and should include your name, the position for which you are running, relevant experience, and a brief explanation of why you are the best candidate for the position/what you hope to achieve on CC. The elections will be held online, beginning on Thursday, February 14th, and closing on Saturday, February 16th. All students will receive an email with a link to  our voting system, and all may vote (including seniors).

Questions?  kmp3 or pjs1

Thoughts?  opinions@wso.williams.edu

Looking   for something?  collegecouncil.williams.edu

LIKE what  we’re doing?  Make it Facebook official

Money on your mind?  moneyatWilliams@gmail.com
On behalf of College Council 2012-2013, we wish you the best of luck in the upcoming elections.
Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper CC Presidents

TELL ME MORE…

 

College Council is Williams College’s campus-wide student representative body. CC’s most important functions include giving students a voice regarding campus issues, responsibly and fairly funding over 150 student groups and various campus events and balancing the student body’s $400,000 yearly budget, providing a starting point for student initiatives to improve the campus or College programs, and appointing students to the student-faculty-administration committees. College Council meets weekly on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9pm in Hopkins 001. All meetings are open to the community and students are encouraged to attend. All currently enrolled undergraduate Williams students are eligible to run for CC. These positions are intended to attract engaged and proactive members of the student body who are willing to work hard for positive change (big or small) on this campus. Bottom line: we know you’re busy, but CC promises a manageable, flexible, and fulfilling workload.

 

POSITIONS FOR SPRING ELECTIONS

 

Co-Presidents/President (candidates may run individually or as a pair): The Co-Presidents/President are the primary representatives of student opinion to the College administration and the leaders of the Williams College Council. They chair the College Council and the Executive Committee, and sit as ex officio members of all College Council committees. The Co-Presidents set the agenda for the College Council, identify priorities for the Executive Committee, and direct the activities of the Williams College Council. They oversee and support all functions of the Williams College Council. The Co-Presidents call meetings of the Council, cast a vote in the case of a tie, and represent the Council and its decisions. In the case of a President, all duties and responsibilities of the Co- Presidents revert to the President. The President will chair the Executive Committee.
Vice President for Operations: The Vice President for Operations is responsible for organizing and supporting all activities of the College Council. S/he is responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the College Council through membership oversight, maintenance of the constitution, bylaws, budget, and all of the regular processes of the Council. S/he manages staff hired by the College Council, oversees elections and appointments to committees of the College, and performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign. In the event that the Co-Presidents or the President are temporarily unable to fulfill their duties, the Vice President for Operations will serve as Acting President until the President reassumes her/his responsibilities.
Vice President for Academic Affairs: The Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for all College Council policy and programming initiatives in the area of academic and intellectual life. S/he serves as Student Chair of the Committee on Educational Policy and provides oversight and guidance for the student members of all College committees that affect academic policy. S/he is responsible for building relationships with faculty, liaising with administrators on academic issues, crafting all College Council academic policy, representing the College Council in campus dialogue regarding the curriculum and academic program, and performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign.
Vice President for Community and Diversity: The Vice President for Community and Diversity is responsible for all College Council policy and programming initiatives in the area of community life. S/he serves as Student Chair of the Committee on Diversity and Community, sits on the Finance Committee, and provides oversight and guidance for the student members of all College committees that affect community life. Under a joint agreement between College Council and the Minority Coalition, s/he also serves as a board member of the Minority Coalition. The Vice President for Community and Diversity is responsible for building relationships and liaising with faculty, staff, and administrators, serving as a resource to student organizations that focus on building community at the College, crafting all College Council policy on matters of community and diversity, representing the College Council in campus dialogue regarding community and diversity, and performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign.
Vice President for Student Affairs: The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for all College Council policy and programming initiatives in the area of student life. S/he serves as Student Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Life and provides oversight and guidance for the student members of all College committees that affect student life. The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for building relationships and liaising with staff and administrators on issues of student life at the College, crafting College Council policy related to student life, for providing specific programming to support College Council initiatives, and performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign.
Vice President for Student Organizations: The Vice President for Student Organizations is responsible for managing all College Council policies related to club life and for collaborating with the Treasurer to support all student organizations financially and institutionally. S/he chairs the Student Organizations Committee and sits as a member of the Finance Committee. The Vice President for Student Organizations, along with the Treasurer, is the College Council liaison to the Office of Student Life for matters that relate to student organizations, including, but not limited to: group re-registrations, Purple Key Fair registrations, Student Jamboree registrations, and the Fall Treasurer/Club Sport training sessions. S/he is responsible for overseeing all chartering, club support, and review processes, as well as maintaining and publishing a comprehensive list of student groups at Williams. S/he also performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co- Presidents may assign.
Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the club funding process and for maintaining the Council’s books. S/he chairs the Finance Committee and sits as a member of the Student Organizations Committee. The Treasurer, along with the Vice President for Student Organizations, is the College Council liaison to the Office of Student Life and is the primary manager of the Student Activities Fee. The Treasurer reports on the budget and the status of College Council accounts to the Council, oversees the Assistant Treasurer, and performs such duties as the Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign.
Assistant Treasurer: The Assistant Treasurer assists the Treasurer in maintaining Council’s books. The Assistant Treasurer is a member of Finance Committee and performs such duties as the Treasurer, Executive Committee or Co-Presidents may assign.

2013 Class Representatives (4): Class Representatives for the Class of 2013 shall represent the interests of the Senior Class and the student body at-large, keep their constituents informed of Council proceedings, and serve and actively contribute on at least one committee.

2014 Class Representatives (4): Class Representatives for the Class of 2014 shall represent the interests of the Junior Class and the student body at-large, keep their constituents informed of Council proceedings, and serve and actively contribute on at least one committee.

2015 Class Representatives (4): Class Representatives for the Class of 2015 shall represent the interests of the Sophomore Class, keep their constituents informed of Council proceedings, and serve and actively contribute on at least one committee.

2016 Class Representatives (4): Class Representatives for the Class of 2016 shall represent the interests of the Freshman Class, keep their constituents informed of Council proceedings, and serve and actively contribute on at least one committee
Officer, Vice Presidential, and Assistant Treasurer candidates are elected in an all campus vote. Officers and Vice Presidents serve year-long terms, and the Assistant Treasurer and Class Representatives semester-long. Class Representatives are elected via all-class vote. Officers and Vice Presidents comprise the Executive Committee.

CC ELECTIONS TIMELINE

Sunday, 2/3/13: General Information Session for students interested in College Council (‘walk-in’ style, CC Office, 12 to 3pm)

Monday, 2/4/13: Self-nominations due by 11:59pm to runforCollegeCouncil@gmail.com

Wednesday, 2/6/13: Self-nominations distributed to the student body via email   Thursday, 2/7/13: Meet the Candidates (open to the whole campus)

Sunday, 2/10/13: The Record-sponsored CC Presidential Debate (and year-long-position candidates’ speeches) in Baxter Hall

Wednesday, 2/13/13: All-Candidates CC Meeting, 7-9pm, Hopkins 001 (though all of our meetings are open, we especially encourage candidates running for positions on CC to attend this one)
Thursday, 2/14/13: Voting begins (online; you will receive an e-mail that elections are live)

Saturday, 2/16/13: The polls close at 8pm and the results are announced shortly thereafter in Paresky and then by email

Wednesday, 2/20/13: Joint College Council meeting between the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 Councils

 

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The Great Ideas Campaign!

January 14th, 2013 Comments off
Williams College:
College Council is excited to announce the start of the 5th annual Great Ideas Campaign!

What’s missing from your college experience? What would make it better? College Council can make any Great Idea happen. There is no idea too small or too big.

Submit a proposal to GreatIdeasCampaign@gmail.com or fill out this form. There’s no deadline. We’ll work hard for you year round!


Great Ideas are designed to improve some aspect of the student experience at Williams. The rest is up to you! Would you like to make improvements to your dorm or to a student space? Delicious dining dreams? A program that Williams needs? Sample Great Ideas from previous years include: SUPERFAN, the creation of a comprehensive list of student groups at Williams, the purchasing of a colorprinter for the Student Activities Resource Center in Paresky, the Textbook Reserve Program in the libraries, the brand new hot chocolate machine in Whitmans’ (yum!), the Video Game Library in Sawyer, providing free online subscriptions to and hard copies of The New York Times in the student centers, and SophomOrientation.


Tell us how we can best serve you.


Your biggest fans,

Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper

College Council 2012-13


P.S. Money on your mind? College Council is one of many places to secure funding for a project, event, or campus improvement. Email moneyatWilliams@gmail.com with funding-related questions!

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The State of This College

December 16th, 2012 Comments off

Partners in Purple, we write as the semester comes to a close to tell you some of what we think is important to know about the College.

 

Williams is relentlessly self-reflecting and critical. We live here, we learn here, and we are invested here. Our job as a College Council is to keep this place functional, to support you in your endeavors, and to proactively make Williams work better for you. We are fortunate for an administration, College committees, academic departments, and campus offices that are attuned to our needs. We are your advocates; call on us. CC will bend over backwards for you. We are proud of College Council and the work that it is doing, and we are confident that it is serving you every day.

 

Read on for some of the specifics. We promise you will discover something that CC has done this semester that makes your experience at Williams a little brighter.

 

Sincerely,

Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper

CC Presidents

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You Are Not Alone

October 22nd, 2012 Comments off
Williams:
On Thursday, October 11th, College Council’s Mental Health Committee will host You Are Not Alone, an evening of solidarity and support for students who have been impacted by issues affecting their emotional, psychological, or social wellbeing. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. You Are Not Alone will be the culminating event of the College’s Break the Silence Week, a five-day initiative to raise awareness and promote thoughtful and sensitive discussion about depression and suicide.
You Are Not Alone will begin at 9 p.m. in Goodrich Hall. Four students will speak about the challenges they have faced relating to their own ability to fully thrive at Williams or in the world beyond; an open mic for the student body will follow. Counselors from the Health Center and the Chaplain’s Office will be available as resources.
Many students at Williams struggle with depression, alcoholism, disordered eating, heartbreak, anxiety, coming to terms with their sexuality, or a variety of other mental health challenges. Many struggle with the notion of effortless perfection. Many struggle in ways they cannot even articulate. We hope this event will give students a fuller understanding of the nature and spectrum of mental health challenges on campus. We also hope that it will be a step for the Williams community toward becoming an environment where struggle is not equated with failure.
To continue this honest discussion, the Mental Health Committee will facilitate a weekly support network, Good Company, beginning on 10/18, on Thursdays at 9 p.m. in Griffin 1. Come to share. Come to listen. Come to be together, in Good Company.
Please support the Williams community and ‘You Are Not Alone’ on Thursday, October 11th.
Sincerely,
Krista Pickett and Gia Recco
Co-Chairs of Mental Health Committee
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ELECTION RESULTS!

September 28th, 2012 Comments off

Hello, friends!


Without further ado, we present your newly-elected College Council and Honor and Discipline Committee members.

1,128 (52.4%) Williams students voted in this election, a 22% increase from last year’s Fall turnout. Thank you for participating, and please know that CC will continue working hard to make your college experience better. You do not need to be a member of College Council to initiate a campus improvement project. We will gladly help and/or serve as a resource to you in your endeavors.

College Council and Honor and Discipline Committee are excellent ways to get involved, but there are many more opportunities to be the change you wish to see. Click here for a list of student groups at Williams.

Questions? kmp3 or pjs1
Looking for something? collegecouncil.williams.edu

SuperFan? Join the Facebook movement (football game vs. Trinity, 1:30pm, TOMORROW! Bring $5 for a sweet pair of SF sunglasses)

No Wednesday night plans? Stop by a CC meeting, from 7-9pm in Hopkins 001. All are welcome.


We are so proud to represent you.

Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper
CC Presidents

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College Council Self-Noms Due TONIGHT

September 19th, 2012 Comments off

Good evening/morning, Williams!

We are dedicating what remains of this precious computer battery (in “light” of the power outage) to sending a friendly reminder that the deadline to submit your self-nomination for College Council and/or the Honor and Discipline Committee is fast approaching. We could NOT be more excited for you!


What can I run for?
The positions up for election this fall are semester-long. Sage, Willy, Mills-Dennett, and Armstrong-Pratt will each elect one representative. The sophomore, junior, and senior classes will elect three per class year. The campus will elect one Assistant Treasurer. Two representatives per class year will be elected to serve on the Honor and Discipline Committee.


What is the time commitment?
College Council meets weekly on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9pm in Hopkins 001. In addition, there is an optional agenda-setting Sunday night meeting and CC members are expected to pursue their own campus improvement projects independently. These positions are intended to attract engaged and proactive members of the student body who are willing to work hard for positive change (big or small) on this campus. Bottom line: we know you’re busy, but CC promises a manageable, flexible, and fulfilling workload.


Sign me up!!
Send your self-nomination (with a 500-word limit) to runforCollegeCouncil@gmail.com by Wednesday, 9/19, at 11:59pm. Click here for a somewhat helpful writing guide. **Be sure to list your name, your class year, and the position for which you are running.**


I’m not “running,” but I want to be INFORMED!
Check WSO, Daily Messages, and the CC Facebook page for information about our new Meet the Candidates session, tentatively scheduled for this upcoming Monday in Paresky (time TBD). OR simply visit collegecouncil.williams.edu.


Click here to access a comprehensive list of student groups at Williams. Remember that there are many ways to meaningfully engage with and to effect change in this community. It takes 2,000.


Wishing you a wonderful and well-lit Wednesday,
Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper
College Council Presidents


P.S. We are partnering with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to sponsor this year’s first SUPERFAN event THIS SATURDAY at noon for the Field Hockey game! Stop by our table in Paresky during lunch on Thursday or Friday to buy some super sweet Williams SF shades, and come to the game to cheer on the Lady Ephs, to win free apparel, and to get a freeze pop from Caroline Wilson! And join the SuperFan Movement on Facebook
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Run for College Council (our amendment passed)!

September 13th, 2012 Comments off

Williams:

THANK YOU for passing the proposed amendments to the College Council constitution! With a total of 922 students voting in the referendum (94.79% voting ‘Yes,’ 3.04% voting ‘No,’ and 2.17% choosing to abstain), the constitution put forth to the student body (click here to read it) for a vote on September 5th was officially ratified.

We are proud to announce these changes, and excited about what they mean for student government and advocacy at Williams.

In this e-mail, you will find:

a.) A description of College Council

b.) A list of positions for which you are eligible to run

c.) How to become involved with the Minority Coalition (MinCo)

d.) A College Council Elections 2012 timeline

If you are considering running for a position on College Council, please come by Henze Lounge (upstairs in Paresky, by the non-functional fire place) THIS SUNDAY, 9/16, between 4 and 6pm with questions and/or to think through your decision or approach with current members of CC. We would LOVE to talk about it with you! #CCnerds

Self-nominations are due by 11:59pm to runforCollegeCouncil@gmail.com. They should be between 300-500 words and include your name, the position for which you are running, relevant experience, and a brief explanation of why you are the best candidate for the position/what you hope to achieve on CC.

WHY SHOULD I RUN FOR COLLEGE COUNCIL?

Students at Williams have a voice. The student body has a rich legacy of engagement and service. One of the most consistent and visible vehicles for effecting positive change on campus is College Council. Members of CC better this community by communicating with their peers about various College issues, initiating or supporting campus improvement projects, representing the needs and desires of Williams students to the administration, and taking a critical look at the campus with an eye toward setting and achieving realistic goals for its advancement.

Questions? kmp3 or pjs1

Thoughts? opinions@wso.williams.edu

Looking for something? collegecouncil.williams.edu

LIKE what we’re doing? Make it Facebook official

Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper

CC Presidents

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