Student President Election

Hillel Student Board

The Hillel Student Board is responsible for formally guiding the Hillel community. The Board is led by a Student President, elected by members of the Emory student community, at the end of the spring semester for a one-year term. The President and immediate past-President work together to appoint officers to the Board.

The Presidential Election

The election for Hillel Student President 2011-12 is on April 7, 2011. The statement of the candidate running for this position is posted below. Only students currently registered on the Hillel at Emory listserv are eligible to vote. Students must register by March 23, 2011 by submitting their address at www.tinyurl.com/subscribe-hillel. For offical regulations concerning the election, please click here. An independent elections committee oversees all elections procedures.

2011-12 Presidential Candidate Statement

Alexis Lee Berkow

To the Emory community:

My name is Alexis Berkow, from Denver, Colorado and I am running for President of Hillel at Emory for the upcoming year. I am a Goizueta sophomore concentrating in finance and double-majoring in economics.

Hillel has become my home at Emory. The religious activities, social events, personal connections, and leadership opportunities I have found at Hillel have enriched my life and I am running for President so that I have the opportunity to help others make these connections.

Hillel has become the center for Jewish life on campus, especially with the addition of our brand new Marcus Hillel Center. We have incredible professional and student leaders that keep the organization functioning. We have come so far, but there are still many opportunities for development and increased participation.

My vision for Hillel includes:

• Providing a warm, welcoming home for all Jewish students on campus, through a wide variety and depth of religious and social programming.
Spreading the reach of Hillel programming by offering opportunities and incentives for students to start their own initiatives.
• Connecting with previously un-involved Jewish students on campus in new, creative ways,including class representatives in various social networks.
• Engaging and retaining a strong freshmen class through orientation events, a revitalized First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH) program, and a Freshmen Council.
• A motivated, involved executive student board, including several programming committees to involve as many students as possible.
• Increased usage of the Marcus Hillel Center through increased variety and quantity of religious, interfaith, and secular programming (club meetings, frequent Jewish learning events, Goodfriend’s Grill, TV-watching, etc.)
• Advancing Hillel’s relationship with the Emory University administration and student community through joint programming and use of the new building.

I have been extremely involved in Hillel since coming to Emory. I served as Freshmen Representative on the executive board in ’09-’10, and successfully implemented and led a 20 member Freshmen Council. I currently serve as Vice President of Marketing, in charge of creating and distributing promotional materials for Hillel events, as well as board communication, and weekly emails. I am also an Emory Tour Guide and a member of Waller Scholars, a student organization that mentors local underprivileged high-schoolers.

Please vote for me on Thursday, April 7!

Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas (alexis.berkow[at]emory.edu).Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,
Alexis Berkow